Bankers have indicated that the aggressive expansion of banks throughout the country could drop in the future as annual costs for new units, worth several million euro, have led to a drop in profit. The alternative is internet banking and broker intermediation.
Loan brokerage makes up 5 percent of the market. This year alone, shareholders contributed over €500 million to capital of institutions. Banks added 230 units in the first quarter of 2008 with capitalization money.
