EMBank loan portfolio rises 21% as assets hit EUR 214.7 million

By AI, Created 4:39 PM UTC, May 18, 2026, /AGP/ – European Merchant Bank said its 2025 loan portfolio climbed 21% to EUR 44 million, while total assets reached EUR 214.7 million and deposits stayed nearly flat at EUR 199 million. The results point to steady growth in Lithuania’s SME lending market even as the bank invested more heavily in technology, compliance and risk controls.

Why it matters: - EMBank’s 2025 results show growth in lending and assets even as profit fell, a sign the bank is prioritizing scale, infrastructure and risk management over near-term earnings. - Stable deposits and higher lending to local businesses suggest continued demand from small and medium-sized enterprises in Lithuania.

What happened: - European Merchant Bank said its loan portfolio grew 21% in 2025, reaching EUR 44 million from EUR 36 million in 2024. - Total assets rose to EUR 214.7 million from EUR 211.5 million. - Deposits increased to EUR 199 million from EUR 197 million. - Gross income climbed to EUR 11.08 million from EUR 10.81 million. - Net profit fell to EUR 573,000 from EUR 1.06 million.

The details: - Average loan exposure per local business client increased to EUR 229,000, up 74% year on year. - Commission income per active client grew 40% year on year. - The profit decline was mainly driven by planned investments in business development, technological solutions, and stronger compliance and risk management systems. - CEO Sarp Demiray said small and medium-sized enterprises continued to seek expansion, while financing demand became more structured and focused on long-term value creation. - Chairman of the Board Ekmel Cilingir said banking growth now depends on combining security, customer experience and continuous innovation. - EMBank said it invested in technological solutions, process automation and digitalization to make services faster and more reliable. - EMBank also said it continued strengthening compliance and risk management to support security and sustainable growth.

Between the lines: - The flat deposit base suggests customer trust remained intact even as the bank increased spending on internal capabilities. - The drop in profit looks tied to strategy rather than weak core activity, since lending, income and assets all moved higher. - The bank is positioning itself around SME financing, where demand appears to be shifting toward longer-term and more disciplined borrowing.

What’s next: - EMBank plans to keep focusing on SME lending, especially for companies investing in innovation, process automation, digitalization and sustainability. - The bank also plans to expand anti-money-laundering monitoring, compliance teams, governance standards and internal controls. - EMBank said it will continue investing in service security and digital infrastructure to support future growth.