Bank Wschodni and Bank Spolem to join under Lukas Bank founder

It is now certain that the founder of Lukas Bank, Mariusz Lukasiewicz, will control Bialystok-based Bank Wschodni. On Monday, Bank Wschodni will receive its first zl. 10 million from the investor. "I'm going to purchase new share issues of Bank Wschodni and Bank Spolem," Lukasiewicz told Rzeczpospolita, adding that the takeover of Bank Spolem shares will take place in August and that of Bank Wschodni soon after. "We have to await permission from the Banking Supervisory Commission (KNB). As far as I know, the KNB will discuss the Bank Spolem issue at their next meeting. Maybe the issue of Bank Wschodni will be discussed at the following one," said Lukasiewicz. He intends to combine the forces of the two banks with Bank Spolem taking over Bank Wschodni this year. Last year Lukasiewicz stated his intention to create a new bank for wealthy clients, preferably on the Internet. "The concept has to be changed due to the profile of the two banks. We will certainly service individual and corporate clients and the Internet will be only one aspect of our activities," he said. (Rzeczpospolita, p. B7) A.Z.