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Postal Savings Bank celebrated a century of its existance and continuous work at the National Theatre in Belgrade.

Great jubilee and successful results that the Bank has achieved were an occasion for one more reminder of the traditional values that distinguishes Postal Savings Bank for more than a century and whose most important mission is care for each client, its country and society.

The President of the Executive Board Mr Bojan Kekić pointed out that the continuous growth, which Postal Savings Bank has recorded for the last six years in all segments, represents the foundation of business also in the new century of the Bank.

Postal Savings Bank has achieved positive results for six years in a row: profit, continuous growth of the balance sheet sum, the loan portfolio and deposits. In the period from 2016 to 2022 the balance sheet sum was more that doubled, the loan portfolio has been increased by almost five times, while total deposits have been increased by more than 2,5 times.

„In order to make our products and services available to the widest possible range of clients, with the slogan „Even closer to you“, we have also been expanding our business network. We have opened more than 100 new branch offices and outlets and introduced mobile branch offices. There would be no such results and continuous growth without the team work of the Assembly, the Management and the Executive Board of the Bank, and above all our employees and our clients. As a crown of success and commitment of all 2.600 employees, the Bank has been awarded this year with the Sretenje Order of the second degree for special merits and the achieved results in the public and corporate segments, and on the occasion of 100 years of its existance“, Mr Bojan Kekić said and sent the following message:
„This is only the first 100 years of the Bank, only one century of the existance, responsibility and security. We have laid a good foundation for more secure and better future. By entering into 101 year, the Bank is sending a clear signal that in the following period it will act in an even more stable and stronger manner. Our obligation as a state institution with a clearly articulated state interest is to be a showcase of the state, in which one can see how many beautiful and good services can be provided to citizens and how safe is everyone who steps into it.

In the chronology of Postal Savings Bank, there are many dates on which, since its foundation in 1921 up until today, this financial institution has written the history of its modernization and development, but also of its domestic banking, always for the benefit of clients. The guests at the National Theatre had an opportunity to travel together with the artists on the big stage through an entire century in which the Bank operated and lasted.

On the occasion of a century of existance and work of Postal Savings Bank, special awards were presented – jubilee gold coin of the Bank, for the exceptional multi-year contribution to development, successful business result and social promotion of the Bank.

Postal Savings Bank was presented today with the Anniversary Award of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Industry for 100 years of business.

The award was presented to Bojan Kekić, MA, Chairman of the Executive Board of PSB Bank by Katarina Ocokoljić, Secretary of the Association of Financial Institutions, at a ceremony held at the headquarters of Postal Savings Bank, which was attended by the members of the Bank's Executive Board: Nataša Marković, Brankica Tintor and Aleksandar Čortan.

Postal Savings Bank celebrates a century of its existence, continuous and responsible work. During the first 100 years, it has grown into a strong, safe and stable bank, whose most important mission is to create, maintain and increase value for shareholders, clients and society as a whole.

Postal Savings Bank presented itself at the 35th Belgrade Marathon, which was held in Belgrade on International Family Day under the slogan "Friendship in the Long Run".

Postal Savings Bank is a partner of this year's marathon, but also an active participant, bearing in mind that more than 30 employees of the Bank ran in all races - fun run, relay half-marathon, half-marathon and marathon.

Maja Ogrizović, Director of Postal Savings Bank's Corporate Operations Sector, who was a member of one of the Bank's teams in the half-marathon relay, expressed her satisfaction that PSB Bank is part of the event that sends the most beautiful image of Serbia to the world in a wonderful way.

Maja Ogrizović said that last year, Postal Savings Bank celebrated 100 years of existence and operations and pointed out that one of the Bank's slogans is: "We are in for the long run".

"Our Bank has all the qualities of a real marathon runner - it is strong, persistent, long-lasting, and at the same time able to overcome all obstacles when it sets a goal for itself. Those first 100 years of our existence are only a bequest to work even better and be more successful in the future and continue to nurture the values that are still present here today, which are above all healthy sportsmanship, teamwork, empathy and humanity," said Ogrizović.

