Prima banka condemned the state assistance programs

Prima banka, owned by Penta, was the only Slovak Banking Association member to abstain when voting on the agreement with the government to eliminate the banking levy. It thinks the elimination should not be bartered off. It is among the banks suing the government on the levy, and would not comment on whether it will withdraw the lawsuit. It also argues that state loan guarantees "distort competition" and it did not take part in the program of small state-backed loans. It would not comment on whether it will join the new program of large state-backed loans. It even condemned the loan repayment deferral scheme. Banks report deferred loans as performing, which only delays the final pandemic reckoning and supports banks with the worst loan portfolio quality.

(sme.sk)