GE Garanti Bank is a banking institution authorized by the National Bank of Romania in 2009, which became operational at the end of May 2010, through the transfer of Romanian branch operations of GarantiBank International N.V.

GE Garanti Bank (GarantiBank) is an universal bank with a complete range of qualitative products and innovative services for all business segments. GE Garanti Bank benefits of the mother bank’s support, Garanti Turkey, the second largest private bank in Turkey, that registered assets exceeding EUR 54 billion and a consolidate net profit of EUR 1.45 billion at the end of 2009, having more than 9 million customers, 800 branches, a network of more than 3,000 ATMs and 360,000 POS terminals.

In Turkey, Garanti products and services were acknowledged by many international publications and institutions. Thus, in 2010, Euromoney Magazine, one of the most important international financial publication, designated Garanti as „The best local bank in Turkey” and “The Best Managed Company in Central and Eastern Europe”, both distinctions being awarded for the second time in a row. The two project finance transactions developed throughout 2009 were awarded by the Project Finance magazine, a leading publication of Euromoney, as Europe’s Financing Agreement of the Year in 2009 in their relative sectors.

GarantiBank is present in Romania since 1998 and until 2007 offered banking services for Romanian and international companies. Since 2007, GarantiBank developed products and services for individuals and SMEs, extending at the same time its network of agencies, ATMs and POS terminals.

GarantiBank launched innovative products and services among which Bonus Card, the first multi-branded chip card in Romania; contactless payment tools that use MasterCard PayPass technology; the first lending product that offers financial protection in case of involuntary unemployment, temporary and permanent disability and death from any cause; GarantiBank24 – debit card with zero withdrawal fee at the ATMs of any bank in Romania; Garanti Online – internet banking service.

In 2009, GarantiBank significantly increased its assets that reached EUR 830 million, ranking 17th in the Top of Romanian banks, by 6 places higher than in 2008. At the same time, the loans increased by more than 50% as compared to year-end 2008, up to EUR 550 million.

GarantiBank was designated „The Best consumer internet bank in Romania in 2009”, within the yearly award ceremony organized by the renowned magazine Global Finance. The same service was awarded also by e-Finance magazine in 2010 for „The highest growth rate in terms of customers in 2009 as compared to 2008”. GarantiBank was subsequently awarded for the excellent evolution in 2009 of its credit card, Bonus Card, within e-Finance and No-Cash Award Galas organized in March 2010.