News

Zagreb, 15th September 2016 – Vaba d.d. banka Varaždin has become the nineteenth member of the Croatian Banking Association (CBA), a business interest association of banks, thus becoming a promoter of common interests and responsible banking. A Joint Agreement on CBA Accession was concluded today by Zdenko Adrović, Managing Director of the Croatian Banking Association, and Ivica Božan, President of Vaba d.d. banka’s Management Board.

By signing the original ‘Code of Good Banking Practice’ Vaba d.d. banka Varaždin confirmed acceptance of the set banking standards and the principle of open communication to customers and banks in order to promote responsibility, transparency and professionalism of banking profession, together with other members of the CBA. Vaba banka d.d. Varaždin will continue to participate in the sessions and meetings of CBA working groups.

‘Today we are especially happy and proud to welcome Vaba d.d. banka Varaždin as a full member of the Croatian Banking Association, which has for many years successfully represented, protected and prompted the interests of not only its members but also the entire Croatian banking sector. We will strive, with our expertise and professionalism in combination with the benefits that we undoubtedly possess, to contribute to further professionalization of the banking profession and improve the banking industry’s accountability and transparency’ said Ivica Božan, CEO of Vaba d.d. banka Varaždin.

‘Vaba d.d. banka’s membership of the Croatian Banking Association is yet another confirmation that our work and activities within society are being recognised. We are extremely pleased that our regional and forward-thinking Bank has become the nineteenth member of the CBA and we hope that this membership will contribute to the achievement of our business objectives. With this new membership we shall continue to build and strengthen the position of our professional associations and advocate for legal certainty of operation, clear regulation and compliance with expert criteria’ said Zdenko Adrović, Managing Director of the CBA.

 

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Vaba d.d. banka Varaždin

CEFC China Energy Company Limited (CEFC), a private Chinese company, will acquire a fifty percent share in J&T Finance Group SE (JTFG). The representatives of both companies confirmed the transaction by signing a strategic partnership agreement.
 
“Finance is a key area that CEFC has long been focusing on the world over. Our first investment in the Czech Republic and Central Europe was, therefore, the acquisition of almost a ten percent share in the banking group JTFG. They have proven to be a strong and reliable partner. We have therefore agreed to increase this share and conclude a strategic partnership,” said Chan Chauto, President of CEFC China Energy Company Limited and Chairman of CEFC Group (Europe) Company, the European counterpart of CEFC.
 
“Such a strong partner entering the group is an opportunity for us to become one of the most important companies in Central Europe and to expand to new markets. We see the conclusion of a partnership with CEFC, where we will continue to be responsible for management of the group, as the most important transaction in our history,” said Patrik Tkáč, Chairman of the Board of Directors of J&T Finance Group SE.
 
The entrance of CEFC into JTFG still needs to be approved by the respective regulatory bodies of all of the countries where JTFG is active.
 
Both companies are interested in working together to provide retail banking in Central and Eastern European countries via representation within at least two important banks. They would also like to expand modern banking and financial services to China, where they are planning to set up branches of J&T Banka.
 
A Framework Cooperation Agreement between JTFG and the Chinese financial institution China Development Bank is also part of the strategic partnership. Investments under this agreement will be worth EUR 800 million. 

About China Development Bank:
China Development Bank (CDB) is a Chinese financial institution that focuses primarily on development projects. It supports the development of infrastructure, basic industries, new key industries, and projects that enjoy state priority. At the same time, it finances regional development and urbanisation, SMEs, and investments in agriculture, education, health care and the environment. It also promotes entrepreneurship. CDB observes market principles that   encourage stable performance, innovation and sustainable development. At the end of 2014, CDB assets grew year-on-year by 19% to USD 1.87 billion.
 
