THE NATIONAL BANK of Slovakia (NBS) reported a Sk45.1 billion (€1.37 billion) loss in 2006. The central bank closed 2005 only Sk663 million (€20 million) in the red.
The appreciation of the Slovak currency and monetary policy were behind the widening of the gap.
The NBS bank board decided that the loss would remain uncovered and would be covered by future profits from the central bank and other resources.
The aggregate loss of the Slovak central bank, excluding the 2006 loss, totals about Sk77 billion (€2.3 billion).
The main mission of the NBS is not to generate a profit, but to supervise the monetary stability and financial market, including banks and pension fund management companies.
