The Slovak arm of CSOB provided loans of SKK2.5 billion (Ђ62m) to small- and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) last year. The bank's product specialist says that the bank expects an over 50 per cent increase in loans to this sector to SKK3.9 billion (Ђ98m) this year.
In the sub-segment of smaller businessmen the bank sector expects over 200-per cent growth in the volume of loans. This year the bank provided SKK 190 million in loans to small business entities, while this year loans to smaller businesses should surge to SKK500 million.
The Slovak branch of CSOB ended last year with a net profit of SKK166.422 million. In 2003 it reported a net profit of SKK198 million using different accounting standards. The bank provided gross loans to its clients of SKK 27.756 billion.
