10 2020 • Issue 70
THE WORLD OF ALPHA BANK
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Α 11 12 Α 13 10 2020 • Issue 70 14 16
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23 Editor: CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION Corporate Identity and Group Serial Publicatios 24 Editing: Eleftheria Athanasopoulou Clio Gounaridi 25 40, Stadiou Str. 26 102 52 ATHENS, GREECE 26 27
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ART NET 35 Α 38 10 2020 • Issue 70 40 46 48
49 Editor: CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION Corporate Identity and Group 50 Serial Publicatios 53 Editing: Eleftheria Athanasopoulou Clio Gounaridi
40, Stadiou Str. 102 52 ATHENS, GREECE
EDITORIAL
A s we know, the Bank is currently in the final stretch of Project Galaxy, a particularly complex undertaking consisting of three successive transactions, through which a new bank is created, leaving behind the problems of the past and turning its attention to the times ahead, actively supporting the future of the Greek economy, according to the comments made by Alpha Bank’s CEO Vassilios Psaltis at the 3rd Athens Investment Forum, held on Friday, October 9, 2020.
In the pages that follow, you can read the intervention of Mr. Psaltis during a discussion held in the context of the Forum with the topic: “Financing Strong and Sustainable Growth”.
At this point, it is worth mentioning that, according to the results of virtual conferences and calls held by Alpha Bank representatives with major foreign institutional investors, in the context of Virtual Roadshows organized by leading financial institutions and other organizations, foreign institutional investors recognize the significant progress that Alpha Bank has already achieved towards completing the Galaxy transaction, while they also recognize the Bank’s superior capital position and assess positively the Bank’s improved profitability dynamics, despite the adverse conditions in the market.
The Bank also participated in the new syndicated loan to the Independent Power Transmission Operator (IPTO), demonstrating in practice its support to the development of the Greek electricity transmission system. In a relevant statement, Alpha Bank’s CEO Vassilios Psaltis stressed the following: “For us at Alpha Bank supporting energy transformation in our country is a strategic choice which we consistently pursue, even in difficult circumstances such as those caused by the pandemic”.
At the same time, as part of its ceaseless efforts to continuously upgrade the products and services it offers to its Customers, our Bank continues to innovate, while at the same time adapting its operation to the new reality created by the Covid-19 pandemic. Seeking to always offer quick, secure and effective customer service, Alpha Bank is the first bank in the Greek market to offer all its
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Retail and Business Customers, the new myAlpha Rendez-vous service, participating in the nation-wide effort to deal with the pandemic. The new Service provides all Customers with the possibility to schedule online their appointment with the Branch of their choice, in order to receive quality, customized service via video call or telephone call, or by visiting a Branch without delay.
On this occasion, in this issue’s “In Focus” section, we host an interview with Alpha Bank General Manager - Retail Banking Isidoros Passas, who talked to us about the new Service and our Branch Executives’ experience of using it.
In closing this issue’s Editorial, we invite you to “visit” the Louvre Museum, one of the world’s largest and oldest museums, by reading our new column “Greece outside Greece”, and to get to know some of the most important Greek antiquities which have a prominent place among the Museum’s prime exhibits.
TOGETHER, we are closely following developments and we are moving ahead with responsibility and confidence.
CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION Corporate Identity and Group Serial Publications
< 4 / 55 > IN FOCUS
“myAlpha Rendez-vous” Alpha Bank is the first to serve everyone without delay!
lpha Bank is the first bank in the Greek market to offer all its Retail and Business Customers the A opportunity to schedule their appointment with the Branch of their choice online and receive quality customized service via video call, telephone call or by visiting the Branch without delay.
The new myAlpha Rendez-vous service is fast and efficient and is perfectly adapted to the modern need for more security, speed and flexibility.
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It is very simple and easy to schedule an appointment.
Through myAlpha Rendez-vous application, which is available on the Bank's website www.alpha.gr/rdv, Customers enter their contact details, state the topic for which they want to be served, the way of communication they prefer (video call, telephone call or meeting at the Branch) and the Branch of their choice. Soon, a representative of the Bank calls them on the phone to schedule an appointment or serves them on the spot, if possible.
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The General Manager - Retail Banking of Alpha Bank, Isidoros Passas, talked to us about the new Service
Why did the Bank decide to design and launch the myAlpha Rendez-vous service? For us at Alpha Bank, our primary target is to stand by both our Customers and our Branch Executives. The new reality we are going through has urged to accelerate the implementation of new ways of communication with our Customers. By utilizing technology and always conforming to all safety protocols, now with myAlpha Rendez-vous we offer all our Customers the chance to be served at the Branch of their choice without waiting or come into contact with it through video call or telephone call. All the above choices require no waiting and ensure a better experience for the Customer as for the Branch Executives. The new Service is available to all our Customers, both Retail and Business, as well as to everyone wishing to start a new co-operation with us.
What is the response of Customers to the new Service? Since October 5, 2020, when we launched the Service, more than 15,000 Customers have used it. We receive daily more than 1,000 requests for appointments and this number goes up as the Customers’ information increases. Their comments are highly positive.
Which Customers use the Service more and why? 90% of requests for an appointment is submitted by Retail Customers, whereas the remaining 10% comes from Business. It should be noted that especially regarding Business Customers, who have limited time, their response and feedback are exceptionally positive. Moreover, 80% of requests comes from existing Alpha Bank Customers and 20% from new Customers. Most appointments regard Attica and the big urban centers. The main topics of service concern the Customers’ accounts, as well as card and loan products and services.
Finally, the greatest percentage selects to have an appointment at a Branch, with telephone and video call appointments following suit.
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Our Branch Executives and Customers said the following about the new Service
“The new myAlpha Rendez-vous service contributes to the better management of daily Branch operations as well as to a more quality service of our Customers due to the preparation of each appointment”.
From their side, Customers are excited by how immediately we respond to their request for an appointment (it is fixed on that same day) as well as by the fact that they don’t need to wait outside the Branch”.
Christodoulos Souliotis “Achilleion” Mall Branch Manager
“Every day we receive only positive comments from our Customers about the new myAlpha Rendez-vous service. Most of them are punctual for the appointment, come smiling and leave satisfied, as it is them who arrange the time they will stay at the Bank.
