Speaking in Maribor, where Nova KBM is based, Csányi called the Nova KBM deal, which followed OTP's purchase of Slovenian peer SKB Bank in 2019, the "most significant and most complex acquisition in OTP's history".

He noted that OTP is now market leader in five countries in the region.

He said OTP will soon close the acquisition of Uzbekistan's Ipoteka Bank, giving it a presence in 12 countries. OTP is weighing further possibilities for expansion in the region, he added.

Csányi said the integration of OTP's two Slovenian banks will take one-and-a-half years and called the endeavor "a big challenge". John Denhof, Nova KBM's current CEO, will head the merged bank, he added.

A decision on where to put the merged bank's HQ has not yet been taken, he said.

Denhof said both bank clients and staff would benefit from the integration of OTP's local lenders.

The merged lender will have around 1m clients in Slovenia and become OTP's biggest foreign unit.

OTP Group has close to 16 million clients and over 33,000 staff. In addition to Hungary and now Slovenia, OTP is market leader in Bulgaria, Serbia, and Montenegro.