UniCredit Bulbank in partnership with Allianz Bulgaria Pension Company offers pension funds via its branch network. In this way, customers can enter into an agreement for supplementary retirement provision quickly and easily. UniCredit Bulbank's experts advise customers to benefit from Golden Ages: an online instrument developed by the Bank, part of Your Financial Advisor and one of a kind which will bring customers the desired comfort in their golden age. Thanks to Golden Ages each customer will be able to analyse his/her financial standing as of the date and after the date of retirement and choose the most suitable distribution of his/her financial assets. The service is entirely free.

"As I have mentioned many times, a bank is as good as are its clients. In 2014 UniCredit Bulbank marked 50th years of its establishment. Our partnership with Allianz provides another proof of our ambition to continue working confidently FOR the future of our customers", said Levon Hampartzoumian, CEO of UniCredit Bulbank.

"Our partnership with UniCredit Bulbank is another step in proving the successful cooperation between both companies, which is beneficial for our customers. Retirement provision is charged with a lot of social impulses. Nowadays Bulgarians show a much keener interest in supplementary retirement provision. This is a process that has been developing. It arouses the interest of more and more people who realize that they can receive a much higher pension when they retire", said Sofia Hristova, CEO of Allianz Bulgaria Pension Company AD.

Golden Ages platform offers advice on how to save money for pension, how to achieve it and how to structure investments. UniCredit Bulbank is the only bank on the market which can prepare a saving and investment scheme via Golden Аges tailored to the customer's needs as well as offer solutions for future financial stability upon retirement.

"The goal of mandatory pension schemes in Bulgaria has not been achieved yet, and more specifically, the income received upon retirement to reach the same standard of living in working age and thus avoid incomes below the poverty line", said Tsvetanka Mincheva, Head of Retail Banking, UniCredit Bulbank. She added that one of the major principles of the bank is to bring actual benefits for its customers. This is why a special instrument like Golden Аges came into existence. Its purpose is to help everybody live a better life in their golden ages.

In Bulgaria only 12% of households' financial assets are deposited in pension funds in contrast to the USA where the index is twice as high (24%). This is what the analyses of UniCredit Bulbank and Allianz showed at a joint seminar. Bulgarians usually prefer deposits, whereas only 15% of household assets overseas are deposited in banks.

It is historically proven that pension funds can combat inflation. The average inflation rate for the past 14 years has been 5.22%, and the average profitability of supplementary retirement provision Allianz Bulgaria is 5.95%. The arithmetic mean profitability of Bulgarian pension funds in 2013 are as follows: 5.24% - Occupational Pension Fund, 6.86% - Voluntary Pension Fund and 4.65% - Universal Pension Fund.

Allianz Bulgaria Pension Company has preserved the confidence and lived up to customers' expectations for 20 years. As of March 31, 2014 Allianz Bulgaria Pension Company managed 23% of pension fund assets in Bulgaria. The company holds 44% market share in terms of voluntary pension fund assets. The number of ensured persons in the three pension funds managed by the company exceed 941 324.

"This proves that our customers consider us as a reliable company to which they can entrust their future. For a fourth consecutive year Allianz Bulgaria Pension Company received the Pension Fund Company of the Year Award, category: voluntary retirement provision. The company has been a convincing winner and holder of the prestigious award in this category since its establishment in 2010", added Sofia Hristova.

As of March 31, 2014 all fund assets for supplementary retirement provision amounted to BGN 7.24 billion, which is equal to 9% of GDP for 2013.

According to data of the Financial Supervision Commission 3.3 million people or 69% of people in working age participate in a universal pension fund; 262 thousand or 5% in an occupational pension fund, 590 thousand or 12% in a voluntary pension fund.

In Eastern Europe employees earning a high income receive 63% of their remuneration on average when they retire; The Czech Republic shows the lowest indicator - 31%. Bulgaria occupies the second place with 53% substitution of the income received before retirement. In contrast, people earning a high income in Hungary receive about 83% of their salary after retirement.

More information for clients:

UniCredit Bulbank, Call Centre

Phone: 0700 1 84 84

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, flbufsjob/bodifwbAvojdsfejuhspvq/ch

Magdalena Ivanova, Phone: + 359 2 9232 528, nbhebmfob/jwbopwbAvojdsfejuhspvq/ch