Eurobank EFG posted a 48 per cent increase in 2005 profit due to retail loans development. The third biggest Greek bank’s profit for last year amounts to 500 mln Euros.

One of the reasons that led to this result was the big demand for retail loans on the Eastern European markets and in the Balkans, according to Alpha Finance analyst Dimitris Haralambopoulos, quoted by Reuters.

The profit of taxes and banking commissions went up more than 20 per cent up to 354 million euro. Eurobank is the majority share holder of Bancpost Bulgaria and Serbia.

EFG Eurobank is targeting a net profit of at least euro 615 million for 2006, out of which 20 per cent should come from foreign units.