Profil:
ING Bank Śląski SAING BSK lender expects public investments to grow this year
Listed lender ING BSK counts on economic growth in 2025 and its positive impact on costs of risk; the bank also anticipates a slightly faster growth of loan origination vs 2024 as well as a rebound in public investments, followed by private investments, the bank's representatives told a conference.
"I hope that 2025 will be marked by economic growth and a positive impact on the cost of risk, but I think that caution should be exercised for the next two quarters," said deputy CEO Bozena Graczyk.
The bank forecasts that market lending will grow faster in 2025 compared to 2024, with corporate loans expanding at a quicker pace than household loans. ING BSK expects growth in both working capital and investment loans.
ING BSK also intends to recommend allocating approximately 75 percent of the bank's standalone profit for 2024 to dividends.
"Our dividend policy is always adapted to needs. Assuming credit growth, it is typically 50 percent, but credit growth is lower than we assumed, so we believe we can pay out 75 percent," said CEO Brunon Bartkiewicz.
The bank estimates a total sector lending to increase by 5.4 percent in 2025.
The bank estimates that Polish beneficiaries will receive approximately PLN 50 billion (EUR 11.9 bln) from the grants under the national recovery plan (KPO) and nearly PLN 40 billion (EUR 9.5 bln) from the loan part of KPO in 2025.
ING BSK assesses that the interest rate at 5.75 percent will be restrictive, and there is room for its reduction by 50-100 basis points in 2025.
seb/ nl/ jz/
