The present study is focusing on analysing the role played by the foreign banks within the national and international banking system as well the impact the foreign banks have  on the autochthon banking system, on the financial activity, on the real economy and on the financial stability on long terms.

The research conducted highlights the fact that along the positive impact on the banking system and on the economy of the host country, generated by their quality as vectors of mobilizing and directioning the international  financial flows towards the host country, there can also be considered a negative impact. The study shows that the impact of the negative effects, that have as main cause the reversibility of the international financial flows, depends, on a great extent, on the specific conditions of the host country, on the characteristics of the foreign banks, but mostly, by the share held by the foreign countries within the framework of the host banking system.

Starting from the role played by the capitalization of the banking system to ensure financial stability, the research made on Romania’s case shows both, the positive effects generated by the presence of the foreign banks and also, their vulnerability in front of this excessive dependence on the foreign capital induced by this presence. The solution to reduce this dependence can only come from the autochthon capital direction whose mobilization may countervail the gap made by the foreign banks and, by surceasing the process of financial disintermediation, to ensure the maintenance of the financial stability on long term.