ERSTE & STEIERMARKISCHE BANK LTD. PRESENTED IN ZAGREB

ZAGREB, Oct 3 (Hina) - The Erste & Steiermarkische Bank Ltd. starts its business in Croatia with a three billion kuna ($357 million) balance, bank representatives said in Zagreb on Tuesday presenting the new bank and its plans. The bank wants to be in the top five leading Croatian banks according to total assets and capital, with a three percent market share, and the leading bank in doing business with citizens. Manager Petar Radakovic reminded the bank was the merger of three smaller but successful Croatian banks: Bjelovarska, Cakovecka, and Trgovacka. The new bank's liable capital is 440 million ($47.62 million) and stock capital 272 million kuna ($32.38 million). It employs 400 in 30 sub-branches, and intends to open at least another ten. The new Croatian bank's owners, Erste Oestereeichischen Bank und Sparkassen and Steiermarkische Bank und Sparkassen, were briefly presented by Reinhard Ortner, board member of the former, and Josef Kassler, manager of the latter. They said Erste today has six million clients in Central Europe, where it is the leading bank in doing business with citizens. Steiermarkische Bank is the leading bank in the Austrian province of Styria and has extended its business to nearby Slovenia and Croatia. With a balance sum exceeding 90 billion shillings, it is the biggest regional bank in south Austria. The two representatives were later received by Croatia's parliament speaker Zlatko Tomcic and Prime Minister Ivica Racan. (hina) ha jn