History - 20 years in Russia

UniCreditBank preserved all the best qualities that International Moscow Bank had. At the same time with the help of Unicredit, a large European banking group acting as its shareholder, the Bank keeps extending a list of financial services, improving the level of banking technology and a quality of services rendered to Bank customers.

1989

UniCredit Bank was set up as International Moscow Bank (IMB) in Moscow on 19 October, 1989.

2001

In 2001 IMB merged with Bank Austria Creditanstalt (Russia), an affiliated company of Bank Austria Creditanstalt (Vienna, Austria).

2005

In 2005 Bank Austria joined UniCredit Group and so the Group became one of the shareholders of the Bank...

2007

...and in July 2007 Bank Austria Creditanstalt (Vienna, Austria) purchased 100-percent block of shares of IMB. On 11 May 2007 at the Annual meeting the Bank shareholders decided to change its name and perform activities of the Bank under a brand of UniCredit Bank.

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

1989. Key historical facts.

19 October

Constitutive documents of International Moscow Bank were signed in Moscow. Ceremonial events on the occasion of execution of constitutive documents of International Moscow Bank were held in Moscow.

1990. Key historical facts.

Late 90-ies

It was decided to build its own specialized bank building.

1991. Key historical facts.

2 January

IMB was the first Russian commercial bank to receive General License of RF Central Bank for foreign currency transactions and took the leading position in foreign trade operations and in other areas of banking activities.

12 September

The first agreement in Russia on granting of a considerable syndicated credit to a commercial organization was signed. The creditor of a joint enterprise LogoVaz was a financial consortium of six large state and commercial banks. Its initiator and agent was International Moscow Bank.

15 November

The Bank received General License of RF Central Bank for foreign currency transactions No.1.

1992. Key historical facts.

8 January

Moscow Interbank Currency Exchange joint stock company was set up. IMB was one of its thirty-two founders. RF Central Bank and founders confirmed IMB status as one of the currency clearing centers of the exchange.

1992

International Moscow Bank became the second largest bank in Russia.

11 November

Foundation stone-laying ceremony and putting a capsule with a reference to descendants for IMB building at the Prechistenskaya embankment was held.

1993. Key historical facts.

16 September

A ceremony of official opening of IMB branch was held in Saint-Petersburg.

1994. Key historical facts.

26 April

International Moscow Bank decided to take unprecedented action to open rouble accounts for its clients. Thus, the bank wishes to gather all assets of its clients – foreign economic enterprises.

18 May

IMB takes the second place in the rating of “The most reliable Russian banks among 100 largest banks” (“Commercant-Daily” newspaper) after RF Vneshtorgbank.

29 June

At an extraordinary meeting IMB shareholders decided to exclude USSR Bank of foreign economic activity (VEB) from shareholders and redistribute its shares (20%) in equal parts between two new shareholders – RF Bank for foreign trade (Vneshtorgbank), Moscow, and Northern Europe Commercial bank (Eurobank), Paris.

1995. Key historical facts.

30 June

Ceremony of official opening and a presentation of a new building for IMB at Prechistenskaya embankment 9 (formerly Kropotkinskaya) were held in Moscow.

1996. Key historical facts.

4 March

At an extraordinary meeting IMB shareholders decided to appoint V.V. Geratshenko IMB Chairman.

1997. Key historical facts.

20 January

V.V. Geratshenko, IMB chairman, and A.I. Kiselev, the Director General of the State Space Scientific center named after M.V. Khrunichev signed a 2-year credit agreement for 35 mln. dollars.

December

IMB purchased 10% of its shares from RF Promstroybank to the amount of 18 mln. dollars.

1998. Key historical facts.

20 August

IMB board of directors stated that it would fulfill all obligations falling within 90-days moratorium towards counteragents on time. Obligations of IMB towards banks - non-residents constituted about 2.5% of the total volume of bank obligations. The statement said that the bank created significant reserves for maintaining liquidity and performing all transactions in normal mode even in case of failures in interbank payment system.

1999. Key historical facts.

22 December

At an extraordinary meeting IMB shareholders decided to increase the authorized capital by 40 mln. dollars and change the shareholding structure. After increase of its authorized capital German Bayerische Hypo – und Vereinsbank and Finnish Merita Bank PLC became strategic bank shareholders. As a result of emission the bank capital base was 2.4 billion rubles. Until then each of them had been a shareholder of 12.5% shares and now the first bank possessed 20% of shares and the second bank possessed 40% of shares.

2000. Key historical facts.

21 July

The general office of the Bank of Russia in Moscow registered a report on results of additional emission of IMB shares as a result of which the authorized capital of the bank increased from 462,6 mln. rubles to 1,6 bln. rubles. By selling new shares Bayerische Hypo-und Vereins bank AG (Germany) increased its share in IMB capital from 30,5 to 41%, Eurobank (France) – from 20% to 22,12%, Finnish Merita Bank Plc from 19,2% to 20,5%, and EBRD – from 8,3% to 10%.

27 September

At an extraordinary meeting shareholders of the largest Austrian Bank Austria approved of its merger with the second largest bank in Germany - HypoVereinsbank.

End 2000

“Central European” magazine awarded IMB the title of “The Best Russian bank of the decade” (1989–1999).

