Net interest income increased by 15.2% to RON 1,191 million (EUR 239 million) in Q1 2025, from RON 1,034 million (EUR 208 million) in Q1 2024, driven by higher business volumes.
Operating result improved by 15.7% to RON 1,062 million (EUR 214 million) in Q1 2025, from RON 918 million (EUR 185 million) in Q1 2024, on the back of strong increase in operating income and well managed operating expenses.
“We continuously invest in our relationship with clients, which is why we created the George Benefits Program – the first banking loyalty program in Romania. Over 1.4 million BCR clients are already benefiting from this new way of doing banking, which enhances financial planning and rewards users with personalized offers tailored to their financial goals. The George Benefits Program reflects our approach to supporting clients through mutual trust and long-term partnerships. It is a genuine commitment to those who choose us every day and our way of showing gratitude for their trust through concrete actions, from personalized offers and preferential pricing to lower fees and better interest rates,” stated Sergiu Manea, Banca Comerciala Romana CEO.
Operating income increased by 12.7% to RON 1,604 million (EUR 322 million) in Q1 2025, from RON 1,423 million (EUR 286 million) in Q1 2024, driven by improved net interest income and net fee and commission income.
General administrative expenses reached RON 541 million (EUR 109 million) in Q1 2025, up by 7.2% in comparison to RON 505 million (EUR 101 million) in Q1 2024, on the back of higher IT costs to support strategic projects together with slightly higher personnel expenses.
As such, cost-income ratio improved to 33.7% in Q1 2025, versus 35.5% in Q1 2024.
Net loans and advances to customers remained stable against 31 December 2024 at RON 66,721 million (EUR 13,406 million) as of 31 March 2025.
NPL ratio stood at 2.7% as of March 2025, marginally higher than 2.6% level recorded as of December 2024. This evolution was driven by the regular NPL formation, counterbalanced by recoveries in retail segment and a stable level of loans to customers. At the same time, the NPL provisioning coverage stood at 164.7% as of March 2025.
Deposits from customers slightly decreased by 1.1% to RON 90,036 million (EUR 18,090 million) as of 31 March 2025 from RON 91,008 million (EUR 18,296 million) as of 31 December 2024.
George digital ecosystem (internet banking and mobile banking) has 2.59 million users of which 2.22 million active George app users up by 16% year-on-year.
In Q1 2025, BCR Leasing accelerated the digitalization of its customer services, launching a new feature for the virtual assistant LEA, integrated within the Self Service platform. This new functionality allows clients to make partial or full early repayments through a fully digital process. Since its launch, 21% of early repayment requests have been submitted via the digital flow.
BCR Social Finance supported over 600 micro-enterprises, including 250 in the agribusiness sector, by providing financing totaling EUR 10 million and supporting over 800 jobs. Additionally, in Q1 2025, it financed 6 NGOs and social enterprises, contributing to the well-being of over 2,500 beneficiaries and helping maintain more than 100 jobs.
(English version by Catalina Apostoiu)