The Romanian Commercial Bank-BCR, part of the Erste Group, reported a profit of 44.3 million euro in the first quarter of 2007, according to financial results published April 30. Mother company Erste reported a net profit of 302.1 million euro overall, a new quarterly maximum for the Austrian group.

Erste’s net profit grew 25.1% in Q1 2007 compared to the same period last year. And it reported an all-segment improvement in terms of income, with the elimination of the first effects of BCR assimilation.

Erste eyes a net profit growth of at least 25% for 2007.

When it comes to BCR, the bank profit was supported by increased lending activities. BCR’s operational results stood at 83.3 million euro in the first quarter of the year. The Romanian bank expectes a 40% growth of the net profit in 2007.