Compared with other countries, the economic situation of Bosnia and Herzegovina was robust during the year under review. In an increasingly competitive environment, the banking sector continued its moderate growth in the first half of the year, but a noticeable slowdown occurred in the second half of the year when the effects of the international finance crisis were clearly felt. On the closing date, 31 December 2008, 30 banks and 7 leasing companies operated in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The three biggest banks accounted for a market share of more than 60 %. Hypo Group Alpe Adria (Hypo Alpe-Adria-Bank a.d. Banja Luka and Hypo Alpe-Adria-Bank d.d. Mostar) alone claimed approximately 21 % of the entire market. In 2008, the leasing market, in which international leasing companies are the main players, grew considerably but was also fiercely contested. In this context, vehicle and equipment leasing as well as real estate leasing remained popular financing types.