From the Branch’s perspective, it should be noted that with the new Service, Customers don’t get frustrated because of waiting and any conflicts among them are avoided, a frequent phenomenon in Branches with a lot of visitors. Thus, we, the Executives, can offer them immediate quality service”.
Aspasia Fili Nea Smyrni Square Branch Manager
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“The new myAlpha Rendez-vous service has improved our daily life, as scheduling appointments with our Customers allows us to beneficially utilize the time we spend with the Customer so as to increase the Branch’s productivity. It is worth noting that during the communication we filter and assess what the Customer wants.
As far as the Customers are concerned -mainly younger ages and internet users-, they have welcomed the Service and prefer it in order to schedule their day without having to wait, especially now at this difficult time we are going through” Ioannis Stamatopoulos Glyfada Branch Manager
"Customers are pleasantly surprised by our immediate response to their request when we contact them right after we receive their request message.
On the part of the Branch, the new myAlpha Rendez-vous service helps Executives to better manage their time, as they already know the Customer and the purpose of his visit, and as a result they can prepare appropriately and propose the best possible solutions”. . Pantelis Mavrikos Melissia Branch Manager
“This is an extremely positive development for both Customers and Branch Executives. Many of the cases concerning the Mass Clientele of the Branch are forwarded to the new Service.
The information campaign has helped a great deal, especially the announcement of Merchandising, mainly in the issue of prioritization of Customers during their visit to the Branch. Further efforts to promote myAl- pha-Rendez-vous service have been made by the Branch”. Vassilios Hampsas Rethymno Branch Manager
< 9 / 55 > IN FOCUS
In order to promote the new Service to the general public, an extensive communication program was designed and implemented, starting on TV on Tuesday, October 6, 2020. The TV spot, in a humorous way, initially focuses on the correct way to pronounce the word “rendez-vous” and concludes that “It doesn’t matter how you pronounce it. What matters is to offer it”, thus promoting the innovative way of service which Alpha Bank is the first to offer to all its Customers.
At the same time, it was promoted in the Press, the internet, radio, the Social Media as well as in the Bank's Branch Network.
More information about the new Service is available here.
• In order to watch the TV spot, click here.
< 10 / 55 > THE BANK
Moving towards a strong digital future, with active support for the Greek economy Intervention by Alpha Bank’s CEO Vassilios Psaltis at the 3rd Athens Investment Forum
uring a discussion at the 3rd Athens Investment Forum held on Friday, D October 9, 2020, Alpha Bank’s CEO Vassilios Psaltis referred to the Bank’s progress towards a strong and sustainable future –concentrating on the implementation of a definitive solution for NPEs and on digital transformation– and to the Group’s firm commitment to actively support the Greek economy. The participants in the discussion, whose topic was “Financing Strong and Sustainable Growth”, were Minister of Finance Christos Staikouras and the CEOs of the four Greek systemic banks.
Alpha Bank is currently in the final stretch of Project Galaxy, “a particularly complex undertaking consisting of three successive transactions, through which we create a new bank that leaves behind the problems of the past, so that we can turn our attention to the times ahead and actively support the future of the Greek economy,” Mr. Psaltis stressed.
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High participation of major international investors in a series of virtual conferences and calls held by Alpha Bank
ollowing the release of its results for the first semester of 2020, Alpha Bank’s Management team, led by CEO Vassilios F Psaltis and General Manager - CFO Lazaros Papagaryfallou, carried out a series of calls with major foreign institutional investors, in the context of Virtual Roadshows organized by leading financial institutions and other organizations, more specifically, Goldman Sachs, BofA, Citi, Nomura, UBS, and Wood & Co. They also participated in the “15th Annual Greek Roadshow”, organized by the Athens Exchange (ATHEX).
Overall, Alpha Bank’s representatives made more than 60 teleconferences with approximately 90 institutional funds, most of them with long-term investment horizon.
Foreign institutional investors recognize the significant progress that Alpha Bank has already achieved towards completing the Galaxy transaction, the largest securitization in Greece and one of the largest in Europe, while they also recognize the Bank’s superior capital position, which allows for the meaningful de-risking of its Balance Sheet, and assess positively the Bank’s improved profitability dynamics, despite the adverse conditions in the market. Other points of discussion during the calls were the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the Greek economy, as well as the level of moratoria provided by the Bank including “Gefyra” program eligibility.
< 12 / 55 > THE BANK
Distinction of Alpha Bank at the Global Capital Bond Awards 2020
he Bank received a significant distinction from Global Capital for its successful Tier 2 Bond Issuance of Euro 500 million T in February 2020. The exceptionally high investor demand led to an outstanding outcome that was depicted in the final pricing of the bond, as a result of which Alpha Bank was presented with the award for “the most impressive return to the international markets after a long absence”.
The Global Capital Bond Awards are the only awards that truly reflect the opinion of the market. They are held annually and are based on a market poll in which bond market participants such as investment banks, issuers, law firms and credit rating agencies take part and, in this way, they confirm the confidence of the international investment community in Alpha Bank.
< 13 / 55 > THE BANK
We support green growth Increased participation by Alpha Bank in the new syndicated loan to IPTO
ith an increased participation that covered over 1/3 of the new net financing to the Independent Power Transmission W Operator (IPTO), Alpha Bank was one of the four banks that supported the recent Euro 400 million new syndicated loan to the Company, giving new momentum to its green investment plan to ensure the interconnection of the Greek islands’ electricity transmission network with the mainland.
In the special ceremony, held in Athens and attended by the Minister of Environment and Energy, Mr. Kostis Hatzidakis, the CEOs of the Greek banks -Alpha Bank, National Bank of Greece and Piraeus Bank- and the representatives of the Bank of China stressed the need for banking institutions to join forces for financing large-scale development projects aimed at boosting Greece’s economic growth on the optimal and most sustainable terms.
At the same time, the issuance of the syndicated loan to IPTO demonstrated the banks’ readiness to join forces in order to secure strong and long-term financing for development projects vital to the economy, such as the development of the Electricity Transmission System, as well as their strong commitment to green growth.
