BIGBANK
BIGBANK annual report 2008

BIGBANK / 

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BIGBANK's profit amounted up to 144,8 M EEK in 2008

According to BIGBANK AS audited and consolidated Annual Report 2008  the
company earned total profit of 144,8 M EEK last year while bank's loan
portfolio stayed at same level growing by 4,5% compared to 2007. 

BIGBANK's loan portfolio amounted up to 2,289 billion EEK at the end on 2008.
The portfolio was split between markets as following: 50,4% from Estonia, 40,2%
from Latvia and 9,4% from Lithuania. The largest portfolio growth was on
Lithuanian market where the loans to clients grew by 154,7M EEK or 2,5 times in
2008. BIGBANK started its activities on Lithuanian market in fall of 2007. 

The consolidated net profit of BIGBANK amounted up to 144,8 M EEK in 2008
compared with 177,3 M EEK in 2007. The profitability was influenced by the
increase of interest expenses and loan provisions. The interest income was
686,3 M EEK and interest expenses 248,3 M EEK. 

The volume of term deposits grew up to 630,6 M EEK at  the end of 2008,
compared with 183,9 M EEK the year before. 

The chairman of the board of BIGBANK, Mr. Targo Raus said that considering the
overall macro-economic situation the BIGBANK operations in 2008 were also more
conservative than in previous years but the bank managed to maintain good
profitability. We see the same conservative principles to apply also in 2009,
said Mr. Raus. 

BIGBANK continued conservative policy in its liquidity management and enlarged
cash amounts on bank accounts. The total amount of monetary liquidities at the
end of year was 479,4 M EEK or 16,5% of total balance sheet value. The year
before were the same indicators 369,0 M EEK and 14,1%. 

The sums put into reserves of possible loan losses grew. At the end of 2008 the
total amount of the reserve was 210,8 M EEK compared with 101,7 M EEK in 2007.
The growth of the reserve derives from the principles of conservative approach
towards forming of loan discounts. This includes special collective discount in
Q3 that took into consideration the general deterioration of macro-economical
situation in Latvia. At the same time grew the other operating income (mostly
consisting of enforcement income) amounting 129,0 M EEK compared to 52,8 M EEK
in 2207. 

At the end of 2008 BIGBANK employed 512 people in three Baltic States; the bank
had 45 branch offices. 

BIGBANK AS is an Estonian-owned specialized credit institution with
subsidiaries in Latvia and Lithuania. The bank also offers cross-border
services in Finland. BIGBANK's bonds are listed on the Tallinn and Stockholm
stock exchanges. 

For further information please contact:

Targo Raus
Chairman of the board
targo.raus@bigbank.ee 
Telephone: +372 735 0923

News Source: NASDAQ OMX

27.02.2009  Financial News transmitted by DGAP
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Language:     English
Issuer:       BIGBANK
              
               
              Estonia
Phone:        
Fax:          
E-mail:       
Internet:     
ISIN:         EE3300082940
WKN:          
 
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