On 4 June in London the winners of the «FT Sustainable Banking Awards» were announced. The international competition is organised by the Financial Times newspaper and IFC, a member of the World Bank Group.

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Center-Invest Bank was short-listed in the category «Sustainable Emerging Markets Bank of the Year», becoming the only Russian bank to make it to the final.

The award for sustainable development was created to recognise banks and other financial institutions that are showing leadership and innovation in integrating sustainable development principles into their operations: socially responsible behaviour, environmental protection, and corporate governance.

117 financial institutions from 42 countries entered the competition this year. Center-Invest Bank made it into the final thanks to its implementation of its own development programmes «South of Russia+» and «Southern Russia Versus the Global Crisis». Every year Center-Invest Bank carries out more than ten sustainable development projects.

«Center-Invest was the first bank in Russia to finance energy efficiency projects», says Miles Stamp, IFC international expert on energy efficiency investment. «Since 2005, under a programme developed together with IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, many businesses in southern Russia have received loans from Center-Invest to obtain new equipment. This finance has enabled companies not only to reduce production costs, but also to significantly reduce CO2 emissions. Center-Invest has the unique experience of completely revamping the district heating company in Taganrog, Teploenergo, bringing lower costs and improved service for the city’s residents. IFC is proud that Center-Invest continues to demonstrate its leadership in energy efficiency and sustainable development for the benefit of its clients in southern Russia, and as a standard-bearer for Russia internationally.»

By making it so far in this prestigious international competition, Center-Invest Bank has shown that the post-crisis economy of the Rostov region and southern Russia has much to offer investors.

Congratulating the bank, Chairman of the Rostov Region Legislative Assembly, V.E. Deryabkin, said, «Center-Invest Bank has always stood out for its innovative approach to its operations, demonstrating social responsibility, applying best international practice, and using modern banking technologies for the benefit of the economy and environment of southern Russia. We wish Center-Invest further successes and triumphs in Russian and international arenas.»

In 2007 Center-Invest Bank was the first Russian bank to be a finalist and prize winner in the FT Sustainable Banking Awards: Chairman of the bank’s Board of Directors, Dr. Vasily Vysokov, won the silver medal in the «Sustainable Banker of the Year» category.

Center-Invest Bank. Sustainable Development 2008-2009.

• — Sustainable development award: In spring 2008, Chairman of the Board of Directors’ Audit and Compliance Committee, Tatiana Vysokova (Ph.D in Economics, Reader), was presented with a prestigious Women in Business Award by the EBRD. The Awards are held annually by the EBRD to recognise outstanding achievements in business. The prize winners are talented, selfless, exceptional women whose achievements in business significantly influence the course of reform and socioeconomic development in their home regions.
• — Center-Invest Bank is the founder of the Endowment Fund for Education and Science in the Southern Federal District (SFD). The Fund is used to provide financial assistance to undergraduate and postgraduate students and to encourage the best teaching staff and young academics in southern Russia. The Fund has capital of RUR35m.
• — 260 of the best students in the Rostov region receive scholarships from Center-Invest Bank. Each award is for RUR20,000. Last year, the total sum provided in scholarships exceeded RUR5m.
• — Center-Invest and the Southern Federal University (SFedU) launched a joint project: a series of public lectures on the latest scientific and academic issues entitled «SFedU- 2020». The bank awarded each lecturer RUR100,000 for their successful talks.
• — Together with the Endowment Fund for Education and Science in the SFD, we ran a competition to find the «Best Young Lecturer in the SFD». Young teaching staff from the region’s leading educational institutions entered the competition and the three best lecturers were selected by students in receipt of Center-Invest Bank scholarships.
• — Continuing our traditional support for the annual competition «Don Region Teacher», we have created a prize for the best teachers' handbook/course book.
• — Thanks to our financial support, to date 35,000 schoolchildren from the Rostov region have visited the 'Treasures of the Don Steppes' exhibition at the Rostov Region Local Studies Museum for free.
• — As part of a large European education project, TEMPUS PoMBI, Center-Invest Bank has provided work placements for some of the best Russian and European students.
• — In 2008, Center-Invest Bank, SAP and SFedU started training IT specialists under a cooperation agreement signed within the framework of SAP University Alliance. With financial assistance from Center-Invest Bank, a new centre has been set up at SFedU to train specialists in SAP solutions.
• — More than 1500 Second World War veterans bank with Center-Invest. Every year for Victory Day we send them our congratulations and a gift.
• — 76 children were born to Center-Invest employees in 2008, and 21 in Q1 2009 alone.
• — The energy efficiency projects of the bank's customers have achieved an annual reduction in CO2 emissions of 8,700 tonnes.
• — In Q1 2009, Center-Invest Bank provided SMEs with 1135 loans totalling RUR3.2bn, thereby consolidating its position as a leading provider of services to entrepreneurs.
• — In Q1 2009 we lent agricultural companies a total of RUR25.5m for modernising equipment and introducing new practices.
• — In the ratings «2008 Leader of the Year», ('Gorod N' (No.51(809) of 29.12.08) Center-Invest was recognised as Rostov region’s most successful company in 2008 and chairman of the Board of Directors, Dr Vasily Vysokov, was voted the Most Successful Businessman of 2008.