BCR, BRD and Raiffeisen accumulate 80% of banking system profit

The top three banks in terms of assets – BCR, BRD-SocGen and Raiffeisen Bank, accounted for 80% of the profit derived in the banking system in the first half of the year, a total of 421 million euros. According to data from the NBR (National Bank of Romania), the net profit cumulated six months into the year amounted to 1.19 billion RON (522 million euros), 37% higher than the profit posted in the first half of 2007. The hierarchy of the three banks in terms of profit is identical to the asset ranking. However, while the BCR derived the highest net profit (206.6 million euros at group level), Raiffeisen (with 74 million euros in net earnings, calculated according to international accounting standards) had the best return on equity. At Raiffeisen, the ROE rose to 33.4%, compared with 30.4% at BCR.