Second place is first loser according to Getin Bank

The bank's management, however, feels that it can do better. "It gives us the second place in the car financing market after Santander Consumer bank. We are not happy with that," said deputy president Grzegorz Tracz. "We are interested in the number one position and intend to win it this year. I do not want to reveal the plans but I assure you that this year the increase of our assets will be significantly faster," he added. The bank's assets increased in 2006 while the number of the loans granted decreased by 4.8% compared to 2005. But according to Tracz, this was in as planned. "We simply grant loans of higher value, mainly for the purchase of new cars," he said. The majority of loans are brokered through a network of 500 agents. Getin is also planning further expansion in the eastern markets. It is currently negotiating the purchase of a bank in Russia where it owns one of the largest car leasing companies, Carcade, and it has just bought a bank in Ukraine. (Puls Biznesu, p.10) E.B.