Transparency and Financial Inclusion in Central Eastern European Countries: A Path to Economic Empowerment

This chapter explores financial inclusion across several Central and Eastern European countries (CEEC), focusing on savings habits, ATM and bank branch density, the accessibility of POS terminals, and the transparency index. According to the data analysis, countries with strong financial infrastructure—such as Bulgaria, Czechia, Estonia, and Croatia—demonstrate a high density of ATMs and POS terminals, reflecting their widespread acceptance of digital payments and overall financial inclusion. These nations have also made significant progress in increasing their savings rates, indicating a rise in financial sophistication. In contrast, countries like Serbia, Montenegro, and North Macedonia are experiencing slower growth in financial services, struggling to improve savings rates and ATM access. Despite these disparities, the decline of traditional bank branches across the region suggests a broader shift towards digital banking and electronic payments. The decision to focus on Central Eastern European Countries (CEECs) stems from their unique position in the broader European financial landscape, where financial inclusion remains a key challenge due to structural, economic, and regulatory disparities.