Hellenic Bank issues positive profit forecast

Hellenic Bank issued a positive profit warning for its 9M07 financial results,

which would be announced on 19 November 2007.Specifically, the Bank stated that on the basis of preliminary indications the increase of the profitability of the Bank for 3Q07 is in line with the profitability of the interim results of the year, whilst the profitability of 9M07 records significant improvement compared to 9M06.

According to management, the improvement in HB’s profitability is primarily due to the exceptionally high growth of its loan portfolio, the further improvement of its loan book quality, gains arising from the acquisition of Athina Cyprus Pcl (ATH.CY), as well as from gains arising from the disposal and revaluation of equities. In 2Q07 HB recorded a

net profit of EUR 45.9 mln while a year ago in the 9M06 period, the Bank recorded a net profit of EUR 35 mln.