UniCredit Bulbank

Maxim Behar, founder and CEO of Sofia-based PR agency M3 Communications Group Inc.,part of global Hill+Knowlton Strategies Group, on Wednesday joined the Ice Bucket Challenge.

One of the biggest banks in Bulgaria is a "hostage" to a political crisis, which caused Bulgarian PM Plamen Oresharski to resign, writes Georgi Kantchev for The New York Times.

Former Defense Minister Boyko Noev argued 90 percent of assets held by Bulgaria's military industry are stored in Corporate Commercial Bank (KTB).

Noev, who has held the office two times (1994-1995, 1999-2001) explained in an interview with Bulgaria on Air channel that a deal among foreign-owned banks prevented them from working with the Bulgarian arms business.

There is no risk of the domino effect in the banking system because of the Corporate Commercial Bank (KTB), said the chairman of the Bulgarian Bank Association Levon Hampartzumian. 

Hampartzumian, who is also the CEO of UniCredit Bulbank told journalists, quoted by the BTA wire service, that there were no other Bulgarian banks at risk of similar problems. 

Bulgarians got by EUR 20 B richer since 2004, shows an analysis of the UniCredit Bulbank on the households' financial assets. 

In 2004 the Bulgarians had a little over EUR 7 B in bank deposits, stocks and other financial instruments. By the end of the year they would reach over EUR 26.9 B. Last year the assets were a total of EUR 24.94 B. 

Italy's exports to Bulgaria are three times the Chinese exports to the country, according to Andrea Casini, Chief Operating Officer of UniCredit Bulbank.

Speaking Monday at the conference "Bulgaria and Italy: We Build Together" organized by Confindustria Bulgaria, he noted that Italy was Bulgaria's third biggest partner after Germany and Russia.

Bulgaria's humanitarian assistance to flood-hit Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina will amount to BGN 132,000.

The funds have been approved by the government through the budget of the Ministry of Interior for Official Development Assistance.

The humanitarian aid will be granted in the form of tents, blankets, clothes, beds, mineral water, and other vital items.

The Bulgarian Red Cross starts a donation drive for those affected by the floods in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, said the organization in a press release. 

It has activated the short number 1466 for SMS donations – a text to this number donates BGN 1. 

The European Investment Bank (EIB) provides UniCredit Bulbank with EUR 50 M for financing Bulgarian SMEs in agriculture, industry and services. 

The first half of the credit line was presented by Mihai Tnasesku, EIB vice president and UniCredit Bulbank's CEO Levon Hampartzumian. 

The most popular brands among the Bulgarian internet users are Samsung, Nivea, Nokia, Adidas, Sony, LG, Coca-Cola and Nike. 

Those are the brands in different categories, associated with “good quality” and “good price” by 1670 Bulgarian internet users, aged 20-59, surveyed by Gemius. They are also the most often mentioned online.