Filenews 22 September 2022 - by Theano Thiopoulou
Hellenic Bank will close another 9 to 10 branches by the end of the year, while already since the beginning of 2022, 15 branches have closed, in an effort to reduce operating costs and shift customers to alternative service channels.
According to reports, no final decisions have yet been made on which stores will be by province that will terminate their operation. Based on the data of the results account for the first half of 2022, the bank's network includes 58 branches, 6 cash service points and 3 representative offices.
The 15 Elliniki stores that have closed in Nicosia are those in Dali, Latsia, Kato Lakatameia, Archachellos Avenue, Palouriotissa, Yeri and Tseri. In the Limassol district, shops in Agios Georgios, Trimiklini, Kapsalos, Agios Athanasios were closed. In the district of Larnaca the shops in Tsiakilero and Faneromeni, in the district of Famagusta the store in Paralimni and in the district of Paphos the branch in Stroumpi.
The reduction of stores and the policy for digital transformation inevitably leads to the reduction of staff. An issue that is still open since May, as the bank's management has not yet found a mutually acceptable solution with ETYK as to the amount of compensation for the departure of 300 to 350 employees. The bank's chief executive officer, Oliver Gatzke, avoided giving details of the negotiations the day before yesterday when presenting the results. The guild of employees from the beginning put on the table the maximum amount of compensation of €200,000, something with which, at least initially, the management of the bank disagreed. Staff expenses for the half-year ended 30 June 2022 amounted to €77,9 million. and represented 54% of the group's total expenses (half-yearly as of 30 June 2021: 53%). Compared to €67.2 million in the half-year ended June 30, 2021, staff costs for the half-year ended June 30, 2022 increased by 16%.