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The CEO of Alpha Bank, Vassilios Psaltis, made the following statement: “For us at Alpha Bank supporting energy transformation in our country is a strategic choice which we consistently pursue, even in difficult circumstances such as those caused by the pandemic. We are happy to be part of the new syndicated loan to IPTO, issued to support its development plan, and we thank the Management of the Organization for this.
We share the same goals, which are: • to reduce the environmental footprint and support the green economy, by adopting cleaner and more efficient electricity supply; • to ensure electricity sufficiency as a prerequisite for economic growth and for the development of tourism in our country; and • to improve the competitiveness of the Greek economy, by reducing energy costs for businesses and households. This is an initiative of national significance, which Alpha Bank strongly supports!”
Alpha Bank’s General Manager - Wholesale Banking, Ioannis Emiris, said the following about the new loan to IPTO: “Honoring its excellent and long-standing business relationship with IPTO, Alpha Bank is again present in the new, Euro 400 million loan facility.
What is more, we are increasing our participation, covering more than 1/3 of the new net financing to the company, in a move serving as proof of our confidence in IPTO’s positive prospects and the role it can play in strengthening the energy security of our country.
At the same time, our participation in the new syndicated loan also affirms Alpha Bank’s leading role in key sectors of the Greek economy, such as Energy and Infrastructure.
Guided by the Principles of Responsible Banking, which are at the core of our investment choices, we continue to support plans that strengthen development, ensure sustainability, protect the environment and provide new opportunities for growth and employment.”
Looking ahead, the criteria for investments in the future will be "green”, Mr. Emiris said, and in this respect, Alpha Bank is financing solutions that promote environmentally sustainable development, such as, to name but a few, Renewable Energy Sources, buildings / infrastructures built to top-tier specifications for LEED (Leadership in Energy Environmental Design) certification, waste management projects etc. At the same time, through the Group Company Alpha Ventures, the Bank is investing in companies whose activities contribute to the reduction of energy footprint and promote innovation, while Alpha Asset Management M.F.M.C. follows a holistic investment approach, as it is already since 2018 a member of Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), the world’s leading network, supported by the United Nations, of investors working together to promote responsible investments.
• Click here to read the Press Release.
< 15 / 55 > THE BANK
“Summer Youth Digital Lab” for the children of Alpha Bank Group Employees
he Human Resources Division, in the context of the Group’s Digital Transformation T and with a high awareness of the Bank's responsibility, as a corporate citizen, to young people, created the Summer Youth Digital Lab – a three-month long part-time apprenticeship program for the children of colleagues from the Bank and the Alpha Bank Group Companies. The selection process comprised language and numerical reasoning tests as well as interviews conducted using the MS Teams platform.
Through this process, two groups of young people were selected, all of them passionate about technology and digital applications, as well as about communication.
The selection process proved to be extremely difficult, as the number of entries was high and applications came from candidates from all academic disciplines, with diverse interests and career aspirations, yet with the same appetite for new learning experiences and innovation. The successful candidates attended courses that were custom-designed for the Youth Digital Lab in collaboration with the “Program for Transferring Transactions to the Alternative Networks”, during which they were trained using modern tools, and were then placed in Branches throughout the country, continuing their learning experience in real working conditions.
The Human Resources Division welcomes the successful candidates and hopes that they will make the most of this special experience.
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“Nomos-Nomizo-Nomisma” The Educational Program successfully continues its "journey"!
ince February 2017, Alpha Bank’s Numismatic Collection is carrying out, with the approval of the Ministry of Education, S the Educational Program “Nomos-Nomizo-Nomisma”, which visits schools in all Greek regions, in a specially designed suitcase. The Program aims to help children learn about the history of coins, which originated in ancient Greece, and become acquainted with their iconography, diffusion and use as a medium of exchange.
From February 2017 to this day, a total of 13,600 students from 280 schools throughout Greece –nursery, primary, high, and special education schools– took part in the Educational Program.
Moreover, in 2019 the Program received an excellence award in the 8th edition of the Corporate Responsibility Awards, in the “Society, Culture and Sports” category.
In response to requests made by many schools, and in line with the Bank’s Corporate Responsibility activities, but also as a gesture of gratitude to those who believed in this Program and supported it –first and foremost, the educational community and the children all over Greece–, we decided to offer 15 suitcases to be permanently available at the schools, as an additional source of knowledge and stimuli for schoolchildren of all ages.
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The schools which received this offer are the following:
• 2nd Primary School of Orestiada • 12th Primary School of Alexandroupoli • 15th Primary School of Kavala • 3rd Primary School of Eleftherio-Kordelio • Primary School of Kouloura, Imathia • Primary School of Stomio, Larisa • 30th Primary School of Volos • School Centre of Paxoi island • 2nd Primary School of Skiathos island • Primary School of Nenites, Chios island • 6th Primary School of Kalymnos island • Primary School of Fry, Kasos island • 2nd Primary School of Souda, Chania • 4th Primary School of Argostoli, Cephalonia island • 2nd Primary School of Samos island
The teachers of the 15 recipient schools were very enthusiastically involved in the Educational Program, often carrying out additional activities such as writing fairy tales, organizing exhibitions of coins, and creating short films, improvised games and even a theatre play. The children, in turn, embraced the Program and worked with enthusiasm and creativity, drawing their own coin, using various materials to make coins, and preparing relevant presentations, thus confirming the success of the Program and its wide acceptance.
The journey of the Educational Program will be continued during the current school year.
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Publication offer by Alpha Bank
lpha Bank offers the publication “Athens between the Wars through the Photographs of Petros Poulidis” (bilingual Α edition) at a discount of 40% throughout November 2020.
Kyriaki Arseni Athens 2004 Commercial Bank of Greece Dimensions 29 x 22.5 cm 344 pages 385 illustrations Bilingual edition (Greek, English) ISBN 960-7059-15-8
Price: Euro 24.00
The book presents a view of the city of Athens during the critical interwar period (1922-1940), as recorded through the lens of Petros Poulidis, the first Greek photo-reporter. The illustrations published in this book come from the valuable and rich Poulidis photograph collection, which now belongs to the Archives of ERT S.A. and capture the critical events of the period, aspects of the city and the daily life of the Athenians as well as the personality of Petros Poulidis.