About CEFC:
CEFC China Energy Company Limited is the biggest private company in Shanghai and the sixth biggest private company in China. It is active chiefly in finance and energy. It has representative offices in, for example, the USA, Great Britain, Canada, Mexico, Russia, UAE, Indonesia, Singapore, South Korea and Japan. CEFC is a Fortune Global 500 company. CEFC has decided to expand into Europe and has chosen the Czech Republic as its main headquarters for its European activities. The holding structure of the European group CEFC Group (Europe) Company a.s. comprises six basic areas of investment: finance, energy, industry, tourism, e-commerce and health care. In the Czech Republic, CEFC is, for example, already a majority shareholder of Pivovary Lobkowicz Group; has an interest in Travel Service, J&T, Empresa Media and Médea Group; has made a number of real estate investments, including the purchase of the former Živnobanka building in the centre of Prague; and is the majority shareholders of the SK Slavia Praha football club. It is also a partner of the Czech national football team.

 

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Vaba d.d. banka Varaždin

Easy and Fast Authorisation with Enhanced Security for Deposits from Abroad
 
Last October Vaba d.d. banka became the first Croatian bank to start operations on the German market by focusing in particular on collecting customer’s deposits from abroad, and the Croatian Ministry of Finance recognised this by granting Vaba d.d. banka Varaždin a positive opinion for, not only easier and faster, but also safer collections of deposits from customers abroad through a simple and fast system of video identification on the German market, which marks another step towards improving the quality of supply of this increasingly demanded service.
 
Vaba d.d. banka Varaždin will now also provide an option for clients in Germany to deposit surplus funds using simple, real-time video identification, which greatly simplifies and speeds up the whole process while including all necessary security measures, and the quality of this service has been confirmed by the competent Croatian regulatory institution.
 
All that is required for such a transaction is a valid identity card or passport, a PC or laptop with a camera or a smartphone or tablet with the IDnow Online-Ident application installed. The whole process takes about 5 minutes and is approved for use in Germany by the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority, BaFin.
 
The goal of video identification is to fully identify the Bank’s clients and ensure the maximum level of security easily and quickly, without any additional equipment or procedures. An encrypted video conversation checks the client’s identity on the basis of an identification document.
 
This expansion of Vaba d.d. banka Varaždin’s range of services has been made possible through our excellent collaboration with the Company Savedo GmbH of Berlin. Savedo is the first international online financial marketplace to make attractive savings products in Germany and other European countries available to private customers in Germany and Austria.
 
Thanks to this cooperation, from October to February Vaba d.d. banka Varaždin collected a significant value from deposits under fair conditions and figures suggest a steady growth in the future.
 
All of this once again confirms that the Bank’s Management Board has recognised the needs of its clients and has provided a quality service by working with reputable partners.
 
No less important is the news that Christian Tiessen, the Co-founder and Managing Director of Savedo, can now be found on the newly published Forbes’30 UNDER 30 EUROPE 2016’ List, which further confirms that the choice of conservative investments as business field was the right one.
 
Showing his satisfaction with the results that have been achieved so far with Vaba d.d. banka Varaždin, Christian Tiessen stated:
‘The Savedo Platform enables any depositor free access to the most attractive forms of savings in Europe which gives customers their rightfully expected added value on fixed-term deposits.
Accordingly, Savedo aims to cooperate with renowned partners to create products which are simple and transparent. We know that the products and processes within the banking sector must be tangible, modern and today, more than ever, digital. That is why we are continuously creating high quality technical interfaces for even better, simple and first and foremost safer online banking. This is our magic formula which has been recognised by partners across Europe and the world’.

 

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Vaba d.d. banka Varaždin

Selected Works from the Varaždin Artist Branko Bobić were Exhibited at Vaba d.d. banka Varaždin
Cooperating with Renowned Varaždin Artists to Promote Cultural Heritage
 
Varaždin, 3^rd March 2016 - today, an exhibition of selected fine art works from the Varaždin painter Branko Bobić was opened on the premises of Vaba d.d. banka Varaždin and was attended by numerous guests and fine art lovers.
 
Through this Exhibition Vaba d.d. banka Varaždin, a member of the J&T Finance Group, is continuing its ‘Friend of Art’ Social Responsibility Project which started in July 2015 and aims to provide much-needed contributions to the visual arts of Croatia and Varaždin artists as well as spreading the word about the extraordinary cultural and artistic heritage of which we can all be extremely proud.
 

