Bank PKO BP maintains its privatization plans

Despite the fact that the privatization of the largest domestic bank, bank PKO BP might be delayed, the institution is nevertheless putting the final touches to its issue prospectus and is fighting to win clients from new sectors, such as SMEs. The management of the bank is fully aware that if Parliamentary election are held this year, then its privatization will be delayed. "We are still keeping to our plans. However, we are ready for any scenario," said Jacek Obłękowski, deputy president of PKO BP. According to analysts, the bank's 2004 profit will be around zł.1.5 billion, while a year earlier it amounted to zł.1.2 billion. PKO BP hopes that with the renewed focus on SMEs, the sector will increase the loans it takes from the bank from the present zł.8 billion to zł.10-11 billion. (Puls Biznesu, pp. 1, 6) M.M.