The Bulgarians also seek advice on their investment

To support the sport is cause for us

Mr. Christov, total deposits of households in the country have reached historic levels. What do you think causes this?

The fact is that bank savings of Bulgarians continue to increase and this is due to the multiannual adequate policy of BNB. Moreover, the competition in the sector makes deposit products very attractive, and not least the yield from deposits remains one of the safest investments. The low level of consumption of the population also suggests higher level of savings.

According to your opinion, do Bulgarian customers benefit from professional assistance in managing their assets?

People with higher investment culture seek professional advice on managing their money. Fortunately, though slowly and timidly, those people are increasing every month. Difficult financial times of the world economy increasingly require the need for professional advice in the investment field. During the years of "golden economic rain" when all investment markets grew, many people used to invest without professional consultants in various financial instruments and now they regret bitterly. Not surprisingly, in developed economies from decades there are specialized investment intermediaries and consultants who professionally are engaged in this activity to protect their customers from spontaneous or emotional investment decisions.

Apparently Bulgarians prefer low risk investments methods such as deposits?

Bulgarians save and invest wisely. In a time of global financial turbulence the safest investment islands are chosen. In Bulgaria, the safest island in investment is the bank island. There are many options offered by the banks as investment decisions and some of them are the various deposit products.

What opportunities for alternative investments offer First Investment Bank?

For the convenience of all our clients with investment appetite greater than that of deposit products, First Investment Bank established a specialized Directorate called "Asset Management". The colleagues from that Directorate offer investment decisions in a variety of instruments that meet the desired by the customers combination of risk and return. Investments in gold, precious metals and numismatic items, investments in carbon emissions, investments on the capital and commodity markets, investments in mutual funds, etc. All investment instruments and opportunities are available both for Bulgarian and international market. Through the specialized Directorate each client has access to these investment opportunities.

What are the minimum requirements for a client to enter the VIP list of Fibank? What are the benefits that Fibank offers to its VIP customers?

You just have to open an account with the bank and to start operate it. We at First Investment Bank offer, as you call it, VIP service and attention to every customer. To meet some specific requirements of our customers, eight years ago we launched a specialized program called the EGO Club, offering additional services to its members. Part of the philosophy of this program is that each program member has a personal banker. A banker to have a personal trust in. Any demand for bank services or products is satisfied precisely by such personal banker.

The criteria for membership in the program are different but the first thing is to determine the specific needs of the customer and then to find the right solution for his needs.

What direction shall take the interest rates on consumer loans during the next year according to you?

Most probably, interest rates will remain without any serious changes compared to their current level in short-term and medium-term time horizon, but I do not want to engage myself with a forecast as consumer loans are highly influenced by the consumer demand in the country. Both the European debt crisis and its impact on Bulgaria and domestic economic policy shall also impact the direction of interest rates. I can just tell you that whatever direction take the interest rates on consumer and mortgage loans in Bulgaria, Fibank shall always offer one of the three most attractive APR's (annual percentage rate on consumer and mortgage loans) in the banking market.

First Investment Bank is one of the largest corporate sponsors of Bulgarian sports. Will you continue to support the Bulgarian athletes?

This is a cause in which we want to believe the whole country - as we believe in it. The sport, except that it is beautiful, is an ambassador of peace and physical health, and also a rocket that could in the most direct and fastest way to promote Bulgaria. The sport is one that gives us the few moments of national pride after the victories of our sportsmen. As you know, First Investment Bank for over five years supports the BOC and we continued our cooperation with them for the Olympic Games in London 2012. Furthermore, we are the general sponsor of the Bulgarian Ski Federation and the main sponsor of the Bulgarian Athletics Federation (BAF). And we shall continue to provide the necessary support in the future.

Recently, together with you colleagues Dimitar Kostov and Svetoslav Moldovanski you participated in the shooting of a new commercial video of First Investment Bank. Is it easy to stand before the camera and how long did you take to make this successful video?

It is easy to shoot a video in which message you believe and live with. All three of us have been with Fibank for many years and we are working for the things we speak in the video. So I can say we are participating in this video for years and I would call it a series, and in the day of shooting we had only a camera in front of us. The video is successful because we are ourselves and we are not playing roles.

First Investment Bank won this year's prize "Best Bank in Bulgaria" of the international magazine Euromoney. What is the importance of this prize for you?

So far FIB won several awards in 2011. Each award we received gave us great satisfaction because someone has recognized you for the job done. We at First Investment Bank are working very hard to be the best at what we do, and when we receive recognition and we are rewarded prizes, we understand that we are on the right track. This specific award is very special for us because an independent international company gives a overall assessment on our performance in the banking sector. Fibank is traditionally well known for its international operations.

Fibank offers a new mortgage loan called "A house in present tense"

The loan is offered with a recovery of 1% annual interest on debt at the end of each year upon regular repayment.

Customers can also enjoy a grace period of 12 months on each five years.

First Investment Bank offers a new mortgage loan called "A house in present tense" that gives you complete freedom and peace in today's uncertain times. The loan allows upon regular repayment of all amounts owed to the bank, the borrowers to be recovered 1% annual interest on debt at the end of each year. Fibank offers a grace period of 12 months on each five years of the loan term after the first year, which gives additional safety to customers in the event they are facing temporary financial difficulties.

"A house in present tense" is available with free Property insurance for the entire period of the loan, which saves additional funds to borrowers. Furthermore, Fibank provides a certificate of approved loan at financial parameters with a validity of 6 months to each borrower.

Mortgage loan "A house in present tense" is granted for purchasing a new home, refinancing of loans from another bank, or for current needs as housing repair.

The loan is granted for a period of 25 years and is available in EUR and USD at an interest rate of 7.8% per annual base, with no limitation in the maximum amount of the loan granted.