Sberbank CZ, a.s.
Na Pankráci 1724/129, 140 00 Praha 4, Czech Republic
www.SberbankCZ.cz, Infolinka 800 133 444
PRESS RELEASE
Herman Gref, CEO of Sberbank of Russia, in Prague to Celebrate the Launch
of Sberbank Brand in Europe
Prague, March 20, 2013 – Herman Gref, CEO and Chairman of the Management Board of Sberbank of
Russia, was today in Prague to celebrate the official start of operations under the Sberbank brand in
Europe. Sberbank, Europe’s third largest bank, operates in the Czech Republic as Sberbank CZ following
the successful renaming of Volksbank CZ.
Sberbank of Russia is one of the leading banks in Europe and among the world’s foremost financial institutions.
Sberbank CZ will now be able to leverage the Sberbank brand to further enhance the services it provides for both
retail and corporate clients in the Czech Republic. Its flagship branch is now open for customers on Na Prikope
Street in Prague, offering full scope of services. The branch includes an iPad zone and client touchscreens.
Sberbank CZ will now focus on developing its offer and reach in both corporate and retail banking, whilst looking to
assist its clients in creation and development of relationships with the CIS and Russian markets through the
Sberbank brand. The rebranding follows the renaming of Volksbank CZ to Sberbank CZ announced in February
and constitutes part of Sberbank’s wider programme to integrate and rebrand its operations in Central and Eastern
Europe.
Speaking in Prague, to announce the official start of rebranding, Herman Gref said: “I am delighted to announce
the start of Sberbank brand and the first results of the rebranding. Sberbank of Russia is proud of services and
branches it provides for customers and we look forward to offering clients in the CEE the same level of excellence
and commitment to quality. Sberbank has a unique philosophy and corporate culture which we believe will give the
bank a strong platform from which to grow and develop both its offering and customer base in the Czech Republic”
“As an important part of one of the largest, fastest growing, and dynamic banking organisations in the world – we at
Sberbank Europe aspire to be recognised as a game-changing innovator, an emerging leader in CEE banking with
growing presence and recognition in Western Europe. Under the Sberbank brand we want to build on trust and
technology and become modern, successful and consistently customer-oriented leader in the market,“ said Mark
Arnold, Chairman of the Management Board and CEO of Sberbank Europe AG.
“In the first year after acquisition we focused on integration and synchronization of internal processes with our new
owner. In business sector we expanded our team of company bankers for large enterprise sector and for
syndicated loans, we also launched a new department focusing on export business, which allows us to finance
international trade and attract new clients,” said Libor Holub, member of the Board of Sberbank CZ.
Sberbank of Russia also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Czech Export Bank. The bank will focus on
financing Czech and Russian business and supporting Russian investments in the Czech Republic. In 2012
Sberbank signed similar contract with Export Guarantee and Insurance Corporation EGAP.
The sole shareholder of Sberbank CZ is Sberbank Europe AG, a subsidiary company of Sberbank of Russia, and
headquartered in Vienna. The banking group manages a network of nine universal banks in eight Central and
Eastern European countries: Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia
and the Ukraine. Sberbank acquired Volksbank International in February 2012.
Sberbank was ranked the world’s 13th most valuable banking brand, at $14.2 billion, in 2012, a rise of nearly $3.4
billion from 2011. Sberbank’s brand also remains the most valuable in Russia and second among the European
banks.
For more information, please visit www.SberbankCZ.cz.
Sberbank CZ, a.s. is registered in the Commercial Register at the Municipal Court in Prague, section B, file No. 4353
Sberbank CZ, a.s.
Lucie Hálová
Press Department of Sberbank CZ, a.s.
tel.: 543 525 240, 737 234 146
E-mail: halova.lucie@sberbankcz.cz
www.SberbankCZ.cz
Lewis Communications, s.r.o.
Eva Marzini
Head of Lewis Prague
tel.: 225 376 241
E-mail: eva.marzini@lewispr.com
www.lewispr.cz
Sberbank CZ, a.s.
Sberbank CZ is operating on the Czech market (until February 2013 under the name of Volksbank CZ) since 1993, as of January 1 1997 as an
independent joint stock company. The main shareholder is Sberbank Europe AG with the sole shareholder Sberbank Russia (Bank of Russia).
Sberbank CZ is a commercial bank offering a wide range of financial products and services for private and corporate clientele.
Sberbank CZ strives to be a trustworthy financial advisor for its clients and to provide a comprehensive banking and financial advisory services
with superior personal care. With this step we contend to ensure that banking regains its original personal dimension.
Website: www.sberbankcz.cz
Sberbank of Russia
Sberbank of Russia is the largest bank in Russia that accounts for almost one third of all Russian banking sector assets. The Central Bank of
the Russian Federation is the founder and major shareholder of Sberbank, owning 50% of the total share capital plus one voting share. Other
shares are held by more than 245,000 individual and institutional investors in Russia and internationally. The Bank has the largest distribution
network in Russia with more than 18,000 offices as well as subsidiaries in 20 countries including the CIS and Central and Eastern Europe. The
Bank holds the general banking license No.1481 issued by the Bank of Russia.
The official website is www.sberbank.ru
Sberbank Europe AG
Sberbank Europe AG (previously Volksbank International AG) manages a banking network of nine universal banks in eight Central and Eastern
European countries: Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia and the Ukraine. In total the Group’s
banks operate 296 branches and employ 4,195 members of staff (as at 30.06.2012).
Website: www.sberbank.at