At the end of June the total assets of the banking system in Bulgaria stood at 65.745 bln leva (33.61 bln euros). This is a hike of 11% compared with March this year and of 39.24% against June 2007.

The assets of 17 of the 29 lenders top 1 bln leva (compared with 13 a year ago).

The biggest bank in Bulgaria (in terms of assets) is still Unicredit Bulbank, which controls a total of 10.1 bln leva (5.16 bln leva), 31.48% up year on year.

DSK Bank and United Bulgarian Bank (UBB) are second and third, followed by Raiffeisen Bank. Eurobank EFG Bulgaria (the former Post Bank and DZI Bank) is fifth with assets in the amount of 5 billion leva (2.55 bln euros).

The public First Investment Bank and Piraeus Bank both control assets of more than 4 bln leva and Societe Generale Expressbank has 2.1 bln leva.

The assets of the following banks top 1 bln leva: Alpha Bank, EIBank, Corporate Commercial Bank, Allianz Bank Bulgaria, CCB, Unionbank, Municipal Bank, Investbank and ProCredit Bank.

Emporiki Bank and Unionbank saw the fastest increase in assets (in % terms) - by 140.31% and 136.07%, respectively. Unionbank increased assets by 83.2%.

In real terms, the banks whose assets rose the most are UBB, Unicredit Bulbank and Raiffeissen Bank – all of them hiked their balanced figures by more than 2 bln leva. DSK Bank increased assets by 1.9 bln leva, and Piraeus Bank and Alpha Bank added 1.66 bln and 1.13 bln leva, respectively.

Read more: Three Banks Report Profit Higher Than 100 Mln Leva in H1