VÚB bank won Via Bona award for courage to support innovative project

Bratislava, April 24, 2008 – VUB Bank won the Via Bona award that the Pontis Foundation has been presenting to responsible companies and entrepreneurs for eight years. In the category for courage to support innovative project the VUB Bank won the prize for the Dobrý Anjel (Good Angel) charity debit cards. Yesterday Mr. Ignacio Jaquotot, VUB Bank CEO received the prize at the Award Presentation Ceremony.

“It is a great joy to receive the Via Bona Award for the second consecutive year. It is the acknowledgement of our effort to support individual and corporate philanthropy. The award also proves that corporate responsibility can go hand in hand with achieving excellent financial results. We are very proud of the Dobrý Anjel project not only because it is unique in Slovakia but also in whole Europe. I also wish to express my thanks to the founders of the project Dobrý Anjel - Andrej Kiska and Igor Brossmann - without whom the cards would not exist”, said Ignacio Jaquotot.

VÚB Bank launched the Dobrý Anjel charity cards in June last year. The Bank contributes 1% of each payment charged on Dobrý Anjel cards to the Dobrý Anjel Non-profit Organization. Each Dobrý Anjel cardholder can thus support families with children where a family member suffers from cancer and families with a child suffering from cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis or chronic kidney failure. The whole project is really unique since the cardholder does not pay a cent for supporting Dobry Anjel system and the donation is paid fully by the VÚB Bank. In addition the cardholder can see via the Internet which family receives the donation.

“Thanks to Good Angels and VÚB Bank we finally have money for medicine. We were able to buy all necessary things for school and also clothes for children, which they enjoyed a lot. We really appreciate your help. I thank you with all of my heart”, says Slavomír who suffers from leukemia and raises two children together with his wife.

Via Bona Slovakia nomination was also received for another VUB´s project – Safe Journey to School. It was short-listed in the category Support of Regional Public-Benefit Activities. The objective of the project is to eliminate children’s accidents caused by traffic near schools. The Bank arranged special signs for critical crossroads and pedestrian crossings close to primary schools in Bratislava, Košice and Prešov. This year the Bank is planning to expand the project to Banska Bystrica and Poprad in Central Slovakia.

Information for media:

Alena Walterová, spokesperson
Tel.: +421-2-5055 2130, 0904 755 195
E-mail: awalterova@vub.sk

Michal Kopecký, PR specialist
Tel.: +421-2-5055 2424, 0904 755 190
E-mail: mkopecky@vub.sk