Selected by Trade Finance magazine’s “Awards for Excellence 2004” reader poll.

Trade Finance magazine’s readers selected Raiffeisen Zentralbank Österreich AG (RZB) and its 15 Network Banks in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) as “Best Regional Bank for Central and Eastern Europe” in the renowned magazine’s recent “Awards for Excellence” poll. “RZB is deserved winner in a region it considers its home market. Over the last ten years, the bank has seen exceptional growth year after year”, wrote Trade Finance explaining the poll’s result. This year is the first time that awards have been given to regional winners.

“This award is a strong recognition from the market, showing that our customers honor RZB Group’s achievements. It also acknowledges Raiffeisen’s strength in trade and export finance as well as the rapid development of its banking network in CEE”, says Walter Rothensteiner, Chairman of RZB’s Board of Management. „Trade and export finance is one of RZB Group’s core businesses. We have extensive know-how and – according to our high standards – are considered to provide excellent service quality, which is underlined by Trade Finance’s poll,” says Herbert Stepic, Deputy Chairman of RZB’s Managing Board with responsibility for both trade finance and RZB’s international banking network.

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RZB is the central institution of the Austrian Raiffeisen Banking Group, the country's most powerful banking group. RZB also considers CEE as its home market and via Raiffeisen International operates a network of 15 subsidiary banks with more than 800 banking outlets, as well as two representative offices, in 16 markets of the region.

Trade Finance magazine, a specialist publication from the Euromoney group, is the longest running magazine concentrating exclusively on the international trade finance market. Published ten times a year, each issue contains news and features vital to exporters/importers, financiers, insurers, and other service providers. The magazine specialises in reporting on and examining trade and the financing of that business in the emerging markets – looking closely at all aspects of commodity financing, export/import financing and trade services. Through close contact with those active in the sector, Trade Finance is able to provide news not found elsewhere, market intelligence, and in-depth features providing potential leads and other resource information. Each year Trade Finance magazine also runs its Deals of the Year and the only poll of its kind in the world, which establishes the Annual Awards for Excellence.