OREANDA-NEWS. April 19, 2010. Following the annual general meeting of shareholders of Belgazprombank, one of the leading Belarusian editions, Komsomolskaya Pravda in Belarus, published an article about the bank performance in 2009 Belgazprombank enters top five of Belarusian banks, reported the press-centre of Belgazprombank.
 
26 March annual meeting of shareholders of Belgazprombank took place in Minsk ringing together top managers of Gazprom, Beltransgaz and Gazprombank who announced the results of the bank performance in 2009.

“Remember that we are talking about our performance in 2009, the year that has been quite complicated,” said Chairman of Belgazprombank Management Board Victor Babariko. “Our results in 2009 are quite unconventional. I am proud to state that 2009 has been one of the best years for our bank. Frankly speaking, I think that our results were so good because of the crisis. Any crisis is a short term phenomenon that only causes changes in the working conditions. Treating the 2009 events with this philosophy, I would say that the crisis encouraged everyone – shareholders, clients and employees – to show their best qualities.”

Belgazprombank ranks fourth among Belarusian banks by authorized fund, fifth – by profit and seventh – by assets and equity capital.

“The bank’s profit totaled nearly 68 billion rubles in 2009 – almost a 2-fold rise on the past year,” continued Mr. Babariko. “Behind these figures is our team’s work, and labor productivity in our bank stands at 22,000 USD per person. I think this is a very high indicator for Belarus’ banking system. I would also like to mention a serious change in the psychology of working with our clients. In late 2008 and early 2009 we did a hard job to convince them to review their attitude towards the crisis, cut their investment projects and evaluate their funding capabilities amid the new economic conditions. I would like to thank our vip-customers who appreciate our joint work.”

Despite the last year’s crisis Gazprom and Gazprombank increased Belgazprombank’s authorized fund by 75 million dollars.

“The decision to increase the authorized fund was taken before the financial crisis and we have always been consistent in implementing taken decisions since the bank foundation,” explained Deputy Chairman of Gazprom Andrey Kruglov. “We consider the bank the principal financial institution in Belarus to conduct payment and lending operations for the country’s gas industry. The bank successfully manages these tasks. Besides, the bank develops other business directions that are very important to us as stakeholders. It has reached outstanding results in lending to small and medium businesses. Currently, Belgazprombank accounts for 10% in SME’ funding in Belarus. Our aim is to reach 30%, however. It does not mean than we are going to oust someone from the business or re-divide the market. The bank management will be improving the quality of client service, develop new banking products and introduce cutting-edge banking technologies.”

Also, this year the bank will further cooperation with Belarus’ energy industry.

“This year we plan to make at least a 100 billion profit. We will be continuing to support small and medium sized businesses and hope to increase our customer base. We follow the principle ‘do what you have to do and things will be as they must be’. Being second, third or fifth in the bank rankings is not our aim. But if we do everything properly, our work will be appreciated,” said Victor Babariko.