The most prestigious award in the banking sector was handed to the Chief Executive Officer of UniCredit Bulbank, Mr.Levon Hampartzoumian at an official ceremony in London;

This year UniCredit Bulbank has reconfirmed its position on the market with respect to assets, deposits, loans and corporate and investment banking.

UniCredit Bulbank received the award Bank of the Year in Bulgaria from the international magazine The Banker, member of the Financial Times Group. The most prestigious award in the banking sector was handed yesterday evening to the Chief Executive Officer of UniCredit Bulbank, Mr.Levon Hampartzoumian and the Chief Operating Officer of the bank, Mr. Andrea Casini, at an official ceremony in London.

The Bulgarian bank has repeated its success in Bulgaria from our 2011 awards, even while a European slowdown continues to bite, The Banker said. The bank has improved upon most key indicators from its win in 2011, and outperformed the market as a whole. Return on equity is up to 12% from 9.3% in 2010, while net profits were up 42.73% year on year in 2011, following 18.49% growth in 2010.

„The past year was full of challenges. The difficulties which we all had to overcome were connected to the increasing competition and the tough economic environment“, said Levon Hampartzoumian. He also added that in order to increase customer satisfaction the bank is prepared to invest in the development of the electronic channels for distribution of products and services and to continue the development of our employees.

Until 30 September, 2012 UniCredit Bulbank revenue reached a share of 30.7% of the bank sector revenue in Bulgaria. The net revenue of the bank amounts to BGN 154.6 million.

This year UniCredit Bulbank has reconfirmed its position on the market with respect to assets, deposits, loans and corporate and investment banking.

At their annual ceremony The Banker announced the best bank in a total of 149 countries and gave 5 regional prizes. Notable omissions from the ranking included Greece and Cyprus which were not included due to the ongoing uncertainty over the impact of the Greek sovereign crisis. Iceland and Ireland are still not part of the prestigious competition.

The Banker's 'Bank of The Year Awards' celebrate those financial institutions that have taken on the challenges of a dynamic and unstable economic environment, showed innovation and effectiveness, good management and contributed to the development of their clients and the economies they operate in.

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