Special Supplement: Greece - Bilateral Benefits - The Chairman Of National Bank Of Greece, Takis Arapoglou, Discusses The Acquisition Of Turkey's Finansbank And Developments Closer To Home.(Interview)

Banker, The, May, 2007 by Arapoglou, Takis

Byline: TAKIS ARAPOGLOU

Takis Arapoglou, a long-time Citi banker, took up Greece's biggest banking job at the request of Costas Karamanlis, the prime minister. Traditionally the chairman of National Bank of Greece (NBG) is appointed by the government.

Mr Arapoglou's task is to streamline domestic banking operations while expanding the group's franchise in south-east Europe. Running Ionian Bank, a small state-controlled lender, in the early 1990s gave him a useful grasp of Greek banking culture. "We have to maintain high revenue growth, integrate the enlarged group and keep on with restructuring in Greece," says Mr Arapoglou. "It's a challenge."

NBG's acquisition last year of Finansbank, the eighth largest Turkish bank, is already paying off,...

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