World’s Best Investment Banks 2026: Central & Eastern Europe

Why It Matters

The surge in high‑value equity, debt and cross‑border M&A transactions demonstrates that CEE is re‑emerging as a vibrant financing hub, attracting global capital and supporting the region’s growth agenda.

Key Takeaways

• PKO coordinated Allegro’s €677 M accelerated book‑build, showcasing large‑scale equity execution.
• Bank Pekao advised €1.2 B Packeta Group sale, highlighting cross‑border M&A strength.
• Wood & Co raised nearly $1.5 B in equity, leading CEE capital markets activity.
• Garanti BBVA’s $500 M tier‑2 notes oversubscribed 4‑fold, reflecting investor appetite.
• Regional banks secured $890 M corporate debt financing, fueling energy and infrastructure projects.

Pulse Analysis

The Central and Eastern European (CEE) investment‑banking landscape is experiencing a pronounced revival as private‑equity sponsors and strategic buyers return amid stabilising interest rates. This macro‑environment has restored confidence in financing large‑scale transactions, prompting banks to chase cross‑border deals and sustainable funding sources. Investors are increasingly viewing the region as a source of diversified growth, with capital flowing into sectors ranging from technology to infrastructure.

PKO Bank Polski, Bank Pekao, Wood & Co and Garanti BBVA each delivered headline‑making transactions in 2025. PKO’s dual Allegro accelerated book‑builds, totaling roughly $1.9 billion, underscored its capacity to marshal equity capital quickly, while its €500 million green bond highlighted a shift toward sustainable financing. Pekao’s advisory role in the €1.2 billion Packeta Group sale and multiple multi‑billion‑zloty acquisitions cemented its M&A pedigree. Wood & Co’s $1.5 billion equity raise across IPOs and ABBs positioned it as the region’s equity powerhouse, and Garanti BBVA’s tier‑2 notes, oversubscribed by four times, reflected strong appetite for Turkish bank capital.

For investors and corporates, these trends signal deeper market liquidity and a broadened toolkit for funding growth. The robust demand for green bonds and tier‑2 instruments suggests that ESG considerations and higher‑yield assets are both gaining traction. As CEE banks continue to expand their international networks and regulatory capacities, the region is poised to attract even larger cross‑border M&A volumes, making it a focal point for global capital allocation over the next few years.