Bank BPH unveils its bold strategy for 2004-06

Bank BPH has announced its strategy for 2004-2006. The bank wants to increase ROE from the present 12% to 22% by 2006 and decrease its costs to revenues ratio to 51% from the current 63.8%. The new strategy envisages opening at least 77 new outlets so as to increase their overall number to between 550 and 600. The bank also wants to double its share in the market of services for wealthy individuals whose monthly income exceeds zł.5,000. BPH plans to increase the share of mortgage loans in its credit portfolio from 17% to 25% and achieve a substantial growth in the sales of credit cards (to 250,000 by the end of 2004 from 100,000 in the previous year). The bank will reorganize its employment structure, which involves laying off over 870 members of staff. The overall investments connected with implementation of the new strategy are estimated to total almost zł.100 million.