The Publication may be obtained either by visiting the “ALPHA BANK – CULTURE store” (40 Stadiou Street, ATHENS) and the e-shop www.alphapolitismos.gr/eshop or by placing an order via telephone or e-mail (tel.: +30 210 326 2465, e-mail: [email protected]).
For any further clarification or information please contact the Alpha Bank Library at +30 210 326 2440 and 210 326 2446.
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The J.F. Costopoulos Foundation
he International Analogio Festival entitled “Rewriting Ancient Greek Myths today” was realised from September 21 to T October 10, 2020, with the kind support of The J.F. Costopoulos Foundation.
According to Covid-19 safety guidelines, the Festival presented a program of online activities that included recordings and broadcasts of works, video-portraits of the authors, online events and encounters, while the live presentation of the works to the public will take place when health conditions allow.
You can watch the video-portraits of the authors and the online events, here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=UUWlv02iMr7BdaxjfoXa_scw https://analogiofestival.org/2020/gr/videos/
< 22 / 55 > PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
“Bonus Wednesdays” Wednesday is not an indifferent day. It’s the day you win!
lpha Bank this year too, decided to repeat the successful “Bonus Wednesdays” promotional activity. The activity started Α on Wednesday, September 23, 2020 and ended on October 14, 2020. In particular, on Wednesday, September 23 and Wednesday, September 30, 2020, the Program offered double Bonus points for each transaction with Bonus cards to all Program partners, while on Wednesday, October 7 and Wednesday, October 14, 2020, it gave them the possibility to redeem with half the Bonus points.
To highlight the promotion, an advertising campaign through television, radio, the internet and social media was carried out. At first, the TV spot presented Wednesday as an indifferent day till the moment it gained special interest thanks to the Bonus Program's points collection and redemption offers.
< 23 / 55 > PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
Entrepreneurship Fund II “Business Funding” Working Capital with Interest Rate Financing from the Hellenic Development Bank - New Subprogram 4
ollowing the exhaustion of the Subprogram 3 budget, in which Alpha Bank was a protagonist, disbursing for its Customers F the biggest share (28%) in comparison to other banks, the launch for the disposal of the new, co-financed Subprogram 4 of Entrepreneurship Fund II officially began on October 5, 2020.
The new Subprogram provides interest-free working capital for 2 years to businesses affected by Covid-19, which, despite having applied for relevant funding from the respective Subprogram 3 through the State Aid Information System, did not receive it due to the fact that resources were exhausted. It should also be mentioned that in order for a company to be eligible for Subprogram 4, it must not have received funding from the Covid-19 Guarantee Fund of the Hellenic Development Bank either.
Finally, Subprogram 4 provides interest-free working capital for 2 years, provided that the business retains the number of its staff.
You can find more information here.
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National Customer Service Week | October 5-10, 2020 From Operations Division
he National Customer Service Week was organized for the 4th consecutive year. It is now established as T a significant institution, which aims to highlight the vital role of quality Customer service.
We celebrated with our Customers! During October 5-10, Customers who applied for the "Alpha Regular Payments Development” Program were offered 20 Bonus points for each Euro of premium for the first year of participation.
Alpha Bank would like to thank the Hellenic Institute of Customer Service (EIEP) that enthusiastically and responsibly rallies its Members around the institution of Service
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“digital Greece Race for the Cure”- Make the first step for something invaluable!
astercard®, for the 5th consecutive year, supported the M work of the Panhellenic Association of Women with Breast Cancer, "Alma Zois", as a major sponsor of the digital Greece Race for the Cure 2020. This year, the biggest social purpose race in Greece, in its 12th year and in the context of the conditions shaped by the Covid-19 pandemic, changed its form taking place online, from 25 to 27 September 2020. Alpha Bank Mastercard cards supported "Alma Zois" for yet another year.
...... Limiting the use of POS keyboard due to Covid-19
s part of the effort to reduce the spread of Covid-19, we significantly limit the use of POS keyboards by extending until A 31 December 2020 the period of making contactless transactions of up to 50 Euros without using a PIN.
Moreover, we would like to remind you that all transactions, regardless of the amount, are made contactless and you will still be required to enter your PIN in the POS only for transactions of over 50 Euros.
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Authoritative and reliable information on international markets
rivate Banking and Alpha Bank Gold Personal Banking sent their Customers the new issue of the publication "Navigator" P titled: "Recovering in an environment of uncertainty", through a newsletter and a Viber message.
A specialized team of Bank Analysts presents the developments in the world economy and answers questions regarding the following topics:
• Following the powerful growth in the 3rd quarter, what are the indications for the rest of the year? • What is the outlook for interest rates? • Is the environment favorable for shares in the mid-term, in spite of the recent correction? • How is the dollar expected to move after the two-and-a-half-year low? • Does the price of gold keep its dynamics? • How is the investment approach developed? What are the proper options for hedging?
< 27 / 55 > CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Alpha Bank actively supports those affected by storm “Ianos”
lpha Bank stands by our fellow citizens who were affected by the disasters caused by storm “Ianos”, proceeding to A special arrangements and facilities for their loan obligations as well as for the restoration of the damage they suffered.
In particular, the Bank, in the context of its Corporate Responsibility, immediately implemented the possibility of suspending for up to 12 months the payment of mortgage, business, consumer loans and credit cards for its Private and Business Customers who reside and / or have their business headquarters in the affected areas and have suffered damage.
Furthermore, within the framework of the initiative to support the people affected that was announced by the Hellenic Banking Association, Alpha Bank provides the possibility of granting a mortgage loan at a preferential interest rate for the repair of damages to houses.
Finally, the Bank stands by the affected residents of the Municipality of Karditsa by offering, after communication with the competent authorities, 1,800 pieces of food and necessities through the Social Grocery of Karditsa.
< 28 / 55 > CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
"The defacements that hurt"
he Corporate Responsibility program "The defacements that hurt", implemented in collaboration with Alpha Bank’s Art Collection and in consultation with the Municipality of Athens, continues for the seventh year.
The maintenance of sculptures is made by a team of specialized restorers.
