In this latest article, Spyros Tsolis, Regional Director CEE & SEE, shares a report on how the region performed last year, as well as a few bits of what is to come this year.
I would like to wish all our members and partners a productive and prosperous 2026.
The performance of FCI members across the CEE & SEE region in 2025 was particularly strong. A higher volume of turnover was channelled through FCI’s Edifactoring platform, further reinforcing members’ confidence in the Two-Factor model and its role in supporting cross-border trade. Two-Factor export volumes increased by 12.3%, with Greece, Romania, and Poland leading the region in terms of activity. Two-Factor imports also recorded solid growth of 6.3%, with Romania, the Czech Republic, Greece, Bulgaria, and Poland accounting for the highest volumes. Early indicators for 2026 are encouraging, supported by strong credit approval rates for new business and sustained demand for international factoring solutions.
The regional network also continued to expand, with two new members joining FCI in January: Ellinas Finance Ltd. from Cyprus and JSC Bank Alliance from Ukraine. More information about our new members will be shared in upcoming publications.
Alongside business growth, education and market development remain key priorities. In close cooperation with local institutions, FCI is actively raising awareness and delivering targeted training programmes for banks and market participants. On 3 February 2026, a training event for Albanian banks will take place in Tirana, under the aegis of the Albanian Association of Banks. This will be followed by a one-and-a-half-day training programme on Factoring & Supply Chain Finance on 19–20 February in Belgrade, organised in cooperation with the Belgrade Chamber of Commerce and its Factoring Working Group, and addressed to more than 30 member institutions. Discussions are also underway with the Bosnia & Herzegovina Association of Banks to organise similar initiatives.
Looking ahead, we are pleased to confirm that the 16th CEE & SEE Regional Conference on Factoring & Supply Chain Finance will take place on 15–16 October 2026 in Warsaw. Further details will be shared in due course, but we kindly invite you to already reserve these dates in your calendars.