Bankers did not have kind words for the judiciary. Only two banks had any kind of positive comments at all. Some 36 banks stated that the courts were extremely inefficient and slow. Four banks explicitly charged that the courts are biased against creditors. The general consensus is that even if a bank can win a judgment to repossess a house or apartment, they cannot expect to force the people living there to leave.
Banks enjoy more success when they file claims on commercial real estate.
Also, the judicial system works faster in some smaller towns - the best case was a town where proceedings last a mere 6 months. This is excellent in comparison to the 2-5 years common elsewhere in Croatia. We also asked bankers what they look for in a credit application. It seems that bankers want to see a clear and consistent project explained in a clear and consistent business plan. Regarding less tangible business aspects, some 11 banks mentioned that the quality of the management team is crucial for them.