Branko Bobić (born 1943 in Varaždin) held his first exhibition back in 1969 when he was only 26 years old.
He is also a member of the Croatian Association of Artists (HDLU) and the Varaždin Fine Arts Association (LUV). He has participated in over 60 group exhibitions across Croatia and Europe and in those of other painters from the Regions of Zagorje and Međimurje. His works were exhibited individually at the 14^th and 15^th Exhibitions of Contemporary Art organised by the Croatian Association of Artists.
In 1987 he spent two months in Paris, and in the same year participated in the 19^th Biennale in Košice, Slovakia. In 1990 he participated in the 19^th Biennial at the Zagreb Salon and an Exhibition entitled ‘The Art of Eastern Europe’ held in Dordrecht, the Netherlands. Four years later he presented his work at the ‘POOAART’ Exhibition in Maribor, Slovenia.
 
Since 1980 he has had many solo exhibitions in Varaždin, Varaždinske Toplice, Zagreb, Čakovec, Križevci (Croatia), Ptuj (Slovenia), Geneva (Switzerland), Cologne, Hurt and Munich (Germany) and Komarn (Slovakia).
In 2007 in the Gallery of Old and New Masters of the Varaždin City Museum he presented his ‘Trains’ cycle to an appreciative audience.
Branko Bobić has been written about by numerous Croatian professors: Josip Depolo, Damir Grubic, Miroslav Gašparović, Stjepan Hajduk, Marijan Špoljar, Višnja Burek, Ernest Fišer and Darko Sačić.
 

Today’s Vaba d.d. banka Exhibition is even more attuned to the community in which it is taking place as, in its own way, it provides support to Varaždin art and artistic expression, confirming not only to its clients but also to the Croatian public that, in accordance with its business strategy, it is not only a Bank but an actual ‘Friend of Art’.
 
Over the forthcoming period Vaba d.d. banka branches around Croatia will organise numerous exhibitions of famous visual artists, and those interested will be able to buy the exhibited works by renowned artists in the Vaba d.d. banka branches and on its website.

Dear Clients,

We are very pleased to inform you that Vaba d.d. bank Varaždin has started new year with one more enhancement that we prepared for our clients – new Internet banking for retail clients (Enter Vaba).
New Internet banking has a new visual identity as well as enhanced existing functions with implemented new possibilities.
In accordance to online banking trends and needs of our clients we strive to be more modern, more flexible, technologically progressive and visually interesting.
We will continue to provide new and improved possibilities within internet banking service to you our existing online banking clients. Moreover all your suggestions are more than welcome in order improve our new Internet banking and to make more user friendly.
If you don’t use ENTER VABA service, you can arrange it in closest Vaba d.d. bank branch.
Take advantage of modern banking. From your own home conduct all transactions and monitor your account balance.
For further questions feel free to contact us at toll free number 0800 8222 FREE, e-mail: 0800@vaba.hr, or come to the nearest Vaba d.d. bank branch.

Thank you for your trust and loyalty,


Yours sincerely,

Vaba d.d. banka Varaždin
 

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Vaba d.d. banka Varaždin
Vaba d.d. banka Varaždin is a leading bank in Northwest part of Croatia with a clear vision to enter top 10 banks in Croatia in the next five years. It was developed on foundations of Brodsko-posavska bank with headquarters in Slavonski brod and in 2005 changed its name into Vaba d.d. bank and moves headquarters to Varaždin. In a short time it purchases assets and liabilities of Primus bank and by opening branches in Zagreb, Čakovec and other larger cities in northwestern Croatia it expands its business and increases market share. Vaba d.d. bank today has 8 branches and 141 employees. Its quality and potential was recognized by leading Czech bank J&T Bank, that increased its capital with 75 million HRK and with this increase increased the total Bank’s capital to 128,7 million HRK. In January 2015 in compliance with Management Board’s decision and Supervisory Board’s approval, new capital increase in the amount of 37,5 million HRK was conducted by mayor shareholder J&T Bank Prague and total capital amounted to 166.085.400,00 HRK.  In September 2015 with the most recent capital increase in the amount of 65 million HRK total capital was increased to the amount of 231.085.400,00 HRK. J&T Bank, having a share of 76,81%, will continue to further enhance operations within Vaba d.d. Bank Varaždin and with its capital, knowledge and experiences contribute to development of reliable and modern Croatian bank that tis ready to answer its clients’ requests in any moment.