Piraeus Bank's assets in Romania reached EUR 3.94 billion at the end of last year, down 4 percent compared to 2009, according to a report released by the bank on Thursday. The total value of the bank's loans fell by 6 percent, to EUR 3.1 billion, while its deposits portfolio increased by 2 percent, to EUR 1.1 billion.

The share of nonperforming loans out of the total loans went up to 10.8 percent at the end of last year. Moreover, Piraeus' income before provisions stood at EUR 191 million.

At a group level, Piraeus posted a loss of EUR 20.5 million for 2010, compared with a net profit of EUR 201.7 million in 2009.

Piraeus Bank Romania has 187 agencies and 1,981 employees, according to data at the end of 2010. Piraeus Bank Group is present in Romania through Piraeus Bank Romania, Piraeus Leasing, Piraeus Insurance Reinsurance Broker and Piraeus Securities Romania.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com