Romanian lender BCR, owned by Austrian Erste, sold 25 kilos of gold in December 2013, both in pre-orders, and in over the counter sales, an option which was introduced in the last month of 2013. Over the counter sales totaled 5 kilos of gold, bought by over 100 clients.

The gold sold by BCR is supplied by the Austrian Mint, and comes in different weights: 3.1 grams coins, which costs RON 541 – or some EUR 120 – which is the cheapest coin option on sale. The largest and most expensive is of 31 grams, and costs some RON 4,600 – or some EUR 1,022. The smallest gold bar is 2 grams only, and costs RON 368 – or some EUR 81- while the heaviest is of 1 kilo and costs RON 143,000 – or some EUR 31,700.

Over the counter gold sales are currently available in 15 units across Romania, out of which five in Bucharest.

BCR – or Banca Comerciala Romana – is the largest lender in Romania assets wise, and is owned by Austrian Erste. The bank posted a net profit of EUR 127 million in the first nine months of 2013, bouncing back after a loss of EUR 172 million in the first three quarters of 2012. BCR maintained leading market share by assets, despite a decline in total assets by 7 percent to the equivalent of EUR 15.2 billion.

editor@romania-insider.com