Libra Bank

Libra Bank is a private commercial bank in Romania, which was consistently loss-making before being acquired by an NCH fund in 2003. NCH repositioned the bank by bringing in new leadership and, among other initiatives, shifting its focus to small and medium enterprises (SMEs), the fastest growing segment of the Romanian economy. Libra’s loan focus and risk management helped it weather the 2008-2009 global financial crisis better than most of its peers, and Libra was able opportunistically to use the crisis to increase market share. Libra has subsequently more than doubled its loan portfolio in USD terms between 2016 and 2022, while remaining nimble enough to capitalize on new market opportunities. Technology and new internet-based products are key factors driving the bank’s growth.