The initiative called “UniCredit’s Green Day“ during which at the end of October nearly 300 employees of UniCredit Bulbank and their families planted 1,300 willows and other some 1,800 healing buckthorn plants in Vitosha Park, was distinguished as “Voluntary Initiative of the Year“. UniCredit Bulbank is the only financial institution awarded for the voluntary work of its employees in the national competition organized by the Culture Ministry, Tulip Foundation, National Alliance for Volunteer Action and the Representation of the European Commission in Bulgaria.

“What UniCredit Bulbank’s employees have done is of very big value and is sustainable in time. We will continue to enjoy the results of their labour in the forthcoming years“, Ivan Stanchov, Chairman of the MB of Karin Dom Foundation and member of the competition’s jury said upon handing in the award.

On behalf of UniCredit Bulbank the award was received by Ivan Apostolov, Head of Markets and Brokerage – the unit which gave the initial idea for the planting. He thanked all colleagues from the Bank for joining the initiative with such desire and readiness. “The fact that the colleagues responded so quickly and supported out idea made possible the remarkable result we achieved – in one day only, in Vitosha Park we planted more than 3,000 new plants“, said Apostolov and congratulated all other participants and winners in the competition.

A total of 28 projects competed for the awards in the national competition for voluntary initiative.

About the initiative “Green day of UniCredit“

Supported by their families, the employees of the bank showed professionalism also in the planting and thanks to their voluntary work the recovery of two indigenous for the Vitosha Mountain plants – white willow and buckthorn, will be supported.

The initiative is part of the National Green Program of UniCredit Bulbank during which every year the Bank performs environmental projects. Upon the start of the program in 2008 nearly 400 decares of forests were planted near Stara Zagora and over 30 km of main tourist alleys in Vitosha were recovered – from Aleko Hut to the village of Bistritsa along the Yanchovska and the Bistrishka rivers.

In 2009 the Bank financed the recovery of an eco-path near the village of Borino, close to the Devil’s Bridge rock phenomenon.

Last year the Bank together with Bulgarian Charities Aid Foundation, organized a competition for environmental project, which was won by the National Parks’ Association – thus the Bank financed with BGN 5 thousand the purchase of photo-traps for watching animal species and specifying their habitats in six parks.

Simultaneously with that the Bank started a large-scale campaign for giving up paper statement and their replacement with electronic ones. Some two months ago the Bank made another step to a greener nature by announcing that it will use only recycled paper for its advertising materials.

More information for media:

UniCredit Bulbank, Identity & Communications Department

Viktoria Blajeva, Phone: + 359 2 9264 993, wjlj/ebwjepwbAvojdsfejuhspvq/ch

Ekaterina Ancheva, Phone: + 359 2 9264 963, еlbufsjob/bodifwbAvojdsfejuhspvq/ch

More information for clients: UniCredit Bulbank, Call Centre Phone: 0700 1 84 84