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The European Banking Federation has published Banking in Europe; the 2018 Facts Figures, its annual update on the banking sector in Europe. The publication shows that the contraction in the European banking sector, both as measured in terms of staff numbers and branches, continued in 2017 as the industry continued to improve efficiency while enhancing its profitability.
The special theme section in this year’s edition of Banking in Europe is dedicated to non-performing loans (NPLs). EU NPL stocks declined considerably in recent years due to enhanced loan selling activities of banks. In fact, as of 2017, the ratio for the EU stood at 3.7 percent, down from an EU-wide peak of 7.5 percent in 2012 and just below the world average of 3.74%, showing that NPLs are no...
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