Banks, 304m RON overall losses last year

The banking system ended last year, for the first time since 1999, with a net loss of 304m RON (72m euros), against a net cumulated gain of 815m RON in 2009, in the context where 20 banks registered profit and 22 lending institutions had negative results.

“NBR centralised data show the profit of the 20 banks that ended the year in the black is slightly below the gain of profitable banks in 2009, while the rest of 22 lending institutions totalled higher losses than two years ago,” stated banking sources.

In 2009, 22 banks reported profit, with total gains topping 2bn RON, while system losses topped 1bn RON.

Banking system net assets last year rose by 3.53%, to 341.8bn RON, with increases registered only on the segment of transactions and securities investments, whose volume advanced by 44%, to 53.1bn RON.

Provisions set up by banks last year went up by 57% to 23.5bn RON, while loans taken outside the balance sheet stood at 2.43bn RON, flat from 2009.