In particular, based on a weekly inspection program, all the sculptures restored from 2013 until today, are monitored and photographed, and afterwards their cleaning and protection interventions are carried out.
The main problems identified are various inscriptions and slogans at the bases of the sculptures, a phenomenon usually observed after large demonstrations in the city center. Their restoration is performed on site with all bases being covered with anti-graffiti protection.
Finally, an attempt was recently made to steal the "Dorkas" located in Syntagma Square. As a result, the sculpture was immediately removed and its maintenance works began.
BEFORE AFTER
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BEFORE AFTER
BEFORE AFTER
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BEFORE AFTER
BEFORE AFTER
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Alpha Bank sponsorships in the context of its Corporate Responsibility program
Alpha Bank was a bronze sponsor of the 3rd Compliance Forum, entitled: "Νon-compliance risk assessment and management", which took place on Friday, October 2, 2020. The Bank’s Compliance Acting Executive General Manager, Xenophon Avlonitis, participated in the panel on “Regulatory risk in businesses", while Alpha Bank Special Legal Associate, Christina Livada, participated in the panel on "Corporate governance weaknesses and non-compliance risk: examples from money laundering and the provision of investment services”.
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Alpha Bank sponsored the Entrepreneurship and Career Panorama, which was held online. Its main goal was to inform young people through talks, workshops, “Meet the Executives” sessions, presentations and no agenda discussions about the trends, career choices and prospects offered by various sectors of the economy. During the Panorama, the Executive General Manager of Alpha Bank, Thodoris Athanassopoulos, talked about "Financial analysis as a means of monitoring investments and companies", which you can watch here.
< 32 / 55 > CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
The Bank was a supporter of the Sustainability Forum 2020, which took place online this year. The Forum, which was held for the 9th year and constitutes an important event - institution of sustainable development, was attended by internationally acclaimed speakers from organizations, such as TÜV AUSTRIA Hellas, Papastratos, Hellenic Development Bank, BMW Foundation, Nestle, University of Cambridge, who shared their knowledge and experience with the participants. The Forum focused on issues like responsible and sustainable banking, sustainable business transformation, legislative developments in the field of ESG, thus giving participants the opportunity to receive information on both critical issues and international trends.
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The 3rd International Agrotechnology Conference of the AgriBusiness Forum, held in Athens, on Wednesday, October 7, 2020, entitled: "Food Safety, Security and Resilience: pressing challenges in the COVID-19 era and beyond”, was supported by Alpha Bank. The 5 focal areas of the AgriBusiness Forum 2020 revolved around safety, health and food resilience, the effects of climate change on environmental protection, addressing the challenges for stable, sustainable and resilient agrifood systems in Greece and globally.
< 33 / 55 > CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
For a number of years the Bank has been supporting the work of the Young Men's Christian Association of Thessaloniki. The goal of the Association is to contribute to society through the empowerment of personality and the cultivation of volunteer awareness in young people. For the year 2020, Alpha Bank is sponsoring the YMCA programs unified form.
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Alpha Bank participated as a Platinum Sponsor in the competition "50 Great Greek Wines", an initiative of Giannis Karakasis, Master of Wine, under the auspices of Wines of Greece, aiming to promote the top 50 Greek wines and winemakers. The award ceremony, held on Tuesday, September 29, 2020, at the Electra Palace Hotel in Athens, was attended by the Assistant Manager of the Small Business Banking Division of Alpha Bank, Maria Karathanassi, who made a brief greeting and awarded the prize for the third best wine.
< 34 / 55 > CULTURE SPECIAL • ART NETWORK
Jannis Kounellis
Untitled (1990-1) Iron, lead and petroleum lamps, 200x180x16 cm
he work Untitled, which belongs to the Alpha Bank Art Collection, is a typical example of Jannis Kounellis’ creative work in the early T 1990s, in which seemingly unrelated materials coexist in an unexpected poetic encounter.
In this particular work, two massive plates of iron serve as the load-bearing surface, from which a third, thinner element made of iron hangs suspended from hooks. Spiral-shaped lead strips, which end in burning petroleum lamps, complete the composition. Thanks to the artist’s compositional ingenuity, the heavy, imposing iron structure acquires an almost religious air of redemption and hope. The metaphysical nature of the light, which shimmers with every change in the wind or movement of the spectator, lends mobility to the work and confirms in the most vivid way Kounellis’ programmatic statement demanding “the return of the poetry with all available means: practice, observation, seclusion, words, images, subversion.”
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The work at the MOMus-Experimental Center for the Arts.
The work was one of the works displayed in the exhibition Alpha Bank Collection: Greek Art from 1960 until today, which the Bank organized at the Metropolitan Organisation of Museums of Visual Arts of Thessaloniki (MOMus), in 2018-19. After the Exhibition was over, it was decided, under a loan agreement between Alpha Bank and MOMus, to loan the work to the Museum, where it is currently on display in the latter’s permanent Collection.
Jannis Kounellis, who since the mid-1960s had left his native city of Piraeus to settle in Italy, is one of the few cases of a truly “global” Greek artist, with a significant contribution to developments in virtual arts not only in Europe but also internationally.
One of the pioneers of the Arte Povera movement, Kounellis incorporated in his work, from very early on, simple materials of humble origins, such as earth, coal, burlap sacks, wool, stone, etc. Gradually, his work takes on a strongly conceptual character, by steadily integrating various expressive means which result in compositions with a dramatic, almost ritual character that converse as equals with the architecture of the space that surrounds them, losing nothing of their vitality and interpretative power.
