Our strategy focuses on two key sectors of activity offering the highest margins and the best growth prospects: retail banking in Greece and particularly loans to individuals and small business loans, and overall expansion in Southeastern Europe. Our strategy aims to create an even stronger and more efficient institution with significant benefits for our shareholders and customers.

It is our intention to become the leading Bank in the wider region of Southeastern Europe – a rapidly developing and profitable market of 60 million people. Our Network in Southeastern Europe (Romania, Serbia, Bulgaria, Albania, FYROM and Cyprus) consisted of 403 Branches at the end of 2007, broadly matching the number Branches we have in Greece.

We have built up our organisation and systems in order to make feasible a faster expansion in the Greek retail business and the Balkan markets. We will continue to invest in human capital and technology with a view to support income-generating activities while reigning in cost growth through process reengineering.