Access to finance enables businesses to invest in growth opportunities, such as expanding operations and developing new products or services. In the Western Balkans, banks dominate the financial landscape, comprising around 90% of total financial assets in most WB6 economies as of 2022, compared to 50% in the euro area. This underscores the importance of ensuring a well-functioning banking sector while also developing non-bank actors to provide additional financing avenues for Western Balkan businesses.