Central Bank Chief Expects Fiercer Bank Competition

Ljubljana, 28 February - The year 2002 was an "artificially" excellent year for Slovenian banks due to changes in accounting standards, so it is hard to compare 2002 and 2003 directly and say that the bank's situation has deteriorated, Bank of Slovenia Governor Mitja Gaspari told Saturday's Delo, rebuffing claims that banks had it tough last year. Moreover, we have warned the banks to be careful in a time of cyclical economic change, he stressed.