The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will invest up to €64 million for a 5% stake in AikGroup, becoming a major institutional shareholder in the banking group that owns Hipotekarna Banka in Montenegro. The investment will be carried out through newly issued shares and will support AikGroup’s expansion, digitalisation and corporate governance as the group develops its banking operations across Southeast Europe. AikGroup also owns AikBank in Serbia and Gorenjska Banka in Slovenia, with the group holding more than €10 billion in assets.
The banking group plans to raise its assets to approximately €17 billion within three to five years, using a combination of acquisitions and organic growth. As part of the transaction, the EBRD will appoint a representative to AikGroup’s board, increasing institutional oversight as the group expands across multiple banking markets. The agreement also includes commitments related to cybersecurity, digital transformation and the preparation of a climate-transition plan aligned with the Paris Agreement.
The transaction adds institutional capital and governance support to the group behind Hipotekarna Banka, one of Montenegro’s established commercial banks. Regional banking consolidation is increasing in importance as financial groups pursue greater scale across smaller Western Balkan and Central European markets. AikGroup’s planned balance-sheet expansion could provide greater capacity for lending, technology investment and cross-border banking services in Montenegro.
The transaction also places the EBRD directly within the ownership structure of a banking group with a significant presence in the Montenegrin market. For Hipotekarna Banka, the transaction provides access to a wider regional banking platform supported by long-term institutional capital as Montenegro’s financial sector moves closer to EU regulatory standards.
