LAST UPDATE: 14.44
By Leonidas Stergiou
The Ordinary General Assembly of the Hellenic Banks Association was held today, Monday 25 July 2022. The Chairman of the Board of Directors, Mr. Vasilios Rapanos, presenting the 2021 report, stated
The challenges faced by the Greek economy and the Greek banking system last year, and the ominous prospects for 2022, due to the prevailing global conditions, were mentioned at today’s regular general meeting of the Hellenic Banking Association (EET) by its president, Mrs. Vassilis Rapanas .
The chairman of EET and chairman of Alpha Bank, Mr. Rapanos, after the end of the assembly, stated that during the first half of 2022, due to sufficient liquidity, the financing of the real economy by Greek banks was ensured without interruption and the substantial contribution of the Greek banks in the green transition and digital transformation.
Indeed, according to data from the Bank of Greece up to May and bank data up to June, total credit expansion reached 8 billion euros, compared to 7.1 billion euros in the corresponding period last year. Thus, in the first half of 2022 there is an increase of 11%, on an annual basis, despite the unfavorable conditions, while the banks have covered approximately 60% of the annual targets (against 45%) in the corresponding period last year.
According to Mr. Rapanos, the Greek banking system maintains its commitment to substantial support for the Greek economy and is ready to contribute to addressing existing and new challenges.
At the Ordinary General Assembly of the Union, structural changes in the organization and structure were approved, with gradual changes in the statutory bodies and the operation of the Union being made gradually, so as not to affect the continuation of its action and will be subject to continuous evaluation.
The Regular General Assembly approved the amendments to the Statute, regarding the new composition and operation of the Coordinating Committees, its Executive Committee and the General Manager. The call for General Manager coverage that had already been decided and announced, has not resulted in the selection of persons. Thus, for the time being, the current general secretary of the Union, Mrs. Haroula Apalagaki, will probably perform the duties of general manager until September.
Finally, Mr. Rapanos thanked the members of the outgoing Executive Committee and its President, Mr. Stavros Ioannou, who is deputy CEO of Eurobank.
Referring to the 2021 report, Mr. Rapanos noted the biggest challenges were dealing with the consequences of the pandemic, maintaining high capital adequacy ratios, financing the economy, preparing the plans in view of the Recovery Fund for total investments of 71 billion euros , the return and increase of deposits, the successful completion of stress tests and investments in digital transformation and the general transformation of the banking system.
Banking circles estimate that technology investments alone in the three years may dry up 1 billion euros, in total, while together with strategic agreements and changes in organizational structures and operation, in 2021 alone it is estimated that more than 2-3 billion were invested. euro.
Source: Capital
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