Following good H1 BZ WBK aims for 2006 profit of zł.1billion

growth of 59% as compared to the same period last year. The gross profit totaled zł.571 million, which is 63% higher than in H1 2005. "This proves that in the next reporting period we will post a constant increase in profit. I think a gross profit of zł.1 billion this year is within our reach," stated BZ WBK president Jacek Kseń. At the same time BZ WBK plans to pay out high dividends. "We do not want to maintain high capital. Next year we also propose to pay out a high dividend though probably not as high as 97% of the profit paid out in 2005," declared Kseń. The board emphasizes that the value of loans grew by 12%. The largest increase was noted in cash loans (92%) and mortgage loans (26%). The bank's cost to income ratio decreased by 9.6% and amounted to 51.5%, while the ROE increased by almost 7% to 23.1%. (Puls Biznesu, p. 8) E.B.