Banca Comerciala Romana (BCR), member of Erste Group, implements a comprehensive Integration and Development Program (IDP), which aims at all segments of BCR’s activity, from corporate, retail and risk management, reporting and controlling, including Basel II, to the operation and IT area (which includes among others the process reengineering activities, procurement and property management) and other support functions (e.g. HR, marketing and communication). The program has an over 40 projects portfolio, intended to ensure both business development and functional improvement of the internal operating system. The project will be completed by stages, starting this year, until mid 2008.
“Many may be really surprised that BCR engages itself in an important transforming process. Why today, when BCR is the undisputed leader of the Romanian banking system, proving over the last 6 years a profitability trend marked by obvious and sustained growth, when it represents one of the most trustworthy and renowned brands in Romania? The answer can be simple, namely that BCR’s current success does not necessarily grants its continuity over the following years. The best moment for transformation, for repositioning surges when the business is solid, successful and when the business environment and the institution’s life gathered sufficient elements to determine this most suitable moment: the one when the business is still on a continuously growing trend”, stated Nicolae Danila, BCR’s CEO.
IDP has as key objectives to strengthen BCR’s leading position on the Romanian market, to increase effectiveness and profitability, to implement Erste Group’s best practices for the benefit of BCR’s customers, shareholders and employees, to modernize all processes in-line with the standards of a European banking group, leader on the central and eastern continent’s financial market.
The management of IDP and of each component project is also achieved in a mixed formula, the Program’s implementation being supervised by BCR’s and Erste Bank’s CEOs.
BCR’s integration within the Erste Group network means to offer the same products and services as are offered in the other countries, to operate at an even higher standard, to enhance care for customer and employee, to become more competitive and efficient. A very important aspect is the employees intensive training in order to have a client-oriented and sales-oriented approach.