BCR Asigurari sees significant growth

BCR Asigurari underwrote seven times more in terms of life insurance policies than during the same period last year. The company”s business on this segment of the market went up by 567%, to 19.1 million euros (69.3 million RON). “Although life insurance (policies) were seen as guarantees required by lenders when applying for a loan, Romanians are now becoming increasingly aware of the importance of such policies that are being regarded as a protection instrument,” the company”s representatives explained. This growth could also be explained by the fact that when taking out a loan from Banca Comerciala Romana, the customers of the bank are recommended to get an insurance policy from BCR Asigurari. This is not a mandatory requirement for getting the loan. Many clients choose this option, though, because each BCR branch includes a BCR Asigurari office, so that credit applicants do not have to waste time by going to a different insurer. Growth on the general insurance segment stands at 96% compared with the same time in 2004, reaching 41.6 million euros (150.6 million RON). ZF