The Central Bank of Montenegro (CBCG) has granted AIK Bank approval to acquire a qualified stake in the share capital of Hipotekarna Banka AD Podgorica.
This development was announced following a meeting between CBCG Governor Irena Radović and representatives of the regional banking group AIK Group, including Supervisory Board Vice President Aleksandar Kostić, CEO Razvan Munteanu, and Chief Risk Officer Aleksandra Babić. The meeting was also attended by CBCG’s Supervision Sector, led by Director Milan Remiković.
The discussions centered on the stability and future growth of Montenegro’s banking sector, with a particular focus on AIK Group’s strategic plans following the regulatory approval for acquiring a majority stake in Hipotekarna Banka.
Governor Radović emphasized that the decision followed a comprehensive assessment conducted in line with legal criteria and best supervisory practices. She underlined the importance of responsible corporate governance, transparency in ownership changes, and expectations for risk management, digital transformation, and the integration of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) principles.
The Governor expressed confidence that the new ownership structure would enhance competition, trust, and overall efficiency within Montenegro’s banking sector.
AIK Group representatives expressed appreciation for CBCG’s open and professional cooperation and reiterated their commitment to long-term operations in Montenegro. They emphasized their dedication to regulatory compliance, ethical standards, and investment strategies aimed at strengthening competition and improving service quality for financial service users.
They also stated their intention to position Hipotekarna Banka as a key partner to both citizens and the economy, and as an important contributor to modernization and sustainable economic development.
As a reminder, it was announced at the end of last year that Agri Europe Cyprus had signed an agreement to acquire 7,674,285 shares of Hipotekarna Banka, representing approximately 74.94% of the bank’s total share capital.