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Jannis Kounellis (Piraeus 1936 - Rome 2017) BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
H e studied painting, mainly under F. Gentilini, at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Rome, where he settled permanently in 1956. During the 1960s, he was one of the leaders of the Arte Povera movement, presenting his Coal Bin in 1967 and, in 1969, his famous environment Untitled, consisting of 11 live horses, at Rome’s L’Attico gallery. Combining elements from ancient Greek philosophy, the Renaissance and the Industrial Revolution, Kounellis creates within the context of his so-called “live paintings”, works deployed in space. Initially in two dimensions, and then in three, he utilizes a variety of media since the mid-1960s, moving towards a form of art that is poetic, humane and critical of contemporary culture. In the 1980s and 1990s, he created works with a dramatic content, in which personal memory is transformed into collective memory, at times taking on the character of a desire to return home that is common to us all. He has presented many solo exhibitions in Europe and in the USA, at major art galleries and museums. In 1994, he organized, under a sponsorship from the J.F. Costopoulos Foundation, his first retrospective exhibition in Greece, which was presented aboard the freighter Ionion, at the port of Piraeus. He also participated in group and international exhibitions and events, such as the Paris Biennale (1967, 1969, 1971), Documenta (1972, 1977, 1982), the Venice Biennale (1972, 1974, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1993), the Istanbul Biennial (1993), and the Biennale of Sydney (2008).
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Rhodes, the island of Helios
Silver tetradrachm of Rhodes, 230-205 BC Obverse: Radiant head of Helios. Reverse: Α Α
And now, O Muse Calliope, daughter of Zeus, begin to sing of glowing Helios […] As he rides in his chariot, he shines upon men and deathless gods, and piercingly he gazes with his eyes from his golden helmet. Bright rays beam dazzlingly from him. […]
Homeric Hymn, 31. To Helios
ight and darkness, the rising and setting of the sun, and the various weather phenomena have always perplexed humans and L fired their imagination. In the image of the solar disc with its rays, people saw a blond-haired face wearing a radiant crown, and thus they created the god Helios (Sun).
CULTURE SPECIAL • STORIES RECOUNTED BY COINS
Helios is the one who sees and rules over all things, the Helios Panoptes (“the all-seeing”). With his chariot, ablaze with fire and drawn by two or four horses, he travels on the sky daily, from his palace in the East to that in the West. In the morning, he wakes up on one side of Oceanus, leaves behind him Aia, his own land, and rises to the center of the heavenly vault, from where he descends to the other side of Oceanus. Every morning, Thetis in the East unlocks the gates to his coach-house, where his chariot is kept, while in the evening Poseidon awaits him in the West, to cater to his horses that need to rest. During the night, a winged bed transports the sleeping god from the West to the East, so that he can begin his journey again.
Helios’ principal place of worship, where annual festivals were held in his honor, was the island of Rhodes. According to myth, when the gods drew lots for their realms on earth, Rhodes was submerged by the sea and was not visible. During the process Helios was away on his routine daily journey, and the gods forgot to draw a lot for him. When Zeus heard Helios’ chariot approaching, he prepared to start the process all over again. Yet as soon as Helios saw the island emerging from the sea, he requested it to be given to him. Thus, Rhodes became the god’s island, which he had under his protection and upon which he shone with his rays.
Helios was united with the Nymph Rhode and had seven sons, the Heliades. The celebrated Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world, was dedicated to the shining god, who had saved the island from a siege.
< 39 / 55 > CULTURE SPECIAL • GREECE OUTSIDE GREECE
Greece outside Greece By Dr Dimitra Tsangari, Curator of the Alpha Bank Numismatic Collection Greek Antiquities in France Paris In the center of Paris, on the right bank of the Seine, is one of the world’s largest and oldest museums – the Louvre Museum. Initially built as a defensive fortress by the King of France Philip II Augustus, in 1190, it was gradually undergoing significant changes over the centuries, depending on its uses. From a fortress, it was transformed into a residence of the kings of France and, after the French Revolution, into an art museum. In 2019, the Louvre Museum had 9.6 million visitors, maintaining its title as the most visited art museum in the world.
The Louvre Museum (Musée du Louvre) The Museum opened its doors for the first time in August 1793 as a “Central Museum of Arts”, and is today considered one of the largest in the world. In an area of about 73,000 square meters, 38,000 objects are on display, representing just 8% of all items in the Museum’s collections. Overall, it is estimated that the Museum's collections comprise more than 445,000 objects in total. Among them, Greek antiquities have a prominent place, as some of them are among the most famous original Greek works of art and, at the same time, among the Museum’s prime exhibits.
< 40 / 55 > CULTURE SPECIAL • GREECE OUTSIDE GREECE
Paris, The Louvre Museum
The Lady of Auxerre (“La Dame d’Auxerre”), ca. 640 B.C. One of the most representative works of the Daedalic style. The statue probably depicts a goddess, with her right hand bent at the elbow and touching her breast, in a gesture that is typical of a mother goddess, while her left hand is held straight. It comes most likely from Crete, where its “twin sister”, the “Kore of Eleutherna”, one of the major finds of the excavations at the site of the Orthi Petra Necropolis, is exhibited. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bt4wU8oSADw
Kore from the Cheramyes group, from the Temple of Hera in Samos, ca. 570 B.C. The Kore is holding a hare in her left hand and is very similar to two other Kores, one in Berlin’s Pergamonmuseum and another one in the Archaeological Museum of Samos. The one in the Louvre bears an inscription with the name CHERAMYES.
< 41 / 55 > CULTURE SPECIAL • GREECE OUTSIDE GREECE
Paris, The Louvre Museum
Head of a horseman, known as the “Rampin Horseman”, ca. 550 B.C. The head was found at the Acropolis of Athens, in 1877, and is on display at the Louvre, while fragments of the bodies of the horseman and of his horse were found ten years later and are exhibited at the Acropolis Museum. It is the work of a master sculptor of the Archaic era, incorporating many novel elements.
The original head, together with moulds taken from the fragments of the horseman's body and of its horse, are exhibited at the Louvre Museum. The original fragments are exhibited at the Acropolis Museum, together with a mould taken from the head.
< 42 / 55 > CULTURE SPECIAL • GREECE OUTSIDE GREECE
Paris, The Louvre Museum
The Winged Victory (“Nike”) of Samothrace, ca. 190-180 B.C. Nike, a deity familiar to and loved by the Greeks, is presented with her wings wide open, having just landed on the prow of a ship. This suggests that the sculpture was made on order, after a victory in a sea battle. The work’s exact dating is still debated.
