The most prestigious award in the banking sector was presented to Levon Hampartzoumian and Andrea Casini at an official ceremony in London;

UniCredit Bulbank won the award "Bank of the Year 2014 in Bulgaria" at the 15th awards ceremony, organized by the international magazine The Banker, a member of the Financial Times group. The most prestigious international award in the banking sector was presented on November 27 (Thursday) to UniCredit Bulbank's Chief Executive Officer Levon Hampartzoumian and the Chief Operating Officer Andrea Casini at an official ceremony in London.

UniCredit Bulbank receives the award for being the best bank in the country for the third time and the traditional top position of the bank on the market as well as the innovative approach in serving customers have played a key role in winning this award. In the challenging environment in which the banking sector operates and develops, the largest bank in Bulgaria still has managed to increase its assets by 9.4% yoy and as at September 30, 2014 they amount to BGN 13.87 billion.

"This year the bank celebrates a 50-year anniversary since its establishment and with confidence in the future we continue to provide the best possible services to our customers, listening to what they need and providing it in a truly modern and innovative way", commented Levon Hampartzoumian, Chairman of the Management Board and Chief Executive Officer of UniCredit Bulbank. 350 top managers from 120 countries attended the Annual Awards of the The Banker magazine this year. The Banker is a leading global magazine for banking with more than 90 years of experience in journalism. This year the magazine received 1000 nominations, out of which the regional winners for 120 countries were determined.

Since the beginning of this year, UniCredit Bulbank has received also a number of other awards – by Emea Finance and Global Finance for the Best Bank in Bulgaria, for the Most Innovative Bank Product for 2013 for Cash M transfer, for the Best HR strategy for leadership development for 2013 by the Bulgarian Association for People Management, the Best Cash Management Bank in Bulgaria for 2014 by Euromoney and many other.

More information for media:

UniCredit Bulbank, Identity & Communications Department

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

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