Andorra's Banking Sector: Opportunities and Risks

Andorra has a large and distinct banking sector with a strong focus on private banking. Drawing comparisons with peer microstates and financial centers in Europe, the analysis highlights Andorran banks’ reliance on deposits, strong capital and liquidity buffers, and expansion into international markets. Using a panel dataset of 275 private banks across 39 countries, the study identifies key determinants of profitability, including bank size, capitalization, GDP growth, and interest rates. The findings underscore the importance of proactive supervision and macroprudential tools in managing systemic risks, especially in the absence of a central bank. The paper also explores the implications of Andorra’s EU Association Agreement on the Andorran banking sector.