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Bankers' bet for lending growth: one-digit territory

Autor: Liviu Chiru

23.01.2011, 23:45 14

Bankers are unanimously betting lending to the private sectorwill resume growth in 2011, after two years of declines, though doit slowly, most probably at a one-digit pace. Only small playersare hoping for two-digit rates.

Expectations lending will pick up this year come as a timideconomic recovery is forecast, with a projected increase of around1%. Under the circumstances, even the most upbeat plans are stillfar from the three-digit paces registered during boom years.

Sergiu Oprescu, chief executive of Alpha Bank, ranking thirddomestically in terms of assets, speaks about "moderate" growth,linked to the fragile economic rebound.

CEC Bank, the only top ten bank still held by the state, hassomewhat more ambitious plans, particularly on the retail segment.

The most ambitious plan announced so far comes from Turkey'sGaranti Bank, which has budgeted a 30% increase in lending for thisyear, to 975m euros.

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