Aphrodite, known as “Venus de Milo”, 150-125 B.C. This statue was found in 1820 on the island of Milos, together with a part of its inscribed plinth, which gave the name [Agis]andros or [Alex]andros, son of Menides, as its sculptor. The goddess, whose upper body is exposed, is draped in a himation and stands in swaying posture. Her right hand is held downwards at an angle, while in left one she is assumed to have been holding an apple. It is a masterpiece that combines the features of the Classical era with the sophistication of the late Hellenistic period.
< 43 / 55 > Α Α Α Α • • Α Α Α
CULTURE SPECIAL • GREECE OUTSIDE GREECE
Paris, The Louvre Museum
Apollo of Piombino (Apollon Piompino), 1st century. Found in the sea off the coast of Piombino, opposite the island of Elba, in 1832. It is a Roman copy of the original statue of Apollo, created in the 5th century B.C. by Kanachos for the god’s temple in Militos or for the Temple of Ismenius Apollo in Thebes. The figure is identified as Apollo, since it is considered almost certain that it was holding a bow in its left hand and a phiale in its right. From the Α Α Α Α Α that the work was an offering to the goddess Athena.
Myson Amphora / Croesus on his Pyre, 500-490 B.C. Attic red-figure amphora, attributed to vase painter Myson. Croesus (according to the inscription) is shown at the top of a high wooden structure made of logs (pyre), while another bearded figure, Euthymus, is preparing to light the pyre using two torches. It is one of the rarest depictions of this particular historic event from the life of Croesus, King of Lydia.
Andokides Amphora / Hercules in the Underworld, 520-515 B.C. side is painted using the black-figure technique. On the amphora’s red-figure side, Hercules is shown in the Underworld, when he was trying to tame two-headed Cerberus. The goddess Athena stands at the hero’s side.
< 45 / 55 > CULTURE SPECIAL • FRAGMENTS FROM THE BANK’S HISTORY
The Bank’s first business activities in the insurance sector
Title representing one share of “Emporiki” Insurance Company S.A., 1940 Alpha Bank Historical Archives
n the aftermath of the 1929-1932 crisis, a large number of smaller banks declared bankruptcy. Yet Banque de Credit Commercial Hellénique, as Alpha Bank was named back then, not only did not face the specter of bankruptcy, but did not even have to resort to reducing its own funds in order to offset the losses it had sustained over those years.
However, the future did not have in store a path of smooth progress for the Bank. On the contrary, the years that followed until the end of the interwar period were the most unenviable of its history until then. As the activities which might generate profits were extremely limited during those times of economic hardship, the Bank sought to branch out to new activities, going far beyond those traditionally undertaken by a commercial bank.
It shifted its Interest to the brokerage of insurance products, an option that at least the timing of the period raised expectations. In early 1933 –in other words, as soon as the Greek economy showed signs of recovery– Banque de Credit Commercial Hellénique announced its agreement with “Anatoli” Insurance Company S.A., which had been active in the insurance sector since 1906 and had significantly contributed to the organization of the life insurance business. Under the agreement, the Bank began to represent, through its Branch Managers, life and endowment policies. A few months later, the Bank considered a potential partnership with Assurances Générales de France, for representing the latter’s hail insurance business.
< 46 / 55 > CULTURE SPECIAL • FRAGMENTS FROM THE BANK’S HISTORY
Cover of the Balance Sheet for the year 1942 of “Emporiki” Insurance Company S.A. Alpha Bank Historical Archives
In 1935, the Bank concluded an agreement with another insurance company, “National Life and Good Faith”, founded in 1918 by the National Economy Bank and the Embirikos brothers. Again, through its Branches, the Bank is brokering life and endowment insurance policies, as well as fire and transportation ones, always retaining the freedom to also represent other insurance companies.
However, those insurance brokering activities –with all the difficulties they caused due to the competing features of the products offered by different companies– were nothing more than a transitional stage in the Bank’s plan for a new business scheme, which would be led by it and would seek to acquire a share of the insurance business market. The controls imposed on foreign currency had already led foreign insurance companies, which until then had significant activities in Greece, to withdraw from the Greek market or at least to limit their operations in the country. As a result, the opportunities that emerged for the development of similar activities were quite attractive.
The Bank took decisive steps in order to implement its plan. In September 1939, the Board of Directors was briefed about the results of the study it had commissioned with a view to setting up an insurance company that would cover fire, marine, life accidents and commercial operations. Almost immediately after that, the General Management concluded an agreement with a circle of entrepreneurs, “clients and friends” of the Bank, which on October 25, 1939, led to the establishment of “Emporiki” Insurance Company S.A.
In April 1940, the Branches announced the launch of the operations of the Bank’s insurance subsidiary, although the latter’s activity would initially be limited to fire insurance products only.
< 47 / 55 > CULTURE SPECIAL • THE ALPHA BANK LIBRARY
The Alpha Bank Library Evgenia Fakinou
uthor and graphic designer Evgenia Fakinou was born in June 1945 in Alexandria. She grew up in Athens, studied graphic arts A and trained as an archaeological guide. She is married to journalist and author Michalis Fakinos. She worked for some years in magazines as graphic designer, and was particularly active in children’s literature and children’s theater. In 1975 she created the well-known “Denekedoupoli” (“Tin Can City”) Object Theater, an original puppet theater of discarded objects, most of them tin cans, which was loved by children and is still played by troupes and schools. She has received several awards and distinctions, among which the Readers Award from the National Book Centre and SKAI Radio for her novel “The Orleans Method” (2005), and the State Short Story Award for her collection of short stories “Garden Ambitions” (2008). She also served as Vice President of the Hellenic Authors’ Society (2003-2005).
She has written and illustrated many children's books. In 1982 she wrote her first novel, “Astradeni”, which was a great success, while since 1990 she has been writing exclusively for adults – primarily novels, among which “Sugar on the side” (1991), “Meropi was the pretext” (1994), “A hundred streets and one night” (1997), “Blind Man’s Buff” (2000), “Love, Summer, War” (2003), "The Orleans Method" (2005), “Ulysses and Blues” (2006), “The Train of the Clouds” (2007), “Travelling Reapers” (2013), “In the Fox’s Ear” (2016), “Night Listening" (2018), “Letters to Snow White” (2020), and others, together with a collection of short stories titled “Garden Ambitions" (2007). For her subjects, she draws inspiration from social reality and everyday problems, and is reconciling the realistic with the imaginary element by adopting the modernist way of writing, which prevailed in the era when her works first appeared. Her novels have had many reprints and have been translated and published in several foreign languages.
