Their assets increased by almost 9% to more than RON157 billion.
The rise in profits came as a result of the portfolio quality improvement and operations, with loan portfolios even increasing in some cases. The sale of the shares in Visa contributed to the profit, as well.
The results of the top three lenders show the entire banking system was in the black after the first half and probably saw an increase in profit after the first quarter.
BCR, BRD-SocGen and Banca Transilvania’s profits accounted for about half of the total profit of the system, RON1.17 billion, in the first quarter. The banking sector assets dropped to RON370.2 billion in the first quarter.
The ranking of the top three banks by assets remained unchanged after the first half, with BCR still in the lead, followed by BRD and Banca Transilvania. Banca Transilvania, however, narrowed the gap to BRD to RON0.5 billion.
(English version by Loredana Fratila-Cristescu)