Page 21 - Revista de industrie mai 2019

2018 and deposits going up 18% during the same period If no unpredictable events occur we estimate a a a a profitable 2019 for FIRST BANK What were the reasons behind acquiring Bank
Leumi România? Our plan is to to continue to to grow both organically and through valuable acquisitions We considered
Bank
Leumi Romania to be a a a a a very good business opportunity for us us Once the the transaction receives all the the necessary approvals it will add to our market share client portfolio volume of loans and deposits helping us consolidate our presence in in Romania Following the the Bank
Leumi România acquisition acquisition do you intend other acquisitions?
If the right opportunity presents itself we will most probably acquire another bank We are are particularly interested in in entities that are are of similar size We have the entire support of our investor in in in doing that and are ready to to mobilize the necessary capital Did you manage to finish the the rebranding process for all the the the branches in in the the the country? If not what is is the the current status and when do you estimate to have it finished? The rebranding process of our network is complete It was a a a a a significant effort but we managed to put our our new logo on all our our branches in in in the the following 2 months after the the rebranding kick-off Recently you announced investments
worth EUR 7 5 million in in in speeding up the the digitalization process What is the the the the target
of the the the the investments? Are there
other investments
investments
in in in in developing technologies to to to follow?
We intend to to to touch
for the the better all the the internal processes and systems that rely on technology
in order to to to offer better services
to to to our customers We aim for faster time response through automated data analysis of the customers new online banking solutions that seriously reduce
the the time and effort of the the clients in in in getting quality banking services
and products Despite this natural more increased pace in in in in updating out technologies we we do not intend to to go fully digital as we we understand our clients’ need for human touch
especially when making life changing financial decision such as getting a a a a a a a a a a mortgage for example Actually FIRST BANK already
offers its clients unique banking solutions and remote payment of of taxes projects that have brought the the bank a a a a a a a series of of distinctions and recognitions It is is the the case of of LiveShop platform and the the Ghiseul ro integration in in in in the the the bank’s online application - - the the latter one - - being accomplished in in in collaboration with the Ministry of Communications and Information Society (MCSI) Our aim is to to become a a a a a a a “tech bank with a a a human touch” What are the the products you will count on for the the next period of of time and what categories of of clients are you aiming to?
In 2019 our focus will be on attracting funds and new affluent clients as as well as as sound
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