The Bank’s Library Collection includes several works by Evgenia Fakinou.
In order to watch the titles, please click here.
< 48 / 55 > GROUP COMPANIES
Alpha Bank Cyprus Ltd The Bank supports the Pancyprian Volunteerism Coordinative Council
he Pancyprian Volunteerism Coordinative Council (PVCC) is responsible for coordinating voluntary organizations, formulating the policy on voluntary social welfare, and cooperating with the competent services of the Republic of Cyprus in the formulation and implementation of the State’s social policy.
The PVCC supports the work of all organized volunteering networks and NGOs.
Alpha Bank Cyprus Ltd, in the framework of the PVCC’s campaign “Back to School Supplies for all children”, supported for yet another year the provision of school supplies to children from vulnerable families, so that their relevant needs could be covered before beginning of the new school year.
< 49 / 55 > GROUP COMPANIES
Alpha Bank Romania Presentation of award to the Executive President of Alpha Bank Romania and Alpha Bank General Manager - International Network Sergiu Oprescu
he “Banker of the Year” award was presented to Executive President of Alpha Bank Romania and Alpha Bank General Manager - International Network Sergiu Oprescu, in recognition, by the business community, of his outstanding results and creative leadership, reflected in Alpha Bank's sustainable growth and brand recognition in the Romanian market.
During the award presentation ceremony, which took place in the framework of the “Financial Leaders’ Hall of Fame” awards gala, Mr. Oprescu stated: “This award is a great honor for me. First of all, I would like to point out that banking is not an ‘individual sport’, but has always been a ‘team sport’ and, as such, although at first glance this award seems to be individual, it is, in fact, a team award, which I dedicate to the team of Alpha Bank Romania. Banking has become extremely complex and nothing could be achieved if we did not have professionals around us. What matters at the moment are the teams and their performance.”
< 50 / 55 > GROUP COMPANIES
Alpha Bank Romania Distinction of Alpha Bank Romania
lpha Bank Romania received the “Best reaction in pandemic times” award in the “Payments and Digital Banking Α category”, for the pilot implementation of Alpha PhonePos, an application that transforms a mobile phone into a POS terminal. The presentation of the award took place during the 19th edition of the NoCash Gala, organized annually by the NoCash online publication.
On behalf of the Bank, the award was received by Raluca Oprea, Deputy Manager, Acquiring Division, Cards Unit, who made the following statement: “I thank you, on behalf of our team. We are very glad that our efforts were recognized, as we are the first bank in Romania to offer this particular solution to the domestic market. We are preparing to launch the full-scale provision of the service in the coming months, as the interest of merchants is high and we want to quickly respond to their Digital Banking needs, especially during the current period of the pandemic. “
< 51 / 55 > GROUP COMPANIES
Alpha Bank Romania UnionPay cards accepted at Alpha Bank Romania’s POS terminals
lpha Bank Romania becomes the first bank in the country to expand its acquiring services by including UnionPay cards Α to the range of cards accepted at its POS terminals.
This is an extension of the previous agreement between Alpha Bank Romania and UnionPay, which had been concluded in May 2019 and under which UnionPay cards were accepted across the Bank’s ATM network in Romania. With the new agreement, UnionPay cardholders are able not only to withdraw cash from Alpha Bank Romania ATMs, but also to make payments to more than 4,000 partner merchants across the country.
Alpha Bank Romania Executive Vice President - Retail Banking, Cristian Dragos, made the following statement: “We are very happy to be the first banking partner in Romania of UnionPay, which is rapidly expanding its presence in major European countries and regions. At the same time, we are delighted to provide new value-added services to local merchants and contribute to the increase of the overall attractiveness of various destinations in the country. Now, every merchant with a POS terminal from Alpha Bank Romania can immediately accept secure and convenient transactions of UnionPay cardholders.”
< 52 / 55 > GROUP COMPANIES
Alpha Bank Albania SHA Mastercard credit card: “One card, an infinity of moments”
n September 15, 2020, Alpha Bank Albania SHA launched for the first time the Mastercard Credit card – its second card under the Mastercard brand, after the successful launch of the brand's debit card. The advertising campaign for the card, with the key communication message: “One card, an infinity of moments”, was realized via the internet, outdoor media and radio, as well as by a newsletter sent to Customers.
< 53 / 55 > GROUP COMPANIES
Alpha Bank Albania SHA Alpha Bank Albania SHA promotional activity
lpha Bank Albania SHA launched a promotional offer for its Alpha Start current account and for all the products and Α services linked to it. With this offer, all new and existing Customers who will open an Alpha Start account up to December 31, 2020, will also receive an Alpha e-Banking subscription and a Mastercard Debit card free for life, as well as the Alpha SMS and Automatic Utility Payments services, both of them free of charge for 3 months. With this promotion, the Bank aims to increase the Customers’ awareness of all the services it offers, while also enhancing the banking experience of its Customers regarding the Alpha Start current account. The promotion, with the key communication message: “Everything in control”, is advertised via TV, the internet, outdoor media and radio.
< 54 / 55 > GROUP COMPANIES
Alpha Bank Albania SHA Biometric Login to Alpha e-Banking
lpha Bank Albania SHA presented the new, innovative “Biometric Login” functionality, available to its Customers who Α also have an Alpha e-Banking subscription. All new and existing Customers can now log in to Alpha e-Banking quickly, easily and securely, by using the face recognition or fingerprint recognition capabilities of their devices.
...... Alpha Bank Albania SHA sponsored the exhibition "Traces of moments, dreaming the continuity”
lpha Bank Albania SHA sponsored the exhibition of six young artists, titled: “Traces of moments, dreaming the continuity”. Α The main message of the artists’ paintings was that, from time to time, we need to detach ourselves from the wholeness by freezing the movement or the progress of something, in order to capture a moment that helps us understand the world around us and our role in it. The Exhibition was visited by many artists and citizens, with full observance of the protection measures against Covid-19.
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