In the first quarter of 2019, banks in Croatia reported pre-tax operating profits in the amount of HRK 1.62 billion, which is HRK 32.69 million less than in the same period of 2018, show the latest figures from the Croatian National Bank (HNB).

A comparison of preliminary unaudited data for credit institutions in Q1 and those for the same period of 2018 shows that in the first three months of this year banks’ gross profits were 1.97% down from the same period of last year, when banks’ gross profit amounted to HRK 1.65 billion.

The central bank’s data for Q1 show also that the banks’ total assets in Q1 grew 0.69% to HRK 411.47 billion.

According to preliminary unaudited data on 31 March 2019, 19 banks earned a gross profit while two reported losses.

Zagrebacka Banka had the highest gross profit at the end of Q1, HRK 631.27 million or 35.7% more than in Q1 2018, when its profit amounted to HRK 465.1 million.

According to the central bank’s data, the two banks that reported losses are Jadranska Banka, with a loss of HRK 3.3 million, and J&T Bank, which reported a loss of HRK 1.39 million.

(EUR 1 = HRK 7.418955)