The Finance for Non-Financiers National Programme of UniCredit Bulbank was given an award in the “Knowledge Investor” category at the annual responsible business awards ceremony of the Bulgarian Forum of Business Leaders. The second prize in the same category was awarded to the interim Minister of Education Prof. Nikolay Denkov.

The interim Prime Minister Ognyan Gerdzhikov, Sofia’s mayor Yordanka Fandakova, ministers, diplomats and media representatives also attended the event. A special award was also given to Her Excellency the British Ambassador Emma Hopkins.

The Finance for Non-Financiers National Programme was officially launched at the end of 2015. It aims to provide wide access to information about personal finance management. A strategic goal of UniCredit Bulbank is to foster awareness of financial culture and develop cash management skills. A number of surveys clearly show that the development of such skills contributes to financial stability and well-being.

A report on the importance of financial literacy published by the World Bank highlights that "the ability of consumers to make informed financial decisions is critical to developing sound personal finance, which contributes to efficient allocation of financial resources and financial stability.“

“Financial illiteracy appears to be particularly severe for key demographic groups such as women, the less educated, those with low income, etc.”, the World Bank's report reveals.

A number of initiatives are involved in the The Finance for Non-Financiers Programme such as a series of materials “Finance for non-financiers — practical ideas for intelligent cash management” published in the corporate blog and the other digital channels such as Facebook, twitter, media partnerships, lectures to university and school students delivered by bank managers on topics such as entrepreneurship, innovations, personal budget management, etc. The Corporate Calendar 2017 of the Bank was also used as a platform for practical ideas for intelligent cash management. Each month the calendar of UniCredit Bulbank for 2017 turns into a short, entertaining and easy to understand lesson in personal finance through twelve Bulgarian sayings chosen especially for the purpose.

 

Bulgarian Business Leaders Forum Awards:

The Responsible Business Awards of the Bulgarian Business Leaders Forum aim to promote socially responsible behaviour of the business in Bulgaria. The awards are recognition of the efforts of companies which successfully develop projects in the area of corporative social responsibility, at the same time encouraging other business representatives to develop an active social policy. The Bulgarian Business Leaders Forum Annual Awards are given on a national level. Companies from all over the country can be nominated for the awards in six categories irrespective of their size, business area or whether they are members of the Forum or not.

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Additional media information:

Victoria Blajeva, tel +359 (0) 2 9264 993, wjlj/ebwjepwbAvojdsfejuhspvq/ch

Beatris Nikolova, tel +359 (0) 2 9232 528, cfbusjt/ojlpmpwbAvojdsfejuhspvq/ch