In 2009 the Erste Bank approved 10% more loans than last year, while in 2010, despite expectations of increased loan activity in Croatia, the Erste expects a drop
The bank’s chairman of the board Petar Radaković says that it is possible that this year’s growth may be halved.
The bank is small and middle sized business oriented, and small businesses depend on the big national companies.
Until local business conditions improve, no considerable loan growth may be expected.
Exports are few, entrepreneurs are mostly focused on the small, domestic market, and without some change to the Croatian government’s economic policies as well as the opening of new jobs, there is no chance banks will place more money, the Erste Bank, Croatia’s third largest in assets, reports.
