The main goal of his article is to analyze the economic position and financialstrength of banking sectors in the new European Union member states (EU-12). The banking sector consists of all banks that operate in a given country except for the centralbank and non-operating banks, such as those in the state of insolvency or liquidation.The author discusses EU-12 banking sectors with regard to a number of economic andfinancial indices, including the size of assets, the degree of their concentration, ownershiptypes, financial results and efficiency. The analysis is followed by an attempt to evaluatethose sectors and assess their financial stability and resistance to macroeconomic andbanking risks. Action EU-12 banking sectors in the time of financial crisis is presentedas well. Analysis is accompanied by the hypothesis, that about further development ofUE-12 banking sectors will decide foreign owners of banks.