World Finance Magazine, July 2020: Interview with Petia Dimitrova, CEO and Chairperson of the Management Board, Postbank
World Finance Magazine, July 2020
What is your overview of the Bulgarian banking sector in 2019? What are you expectations for 2020?
2019 was very successful for the Bulgarian banking sector. Once again, Postbank showed excellent results and was on top by many measures. The successful merger with Piraeus Bank Bulgaria, carried out in a record short period of four months, ranked us at the end of the year in third place in the country by deposits and credit portfolio.
The projections for 2020 are really dynamic. In view of the ongoing crisis, I believe the Bulgarian banking system is prepared – all banks posted good results in terms of stability and risk. One thing is sure – the Covid-19 pandemic has taught us to be more united, even from distance, and together to overcome hard times, becoming wiser and stronger. During the state of emergency in Bulgaria, Postbank was among the banks with the fastest response, offering packages of measures in support of our clients. As a leading lender with great achievements and ambitions in the area of digitalisation, we implemented the Bank@Home campaign, which encourages consumers to stay home and use Postbank’s already extensive digital channels in order to protect themselves and the bank’s employees.
What is the key factor behind Postbank’s success?
The primary factor is Postbank employees, who are at the core of everything we do. Since its establishment, Postbank has been investing lots of resources and efforts in creating the best consumer experience for its clients and in turning into a preferred working place for its employees. To provide the best services to our clients, we have opened the first of their kind new generation offices where customers can easily and comfortably use banking services, consult with experts and find the optimal solutions for their lonf-term plans. We intend to gradually renovate our entire branch network in the country over the next several years.
Can you elaborate on Postbank’s plans for 2020?
We will certainly introduce more innovations, new products and digital solutions, so that our clients can choose from a large range of products and services. Our main focus will remain the development of the bank’s digital instruments, as this is part of our strategy for optimal consumer experience. We will also focus on the individual approach towards every client because there is a concrete personalised solution for every need.
In 2020, we will continue our strategic partnerships with various organisations in the country in order to contribute to the development of the community. For instance, jointly with the global entrepreneurship organisation, Endeavor, we will continue the program which provides comprehensive support to successful scale-ups. Another priority will be our partnership with SoftUni (one of the most innovative universities in Bulgaria), with which we are building upon the digital skills of future professionals by lending them a hand in the realisation of their projects and providing them with opportunities for career development in our company.
Our team has always set itself lofty goals and managed to surpass them. This is possible because we can rely on a united and strong team, numerous partners, rich experience and a long-term vision for development.
