Several facts are clear from the available literature: small banks have a number of advantages over large banks such as simpler organization, better knowledge of the local market and locally centered bank headquarters, and simpler credit risk management. Large banks, on the other hand, have advantages, which are also disadvantages of small banks, such as access to more affordable financing, better opportunities for diversification, better perception and use of technological change, a wider range of products, more effective risk management and better adaptation to regulatory requirements. The potential for additional research is to compare the safety and performance of large and small banks on specific examples in the Republic of Croatia in the period after the global financial crisis in 2008. The general state of the Croatian banking system in the period 2016.-2020. is presented using relevant indicators and it is clear that the number of banks decreased significantly in a short period of time, which consequently affected the increase in the concentration of the banking market and resulted in the share of the five largest banks increasing to 81.4% of consolidated assets of Croatian banks. Profitability indicators reached pre-crisis levels, but in 2020. banks' profits halved and banks increased provisions for expected losses, reflecting a potential increase in credit risk due to the pandemic. In the context of financial indicators, large banks on average operated more safely and successfully than small banks in the observed period.