Bulgaria: Bank privatization gathers pace

This month Bulgaria starts drafting plans to privatize Bulbank. This is the biggest and best of the six state-owned banks which the pro-market Union of Democratic Forces government slated for privatization when it took power earlier this year. The first to be sold was United Bulgarian Bank in July. Expressbank, Bulgarian Post Bank, Hebrosbank and Commercial Bank Biochim are next in line along with Bulbank. Together they account for some 84% of the banking market.

Key indicators for Bulgarian banks, June 30 1997
Expressbank Post Bank Hebrosbank Biochim

Number of branches

93

104

166

140

Assets ($ million)

144

160

98

172

Loan portfolio ($ million)

51

67

25

47

Equity capital ($ million)

4.3

8.5

6.0

9.1

Present government stake (%)

98.0

78.2

97.6

99.3

Capital adequacy (%)

12

21

9

5

Deposits ($ million)

123

135

78

141

Most recent annual profits ($)

1,062,230

7,167,673

1,961

This month Bulgaria starts drafting plans to privatize Bulbank. This is the biggest and best of the six state-owned banks which the pro-market Union of Democratic Forces government slated for privatization when it took power earlier this year. The first to be sold was United Bulgarian Bank in July.

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