Greek banks owning branches in Bulgaria and Romania are determined to keep all of them, despite the aspirations of some Turkish banks, Ziraat included, to buy out subsidiaries in the two countries, in an attempt to take advantage of the economic situation in Greece, Novinite.com reads, quoting Greek publication Proto Thema.

Greek bankers are not going to renounce the strategy of preserving their control over actives in the Balkans and to make a priority out of holding on to all branches, Proto Thema informs.

Piraeus Group managing Council President Michalis Salas told Bulgarian news agency BTA that Piraeus Bank was going to continue to support, by any means, the approximately 5,000 Greek companies operating in the Balkans.