(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 14 - "Eastern and Central European banks are demonstrating resilient, high-quality performance, supported by dynamic economies with solid growth fundamentals and a rapidly evolving financial ecosystem," said Paola Papanicolau, Head of the International Banks Division at Intesa Sanpaolo, during the Central and Eastern European Forum 2026, which is currently underway in Vienna. "The higher growth potential in comparison to the Eurozone," she continued, "combined with timely and decisive monetary policies, has supported robust returns and efficient operating models. Looking ahead, sustainable banking performance in the region is increasingly driven by structural growth factors rather than just interest rates," she added. (ANSA).