PRESS RELEASE
Decision of the Supervisory Council, 6 September 2018

In the meeting of 6 September 2018, the Supervisory Council of the Bank of Albania reviewed and decided to:

• Approve the Financial Stability Statement and Report for 2018 H1

The Financial Stability Report is an important periodic publication of the Bank of Albania, whose main purpose is to identify and assess risks to the financial system and its infrastructure. The Financial Stability Statement, whose half-yearly release is a legal requirement set out in the Law “On the Bank of Albania”, prefaces the Report.

The Bank of Albania estimates that, in 2018 H1, the banking sector activity was stable, showing good performance indicators and financial resilience. The decline in the value of foreign currency assets of the banking sector, as a result of the significant appreciation of the exchange rate, contributed to the slight contraction in the value of total sector assets for the period under review. Economic developments and the performance of financial markets fully supported the activity of the financial system.

During the period, the exposure of the banking sector to the risks of the activity did not experience significant changes. In view of high capitalization, liquidity and profitability levels, the banking sector shows strong capacity to withstand such risks.

The full Financial Stability Report will be published in the up-coming days on Bank of Albania's website http://www.bankofalbania.org/

• Grant the preliminary approval for the merger by absorption between Intesa Sanpaolo Albania sh.a. and Veneto Banka sh.a.

Based on this decision, the Bank of Albania gives the preliminary approval for the merger by abortion between Intensa Sanpaolo Albania sh.a. (the absorbing company) and Veneto Banka sh.a. (the absorbed company). This means that, after the completion of the merger by absorption, Intesa Sanpaolo Bank  Albania sh.a. will be the successor of Veneto Banka sh.a. in Albania.

• Grant the preliminary approval for the merger by absorption between American Bank of Investments sh.a. and NBG Albania sh.a.

Based on this decision, the Bank of Albania gives the preliminary approval for the merger by absorption between the American Bank of Investments sh.a. (the absorbing company) and NBG Bank Albania sh.a. (the absorbed company). This means that, after the completion of the merger by absorption, the American Bank of Investments sh.a. will be the successor of the NBG  Bank Albania sh.a. in Albania.

• Approve the drawings of the theme and list of security features of the 10000 LEKË Albanian legal tender banknote.

This decision of the Supervisory Council of the Bank of Albania approves the drawing of the new 10000 LEKË Albanian legal tender banknote, and its security features.

• Approve amendments to the regulation "On the functioning of the central Albanian Financial Instrument Settlement and Registration (AFISaR) system”

The amendments to the regulation stipulate changes to the fees set for accessing information in the AFISaR system, from the category "Institutions/Bodies".

In conclusion, the Supervisory Council reviewed additional information related to the daily operational and functional activities of the Bank of Albania.