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EFSE and UniCredit Bank team up to provide EUR 10 million to Serbian homeowners 

Luxembourg and Belgrade, 20 May 2019 â€“ The European Fund for Southeast Europe (EFSE) has provided a senior loan of EUR 10 million to its long-time partner UniCredit Bank Serbia JSC. The investment will enable the bank to expand access to financing for Serbian homeowners across the country.

The second-largest bank in Serbia, UniCredit Bank is also a leading provider of housing finance, with 85% of its housing clients as first-time homeowners. The bank’s extensive network of 72 branches across the country particularly allows it to serve less-developed areas with loan products tailored to lower to middle-income households. The EFSE funding will enable the bank to expand its ability to offer financing options suited to the needs of this target group.

EFSE Board Chairman Christoph Tiskens said: "EFSE aims to promote prosperity by providing the means for growth and increased quality of life for those who may otherwise have difficulty accessing affordable financing. UniCredit has been a strong partner in this endeavour since 2013, helping us reach a broad base of hopeful young homeowners seeking to lay the foundations for their future.”

Radoje Radovanović, Head of UniCredit Bank’s Retail Division, stated: "Solving the living space issue certainly represents one of the priorities of both individuals and families in Serbia. The EFSE credit line, in addition to enabling us to expand access to financing for first-time homeowners, will also support our growth in this market segment.” 

About EFSE 

One of the largest development finance funds worldwide, the European Fund for Southeast Europe (EFSE) aims to foster economic development and prosperity in Southeast Europe and the Eastern Neighbourhood Region by investing in the success of micro and small enterprises as well as improved living conditions for private households. As access to financial services is key to developing this segment, EFSE focuses on helping local financial sectors strengthen their ability to provide responsible financing for this target group. Alongside its investment activities through local partners, EFSE multiplies its impact through the EFSE Development Facility, which provides technical assistance, training, and other nonfinancial support to entrepreneurs and institutions.

EFSE was initiated by KfW Development Bank with the financial support of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the European Commission. As the first public-private partnership of its kind, EFSE draws its capital from donor agencies, international financial institutions, and private institutional investors. 

Finance in Motion GmbH, Germany, serves as EFSE’s advisor and Hauck & Aufhäuser Fund Services S.A., Luxembourg, acts as manager. 

For more information on the European Fund for Southeast Europe, please visit: www.efse.lu  
For more information on Finance in Motion, please visit: www.finance-in-motion.com 

About UniCredit Bank Serbia JSC

UniCredit Bank Serbia is member of UniCredit, a simple successful pan-European Commercial Bank, with a fully plugged-in CIB, delivering a unique Western, Central and Eastern European network to its extensive client franchise of 26 million clients.

UniCredit offers both local and international expertise to its clients, providing them with unparalleled access to leading banks in its 14 core markets through its European banking network: Italy, Germany, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Turkey. Leveraging on an international network of representative offices and branches, UniCredit serves clients in another 18 countries worldwide.

Media contact EFSE

Nikki Eggers
Senior Officer, Marketing & Communications
Email: press@efse.lu
Phone: +49 (0)69 271 035-470 

Media contact UniCredit Bank Serbia JSC

Jasna Uzelac Braunović
Head of Media Relations and Sustainability
Email: jasna.uzelacbraunovic@unicreditgroup.rs 
Phone: +381 65 3305 386

Get in touch

Interested in learning more about how the fund works, or seeking partnership opportunities? Contact an EFSE representative today.

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