2001. Key historical facts.

1 February

The representative of Bank Austria (Russia) announced a forthcoming merger with IMB.

28 September

The Bank of Russia cancelled its record of registration of Bank Austria Creditanstalt in the State registration book of credit organizations. This decision was made due to reorganization of Bank Austria Creditanstalt in the form of takeover by IMB.

End 2001

Almost simultaneously permanent competitors Raiffeizenbank and IMB announced auto loan programs offering loan debtors interest rates 12% and 13% accordingly.

2002. Key historical facts.

28 November

A presentation of International Moscow Bank was held in Rostov. Rostov became the seventh city where IMB opened its regional branch.

2003. Key historical facts.

1 November

General Motors company launched its auto loan program in Russia for cars manufactured by GM. Its partners in this program were IMB, MENATEP SPb Bank and insurance companies Reso-Garantia and Progress-Garant.

2004. Key historical facts.

18 March

IMB informed of introduction of corporate electronic document management in the whole regional network (over 50 subdivisions, 12 regional branches and representative offices) of the project on electronic document management system (EDMS). The Company Media system was developed by Inter-Trust company.

6 April

A general meeting of the Russian national association SWIFT was held. Ilkka Salonen, IMB chairman of the board of directors, was appointed the Committee Chairman.

24 September

Piter Kelle, IMB chairman of the board of directors, informed that Sberbank would withdraw membership from IMB shareholding structure. Negotiations on Sberbank withdrawal were carried out for 1 year.

24 September

The second largest German commercial bank HypoVereinsbank (HVB) announced it purchased the control block of shares of the Russian bank that possessed the ninth largest assets in Russia. According to BNS HVB increased its share from 43,4 to 52,85% by purchasing newly emitted IMB shares at the price of 50-60 mln. Euros.

15 December

Banking Supervision Committee approved that other 46 banks would participate in deposit insurance system. IMB was among of them.

2005. Key historical facts.

23 May

IMB, one of the most conservative banks as regards risk management, introduced the mortgage program. By the end of the year IMB planned to grant approximately one hundred loans per month.

30 May

IMB increased its authorized capital by 3 billion rubles. As a result the amount of the basic capital was increased up to billion rubles (400 billion dollars) by issuing new ordinary and preferred shares. The results of additional emission are approved by the Bank of Russia (financial performance is indicated in accordance with international accounting standards).

12 June

German HypoVereinsbank (HVB) and Italian UniCredit Bank decided to merge into a consolidated financial super pool. The amount of the transaction is 15,4 billion Euros. The merger was planned to be over by October.

September

IMB donated 1 million rubles for restoration of Dormition of the Theotokos Cathedral which is a part of the central architectural complex of Solovki monastery.

2006. Key historical facts.

17 April

IMB and Avtoframos (Renault official representative in Russia) together with RCI Banque (an official bank of Renault-Nissan alliance) launched a program for granting of credits for purchase of new Renault cars – “Renault credit” in all regions where IMB branches are located.

May

IMB and Nissan Motor Rus company (Russian representative office of the Japanese company Nissan) started granting credits for cars Micra, Primera, X-Trail and Pathfinder at the rate of 0,2% within the framework of «Nissan Finance» program.

1 June

IMB started issuing credit cards with the grace period of 50 days.

10 November

UniCredit stated that most banks in Central and Eastern Europe being members of UniCredit group would work under a new brand of UniCredit Bank. Decision about IMB was to be made in the short run.

14 December

IMB board of directors appointed Y.V. Tverskoy the chairman of the board. Bank Austria Creditanstalt being a member of the Italian financial group UniCredit, purchased 19,77% of IMB shares at the price of 395 billion dollars. Before VTB Bank owned this block of shares. UniCredit share in IMB increased up to 90,03%.

2007. Key historical facts.

11 May

IMB’s board of directors decided to change the name for UniCredit Bank.

July

IMB increased its gross profit by 67% up to 3,3 billion rubles for the first six months

20 December

In accordance with a new General license for banking transactions No. 1 of the issued by the Bank of Russia the Bank officially changed its name for Closed Joint-Stock company UniCredit Bank (CJSC UniCredit Bank).

2008. Key historical facts.

January

An advertising campaign of the Bank under a new brand of UniCredit was launched.

23 June

UniCredit Bank attracted the syndicated loan for 500 million dollars with the oversubscription against the original amount of the loan for 300 million dollars.

24 November

UniCredit Bank signed an agreement with the Central Bank of the Russian Federation on partial compensation for losses at the market of interbank lending. The Central Bank of the Russian Federation concludes such agreements only with the largest banks working in Russia within the framework of the program aimed at maintaining stability of the Russian financial system during the global financial crisis.

2009. Key historical facts.

11 January

UniCredit Bank offered an absolutely new product – mortgage with a floating rate.

March

The Russian version of “Forbes” magazine published a list of the most reliable banks in Russia on the basis of Fitch, Moody's, Standard & Poor's ratings. 1. Sberbank of the Russian Federation 2. VTB 3. Rosselkhozbank 4. Bank of Moscow 5. VTB24 6. UniCredit Bank.

9 April

UniCredit Bank network expanded to 100 branches and representative offices in Russia and Belorussia.