INTESA SANPAOLO BANK ALBANIA IS AWARDED

Tirana, December 2^nd, 2021 – Intesa Sanpaolo Bank Albania, part of Intesa Sanpaolo Group, has been awarded as 'Bank of the Year for Banking in the Community 2021” from the prestigious international magazine The Banker.

The panel of judges for the award was impressed by the initiatives, projects, products and activities that Intesa Sanpaolo Bank Albania undertook to suspend penalties and fees during the epidemic, to provide new financing facilities, to offer financial education, to promote gender equality, and provide loan products supporting women entrepreneurs.

Specifically, Intesa Sanpaolo Bank Albania was the first Bank in Albania to offer loan moratoriums  to all Individuals and Legal Entities effectively affected by the pandemic; established a dedicated plafond of Euros 50,000,000 for Legal Entities aimed at covering short-term financial needs for working capital, supply chain and trade finance and actively supported interventions promoted by the State Institutions aimed to ensure the payment of the salaries of the ones working in enterprises affected by the pandemic. The Bank continued the Financial Education of children adapting to the new situation by creating videos of financial education which were made available through the online learning platform used by schools in the country. The contents of the videos were inspired by the Museum of Saving; a multimedia laboratory located in Turin, Italy that specializes in economic-financial education. Furthermore, Intesa Sanpaolo Bank Albania continued its actions in supporting entrepreneurial women needs and contributing to women economic empowerment through a dedicated programme also engaging in multiple activities that promoted gender equality.

Mr. Alessandro D’Oria, CEO of Intesa Sanpaolo Bank Albania, stated: “Addressing community needs became a worldwide priority in 2021, so the recognition for Intesa Sanpaolo Bank Albania as the “Bank of the Year for Banking in the Community 2021” is a source of great honor for our Bank and our people. We proactively looked for the ways to support families and businesses affected by the pandemic, continued our work for the financial education of children and to support women with financing possibilities, even during this unprecedented year, once more affirming our shared responsibility as a Bank for the country.”

Intesa Sanpaolo, on the occasion of the "Bank of the Year Awards 2021", also received the "Bank of the Year in Italy" award.

About “The Banker”: “For the past 95 years, The Banker has provided intelligence about international banking and capital markets. Regarded as the industry standard for assessing banks globally since 1926, The Banker’s ‘Bank of the Year’ is the point in the year where we take the opportunity to recognize the world’s leading institutions. A rigorous and highly analytical process is made to reach each Bank of the Year decision and our reputation for independence, authority and integrity is applied to each submission. More banks apply for the Bank of the Year Awards than any other similar process, and our access to data on each bank and our focus on transformation, inclusion and diversity in the industry are well known. The judges this year have placed continued emphasis on which banks have led the way in helping customers and the wider economy to meet the needs of the future and which banks have adapted best to establishing long term growth in the face of such global change.”

About Intesa Sanpaolo Bank Albania: Intesa Sanpaolo Bank Albania, part of Intesa Sanpaolo Group, is a leading bank in the country that offers quality banking, financial solutions and innovative products & services to corporate clients, institutional and high-income private clients, as well as small and medium-sized businesses and individual customers. We encourage a style of growth that is attentive to sustainable results and the creation of a process based on trust deriving from customer and shareholder satisfaction, a sense of belonging on the part of our employees and close monitoring of the needs of local communities. We compete on the market with a sense of fair play and are ready to cooperate with other economic entities, both public and private, whenever it is necessary to reinforce the overall capacity for growth in the economies of the countries where we operate. Intesa Sanpaolo Bank Albania acquired Veneto Bank in 2017 and now has a network of 35 branches in different cities of the country and will continue to expand strategically following closely the economic development of Albania. Pro-activity, trust, innovation, simplicity and sustainability determines our relationship with our customers and business innovation and service excellence are inspired by our customers. Official Website: www.intesasanpaolobank.al

About Intesa Sanpaolo: Intesa Sanpaolo is a wealth management & protection company, Italy’s leading bank and one of the most solid and profitable bank groups in Europe. It offers commercial, corporate investment banking, private banking, asset management and insurance services. The Intesa Sanpaolo Group has approximately 13.5 million customers in Italy and 7.1 million customers abroad through commercial banking subsidiaries in 12 countries in Central-Eastern Europe and Middle East and North Africa as well an international network to support corporate customers across 25 countries. Intesa Sanpaolo is recognized as one of the most sustainable banks in the world and is committed to becoming a reference model in terms of sustainability and social and cultural responsibility. Intesa Sanpaolo supports major economic inclusion and poverty reduction projects, including a €1.5 billion impact fund for loans to social groups who struggle to access credit. The Group has a €6 billion fund dedicated to the circular economy. The Group is also deeply involved in cultural initiatives in Italy and further afield, with the aim of preserving, promoting and sharing Italy’s historical and artistic heritage, also thanks to permanent and temporary exhibitions hosted at the Gallerie d’Italia, Intesa Sanpaolo’s museums located in Milan, Naples, Vicenza and, soon, Turin. 

For more information: media.relation@intesasanpaolobank.al