By winning an award Best Bank in Montenegro, NLB Banka continues its impressive series of domestic and international awards that confirm the quality of its operations and its leading position in the Montenegrin banking market. The new award represents another strong international confirmation that commitment to clients, continuous innovation and responsible business are values that are recognized by the most relevant authorities in the field of banking.
The recognition comes after another successful business year during which NLB Banka continued to strengthen the trust of citizens and businesses. The growth of lending activity continued in all key segments, with newly approved loans to households increasing by 27%, while lending to businesses grew by 10%, confirming the Bank's role as a reliable partner in the development of the Montenegrin economy.
On the occasion of winning the award, the President of the Board of Directors of NLB Banka AD Podgorica, Martin Leberle, he stated:
“We are extremely proud of this recognition, as it comes from one of the most respected international authorities in the field of banking and finance. The Euromoney award for the best bank in Montenegro confirms that our development direction is correct – that stable and responsible business, top-notch customer experience, innovation and a sustainable relationship with the community represent the foundations of modern banking. It is particularly valuable for us because it represents confirmation of the trust that our clients place in us year after year. This trust obliges us to be better every day, to develop solutions that make their everyday lives easier and make us a reliable partner in all their important life and business decisions. This recognition belongs to all NLB Bank employees who justify that trust every day with their knowledge, responsibility and dedication. It is a great honor for us, but also a strong incentive to continue investing in innovation, security, process efficiency and sustainable development, in order to justify the trust that our clients place in us in the future.”
In the previous period, NLB Bank continued to develop solutions that simplify everyday banking for clients. Among them, the following stand out: eCredit, the first fully digital cash loan on the Montenegrin market, the improvement of mobile and electronic banking NLB Klik, the introduction of modern functionalities in our contact center and the development of new digital services for citizens and businesses.
In the official explanation of the award, the editorial team Euromoney magazine particularly highlighted NLB Bank's transformational strides, the direct impact of digitalization on clients and the market, as well as its contribution to improving payment services and supporting small and medium-sized enterprises:
"The bank launched the first fully digital end-to-end cash loan in Montenegro, improved the NLB Klik platform and introduced an omnichannel service model, contributing to a 15% increase in the number of digital users and the transition of 68% of retail transactions to digital channels. At the same time, the introduction of Google Pay, Apple Pay and P2P payments (payments via phone number or email, without the need to enter an account number), together with the successful migration to the ISO 20022 standard and accession to the SEPA area, improved payment efficiency and reduced obstacles to cross-border transactions. For small and medium-sized enterprises, initiatives such as the SME Go Green program supported by the EBRD and digital issuance of guarantees have expanded access to financing, while simplifying the process. Supported by artificial intelligence and robotic process automation, which reduced processing times from hours to minutes, these initiatives have strengthened operational efficiency and improved customer experience.
The international jury particularly recognized the initiatives that most directly improve the daily experience of customers, confirming that innovation and user experience are among the key strengths of NLB Bank. The trust of customers is also confirmed by the fact that today even 68% of retail transactions are made via digital channels, which testifies to the fact that digital solutions are becoming the standard of modern banking.
NLB Banka's business success is accompanied by a clear commitment to sustainable development. The bank continuously develops green financial solutions and supports the economy in its green transition, while by switching to hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles, it has reduced its estimated CO₂ emissions by around 35,5 tons per year. As the first bank in Montenegro, NLB Banka also signed SME Go Green arrangement with European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, further reaffirming its commitment to sustainable financing.
About the Euromoney Awards for Excellence
Euromoney Awards for Excellence For more than three decades, the awards have been one of the most prestigious international accolades in the banking and financial industry. The program, launched in 1992, recognizes financial institutions that set the standard for business performance, innovation, service quality, customer impact and overall market contribution. The selection process is based on structured applications, comparable indicators, independent analysis and a research approach, through which banks are evaluated against their competitors in the markets in which they operate.
(NLB)
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