Abstract: Adequate capitalization is crucial for ensuring a bank’s financial stability and, by extension, the financial security of the entire country. This importance is especially evident in terms of both the quantity and quality of capital that a bank holds to cushion potential losses. Various indicators and ratios are employed to assess the level of bank capitalization, often subject to regulatory oversight. However, there is currently no standardized methodology for calculating and analyzing this indicator.

This article aims to analyze the comprehensive index of bank capitalization levels. The calculation is based on statistical reports from 34 European countries spanning the years 2010 to 2020. The author explores the main direct and indirect factors influencing the level of bank capitalization. Direct indicators include return on equity, capital to assets ratio, and the ratio of regulatory capital to risk-weighted assets. Indirect factors include return on assets, the level of non-performing loans, the number of bank branches, the ratio of expenses to income of banks, and the ratio of bank deposits to GDP.

Throughout the study, various tools and methodologies were employed, including grouping, comparison, and generalization methods, as well as analysis techniques. The principal component method was utilized to identify statistically significant indicators influencing the formation of the level of bank capitalization. Additionally, integral indices were calculated, and time series analysis was conducted to determine trends in the integral index. The principal components method specifically helped select significant indicators for banks’ capitalization levels, such as the level of non-performing loans, return on assets, and return on equity. These selected indicators were then used to calculate an integral index representing the level of capitalization for European banks. The study identified leading countries in various years, including Ireland in 2010 and Finland in 2015, 2020, and 2021 (post-stress and adaptive to economic turbulence periods). The analysis also delves into the trends in fluctuations of the calculated index. Furthermore, the study explores the influence of the quality of lending on the quality of assets and retained earnings, which, in turn, affects the level of bank capitalization. It was observed that an increase in the level of non-performing loans corresponds to a decrease in the return on assets and return on equity for a bank.

These findings offer valuable insights that can be utilized by government agencies for financial policy planning, national banks in determining strategies and instruments to ensure an adequate level of bank capitalization, and commercial banks in formulating resource policies and ensuring capital volume.