GB00_erste lage_E - Erste Group

Erste Bank—
a seal of quality
Hungary
Erste Bank Hungary Rt. employs a staff of about 970 at 55 locations and has a presence in all
of the country’s important economic centres. With total assets of about EUR 700 million, Erste
Bank Hungary Rt. is one of the 12 largest banks in Hungary. It currently has about 250,000 retail
customers, giving it a market share of 3.5% in this segment. The long-term objective is to expand
this figure to 15–20%, with a particular focus on the Budapest area and cities with populations
of more than 50,000.
The product range was successfully expanded by the introduction of mortgage loans and automobile
leases in co-operation with EBV-Leasing. In the corporate business segment in Hungary,
seven regional corporate banking centres serve medium-sized companies in particular. The range
for the about 4,500 corporate customers encompasses classic finance and investment products
as well as trade and project finance.
One key endeavour in 2000 was a nation-wide advertising campaign, which continues the
marketing offensive to position the “Erste Bank” premium brand in Hungary. Another was the
focus on students as a target group, and a third the introduction of “Symbols”, the new integrated
banking software, which satisfies the requirements of modern wholesale and retail banking
and is already used by the entire branch network.
Outlook
Goals for the financial year 2001 are the expansion of the Budapest branch network—addressing
high-net-worth customers and professionals in particular—as well as the implementation of
Erste Bank’s retail concept.
Erste Bank 2000 37