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Best bank and Best equity house: Best debt house: RaiffeisenBank
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The tricky completion of a triple merger in 2007 failed to dim the financial performance of UniCredit Bulbank, which was the number one bank in Bulgaria as measured by assets, loans and profits last year. With more than a million customers, the new entity is the leading universal bank in Bulgaria, with strong positions in corporate, investment and retail banking. The overall strength of the franchise was recognized by Standard & Poor’s last year, when it reaffirmed its BBB+ credit rating – the highest for any bank in Bulgaria. Despite the demands of merging Bulbank, HVB Bank and Hebros Bank, the new improved UniCredit Bulbank outperformed the rest of the banking sector, with net income rising by 25% and operating profit by 89.9%.