The guest in the latest edition of the Business Club podcast with Branko Azeski is Toni Stojanovski, MSc, Chief Executive Officer and Management Board Member of NLB Banka Skopje, a professional who has built his entire career in the banking sector. The conversation focuses on the conditions and challenges in banking in Macedonia.

Stojanovski began his career at the National Bank of the Republic of North Macedonia, precisely during the period when the institution was building its role and capacities, particularly in the field of banking supervision. He spent 13 years at the National Bank, advancing through various positions up to the role of General Manager of the Supervision, Regulation, and Financial Stability Directorate. For him, the National Bank is one of the leading institutions in the country, one that invests significantly in the development of its staff. He refers to banking supervision as the heart of the banking sector, as timely detection and identification of weaknesses means prevention of potential risks that may arise.

“Investing in human capital and expanding knowledge is the most important task of any institution,” emphasizes Stojanovski.

In 2008, upon an invitation from the National Bank of Greece, he joined Stopanska Banka AD Skopje to strengthen its management team. From 2010 to 2020, he served as General Manager for Risk Management and Management Board Member at Stopanska Banka, and in 2020, thanks to his expertise and professionalism, he was appointed General Manager for Corporate Banking.

Since September 2024, Stojanovski has been appointed Chief Executive Officer and President of the Management Board of NLB Banka Skopje. He notes that the leadership of the NLB Group in Ljubljana is strongly focused on the Balkans, and the new 20/30 strategy will bring new services, digital innovations, and further strengthening of the Group’s regional presence.

In the discussion, Stojanovski also reflects on the fact that NLB Banka Skopje is marking its 40^th anniversary these days. From a small financial institution established to support tobacco producers, the Bank has grown into a stable and reputable company. According to Stojanovski, its success is due to high predictability, a clear strategy for growth and development, a strong managerial team, and timely risk detection. He adds that over the years, NLB Banka has undertaken certain risky but strategically important steps, through which it has significantly supported not only large companies but also small and medium-sized enterprises, contributing to the state’s economy.

Today, NLB Banka Skopje ranks first in lending to the population, second in credit portfolio, and third in total assets—right behind NLB Banka Ljubljana and NLB Banka Belgrade.

In addition to his professional engagements, Stojanovski is also a long-standing Chair of the Board of Directors of the Macedonian Stock Exchange AD Skopje, Vice President of the Macedonian Banking Association, and Chair of the Supervisory Board of Stopanska Leasing Skopje.

In the podcast, he also reveals some of his personal interests—the love for football and mountaineering, activities that give him energy and help him maintain balance in everyday life.