UniCredit Bulbank received the Bank of the Year award for 2022 in Bulgaria from the prestigious international magazine Global Finance. At its 29th annual awards, the publication honoured those banks that attended carefully to their customers’ needs in difficult markets and accomplished strong results while laying the foundations for future success.

All selections were made by the editors of Global Finance after extensive consultations with corporate financial executives, bankers and banking consultants, and analysts throughout the world. In selecting these top banks, Global Finance considered factors that ranged from the quantitative objective to the informed subjective. Objective criteria considered included: growth in assets, profitability, geographic reach, strategic relationships, new business development and innovation in products. Subjective criteria included the opinions of equity analysts, credit rating analysts, banking consultants and others involved in the industry.

“Following on the enormous difficulties wrought by the pandemic, these changes demand increased attention to global commercial relationships. Our awards support decision-makers in selecting the best financial partners,” said Joseph D. Giarraputo, publisher and editorial director of Global Finance.

"We are grateful for the award of Global Finance because it is an assessment of the exceptional efforts, commitment and professional dedication of the entire bank team. Despite the turbulent conditions in which customers and society have to operate when they have a stable financial institution as a partner, they not only have the opportunity to deal with the economic post-effects of the covid crisis and complex geopolitical environment but also to gain confidence to make successful financial decisions", commented Tsvetanka Mincheva Chief Executive Officer of UniCredit Bulbank.

In 2021, UniCredit Bulbank successfully consolidating its leading position in the banking market in the country. In the retail banking segment, the bank reported a higher increase than the average for the Bulgarian market. In the corporate and investment banking segment, UniCredit Bulbank continues to be the leader, with a share of nearly one-fifth of the total market. The main focus in developing the largest bank in terms of assets in Bulgaria next year is continued growth based on value creation for both the bank's shareholders and all stakeholders.

In light of the existing situation in Ukraine, Global Finance has decided not to assign Best Bank awards in countries directly involved in the current conflict. The May report will also feature selections for the Best US Regional Banks, the Best Islamic Financial Institutions and the World’s Best Banks by Region. Winners will be honored at an Awards Ceremony held during the IMF/World Bank Annual Meetings in Washington, DC at the National Press Club in October 15, 2022.

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