National Bank of Greece (NBG) CEO Pavlos Mylonas on Thursday outlined the bank’s achievements in 2023 and shared his outlook on a favorable economic and banking climate, during a general shareholders’ meeting. Notably, the meeting marked a significant milestone with the approval of a dividend for the first time in 16 years.

The assembly also endorsed the financial statements for 2023 and the Board of Directors’ overall management. Furthermore, a share buyback program was approved, pending clearance from the Single Supervisory Mechanism. The dividend approved corresponds to 30% of the bank’s net profits for 2023.

In his opening address, Chairman Gikas Hardouvelis stressed that the National Bank has turned a new chapter and is now a key player in advancing the domestic banking sector and the Greek economy.

CEO Mylonas then emphasized that 2023 was a pivotal year for the bank, receiving broad and tangible acknowledgment of its five-year efforts from shareholders, regulators, rating agencies, customers, and the wider community.

Looking forward, Mylonas projected a stable and conducive macroeconomic and political environment that would foster robust growth. He anticipated strong demand for loans, particularly for business investments, and noted that this positive climate would also boost demand for personal loans, especially in the housing sector.

Wrapping up his speech, Mylonas affirmed that the National Bank is committed to honoring shareholder trust and aims to be the preferred bank for its clients.