UniCredit Bulbank was named “Best Bank in Bulgaria” by the international magazine Global Finance. The award is based on the results of the magazine’s annual survey for the world’s best banks. Traditionally the winners have been announced in the May issue of the Global Finance.

The main criteria for “Best Bank” selection are customer orientation, commercial success and the prerequisites for continued positive growth, says Global Finance. To award the prize Global Finance has conducted interviews with stock analysts, rating experts and banking experts consultants to complement quantitative data of the bank balance sheets. Global Finance has around 284 000 readers in 158 countries.

The prize will be awarded to the CEO of UniCredit Bulbank Levon Hampartzoumian in Washington on 13th of October 2008 on a special ceremony, where are invited the top managers of the world best banks.

UniCredit Bulbank is the biggest Bulgarian bank in terms of assets exceeding 9 billion BGN. The bank is a leading bank in assets, credits, attracted funds, equity and profit for 2007. The bank is also a leader in corporate and investment banking and one of the leaders in retail banking. The bank operates with one of the biggest banking network in the whole country with over 4000 employees.

For the past year, despite of the difficult merger of the three banks, UniCredit Bulbank has profitability and efficiency indicators which exceed market indexes:

• Net profit: 255.2 mln leva, growth with around 90%

• Net operating income: 333.7 mln leva, growth with around 25%

• Return on average assets: 3.1%, growth with 1.2 p.p.

• Return on average equity: 23.9%, growth with 9.5 p.p

• Cost/income ratio: 41.6%, growth with 2.9 p.p.

The combined UniCredit Bulbank received the highest rating in Bulgaria BBB+ from the leading rating agency in the world Standard & Poor’s. The bank rating is equal to the country rating.