News

Chairman of the Board of Directors of Center-invest Bank, Dr. Vasily Vysokov, attended the conference “Small Business is Big Business” held in Beirut on 23-24 January 2012 by International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Central Bank of Lebanon (Banque Du Liban) and the Development Bank of Austria. Addressing bankers from the Middle East and North Africa, Dr. Vysokov presented a paper on Center-invest Bank’s experience of financing energy efficiency projects.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has approved two three-year loans for Center-invest Bank, for the sums of 750 million rubles and 375 million rubles. The two parties signed the loan agreement on 12 January 2012. The funds will be used for on-lending to SMEs requiring finance for post-crisis business development projects, and also for the introduction of energy efficiency technologies to modernize production facilities. This will contribute to the sustainable development of the economy of southern Russia.

On 20 December, the management of Center-invest Bank held their traditional meeting with diplomats. Chairman of the Board of Directors of Center-invest Bank, Dr. Vasily Vysokov, updated the diplomats on the bank’s performance and southern Russia’s economic results. He also spoke about the bank’s projects to promote international cooperation.

On 16 December, Center-invest Bank held the 8th annual award ceremony for the winners of the scholarship competition run by the bank and the Endowment Fund for Education and Science in the Southern Federal District. The 250 top students from southern Russia’s leading higher education institutions were each awarded a scholarship of RUR20,000.

Chairman of the Board of Directors of Center-invest Bank, Dr. Vasily Vysokov, addressed the plenary session of the VII All-Russia Forum for Managers in the Housing and Communal Services Sector, held in Moscow on 12-13 December. Presenting a paper entitled «Financial Engineering to Modernize the Housing and Communal Services Sector», Dr. Vysokov spoke about the bank’s experience of lending to finance projects in this sphere.

Center-invest Bank has launched a new loan product for female managers and business owners, as well as companies providing services and selling goods for women. The new loan offering is available until 8 March 2012 (International Women’s Day).

Center-invest Bank is Russia’s first regional bank to accede to the Rules of Federal Mandated Organisation OJSC UEC (United Payment Service System “Universal Payment Card”). Center-invest Bank will participate as an issuer and acquirer bank for the universal e-cards.

At the end of November, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Center-invest Bank, Dr. Vasily Vysokov, addressed the 18th Annual International Russian Banking Forum, held by the Adam Smith Institute in London. Dr. Vysokov spoke about the implementation by Center-invest Bank and its customers of a sustainable development model.