Press release 9 November 2018 Romania sets record for world’s largest financial education class thanks to Erste Group’s BCR • Romanians made it into the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS book, as 13,230 people from 25 cities across the country participated in the biggest-ever financial education class • The record, which was set as a result of the initiative of Erste Group’s Romanian subsidiary BCR as part of its “Money School” financial literacy program, was certified by GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS officials on the World Savings Day. With the support of the financial education trainers from the Money School program and of partners in 59 locations, 13,230 Romanians across the country participated in the world’s biggest financial education class, which was held on the World Savings Day (October 31). The record was certified by the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS officials who came to Romania to take part in the official attempt and to certify the number of participants. To validate the record, at least 5,624 people had to participate simultaneously, which is the number of participants reported in 2013 during a similar initiative in the United States. “This record belongs to Romanians and to Romania, the accomplishment belongs to us, to all those who believe that the path to prosperity comes through education, the road to financial independence goes through education. This record belongs to the people who came in the classrooms and to those who wanted to, but were unable to join in. This record belongs to my colleagues who demonstrated once again that banking means, first and foremost, people and communities coming together in one mission. We are proud that the admirable drive of my colleagues from the bank enabled us to help organize such a tremendous event throughout the country. Romania needs confidence and such confidence stems from achievements, from us demonstrating that we can come together for a meaningful cause, which concerns everyone’s future. We are responsible for providing the resources, including and especially the educational ones, to help create wealth in Romania”, Sergiu Manea, CEO of BCR stated. Every year, Erste Group conducts surveys on financial literacy and savings in Central and Eastern European countries. The results this year show that a quarter of Romanians do not save and only 17% of Romanians see saving as a priority; the others only save what is left at the end of the month or year. More than one-third of Romanians think they are not good at managing their money, they have no talent for it. At the Money School, Romanians come to understand that managing their finances is something that they can learn, just like anything else in life. They learn how to manage their daily budget, how to set realistic financial goals on short, medium and long term and how to reach them and be financially independent. The number of Romanians who feel they are well informed about financial literacy increases year by year, although only by small percentage gains. One-third of Romanians think they have very solid financial knowledge and, at the opposite end, 4 of 10 Romanians think they are not at all informed on this topic. The partners that helped break the world record for the biggest financial education class were Babes Bolyai University, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Faculty of Economic Sciences and Business Management of Cluj-Napoca, Faculty of Political, Administrative and Communication Sciences of Cluj-Napoca, School Inspectorate of Cluj County, Oradea University, Alecsandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, Technical University Gheorghe Asachi, Stefan cel Mare University, George Bacovia University, Andrei Saguna University, Dunarea de Jos University of Galati, University of Pitesti, Oil and Gas University of Ploiesti, University of Targoviste, University of Craiova, University Center of Drobeta Turnu Severin, Agora University of Oradea, Vasile Goldis Western University, Aurel Vlaicu University, School Inspectorate of Arad County, Western University of Timisoara, Politehnica University of Timisoara, Transilvania University of Brasov, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, Petru Maior University of Targu Mures, Academy of Economic Studies, Politehnica University of Bucharest, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, University of Bucharest, Law School, Ion Mincu Architecture University and ANOSR (Romanian Alliance of Student Organizations of Romania). *** Erste Group is the largest banking group in Central and Eastern Europe with EUR 235 bn in assets and serving more than 16 million customers in Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Hungary, Croatia, and Serbia. The group's commitment to spreading prosperity across the region is rooted in its 200-year old founding history as a savings bank for the unbanked. Erste champions financial literacy and sustainable growth in the region through its Social Banking programme that is providing traditionally unbanked groups with loans, money advice, business training and mentoring. Erste Group media contacts: Michael Mauritz Tel: +43 50100 – 19603 Email: [email protected] Carmen Staicu Tel: +43 50100 – 11681 Email: [email protected] Peter Klopf Tel. +43 50100 – 11676 Email: [email protected] This press release is also available at: www.erstegroup.com/en/news-media/press-releases .