National Bank of Slovakia (NBS)

Basic Information

The National Bank of Slovakia (Národná banka Slovenska, NBS) serves as the central bank and primary financial regulator of Slovakia. Established on 1 January 1993 following the dissolution of Czechoslovakia, NBS became part of the Eurosystem on 1 January 2009 when Slovakia adopted the euro. The bank maintains its headquarters in Bratislava with regional offices across the country. While officially using its Slovak name in communications, it’s commonly referred to in English as the National Bank of Slovakia.

Historical Background

NBS traces its origins to the division of the State Bank of Czechoslovakia during the dissolution of Czechoslovakia in 1993. Initially responsible for issuing the Slovak koruna, it transitioned to eurozone membership in 2009. A significant milestone came in 2006 when NBS integrated financial market supervision, taking over oversight of banking, capital markets, insurance and pension sectors. Since 2014, NBS has served as Slovakia’s national competent authority within European Banking Supervision.

Legal Authority and Regulatory Framework

NBS operates under the Financial Market Supervision Act which establishes general rules for financial market oversight. As part of the European System of Financial Supervision (ESFS), NBS ensures compliance with EU financial regulations. Since 2013, NBS has conducted macroprudential policy to identify and mitigate systemic risks. The bank participates in the Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM), the first pillar of the EU banking union, and supports the Single Resolution Mechanism.

Primary Responsibilities and Regulatory Scope

NBS maintains comprehensive regulatory authority over Slovakia’s financial sector including:

– Monetary policy implementation within the Eurosystem

– Banking sector supervision (both significant and less significant institutions)

– Capital market regulation including securities issuers oversight

– Insurance and pension fund supervision

– Consumer protection in financial services

– Payment systems oversight including operation of Slovakia’s Inter-Bank Payment System

– Foreign exchange reserves management

– Euro banknotes and coins issuance

Contact Information

Headquarters Address:
Národná banka Slovenska
Imricha Karvaša 1
813 25 Bratislava
Slovak Republic

Regional Offices:
Bratislava, Trenčín, Nové Zámky, Žilina, Lučenec, Banská Bystrica, Poprad, Košice and Humenné

General Inquiries:
Phone: +421 2 5787 1111
Email: [email protected]

Verification of Regulated Entities

To verify if a financial institution operates under NBS supervision:

1. Visit the official NBS website at https://nbs.sk

2. Navigate to the Financial Market Supervision section

3. Access the Central Register of Regulated Information (CERI) at https://ceri.nbs.sk/

4. Search for the entity using official registration details

5. Cross-reference with published lists of authorized financial institutions

For additional verification, contact NBS Banking Supervision Division directly through official channels.