The director of the Belgrade Marathon, Darko Habuš, expressed his gratitude for the support provided by PSB Bank to this sports event.

"Partnership with Postal Savings Bank is important to us from several aspects, especially because we work together to promote the importance of physical activity and healthy lifestyle, and our goal is to activate as many citizens as possible on this path," Habuš said.

He stated that over 7,000 people participated in the 35th Belgrade Marathon, of which about 1,200 were foreigners from 70 countries from all continents.

The Chairman of the Postal Savings Bank Executive Board, Bojan Kekić, MA, is the recipient of the "Captain Miša Anastasijević" award for best banking services, social responsibility and 20 years of loyalty to the "Way to the Top" project.

Bojan Kekić pointed out that the way to the top is long and not easy, and it is not even possible without dedicated and responsible teamwork. "This award is another confirmation of the commitment and work of all employees, the Executive Board and Board of Directors, as well as the General Assembly of Postal Savings Bank, a state bank with a clearly articulated state interest, which marked a century of existence and continuous operation last year. It is more difficult to stay at the top than to make your way to the top. That's why this award is a new incentive and an obligation to continue to take responsible and safe steps towards future success together, to progress together and be even better", concluded Bojan Kekić, who won the "Captain Miša" award for the second time - the first time in 2018 for Banker of the Year.

The award ceremony was held today in the Captain Miša's Edifice, the University of Belgrade's administration and governance building.

Postal Savings Bank opened a new branch office in Bački Petrovac today, continuing the regional expansion of its business network, with the aim of making banking services and products available to all residents of Serbia.

With a symbolic ribbon cutting, the new, modern branch office was officially opened by Jasna Šproh, President of the Bački Petrovac municipality, and Dejan Mikerević, member of the Supervisory Board of Postal Savings Bank JSC Banja Luka, which has been operating as part of Postal Savings Bank since December last year, after the acquisition of Komercijalna Banka JSC Banja Luka.

Nataša Marković, member of the Executive Board of Postal Savings Bank, pointed out that by opening a branch office in Bački Petrovac, this Bank, which recently celebrated 100 years of existence and continuous operation, once again confirms its strength and stability, as well as that it will respond to the demands of clients in this part of the country.

"We stepped boldly into our 101st year of existence and, aware of the tradition, we continue to responsibly plan our future." In addition to expanding the business network, at the same time we are raising the quality of products and services, encouraging competitiveness and achieving positive results along the way. In this way, we contribute to the overall development of the market, and thus to the improvement of the quality of life. "PSB Bank has a branched, accessible and operational business network, professional background support, a wide range of products and financial services, which sends a clear message to clients that it is there for their needs," said Nataša Marković, and pointed out:
"The key to any success, including ours, lies in diligent and continuous work and development, as well as in the strength of the team spirit. We have managed to implement all these changes through consistent systematic work. We have become a reliable partner to our clients, employees, as well as the state, because we constantly invest in the future and our own development, and thus in the development of the whole society. We have improved our business in all segments, strongly supporting our clients, as well as systemically important projects in Serbia. We are sure that we can respond to all challenges in a short period of time, as bravely and readily as the state does. With reliable work, we took advantage of the chance given and corrected the shortcomings of previous decades. Banking standards and averages are no longer our limits."

As the last in a series of important undertakings, Nataša Marković mentioned the commissioning of six new ATMs at all transit stations of the newly opened high-speed railway between Belgrade and Novi Sad within the project "On the Good Track" and the opening of a branch office in the central hall of the Novi Sad railway station. "Just as quickly and modernly, before or after riding the Soko train, passengers can also do their banking at our branch office," said Marković.

Jasna Šproh, President of the Municipality of Bački Petrovac, thanked Postal Savings Bank for accepting the request of the local government to open a branch office in this municipality and for providing affordable banking products to individuals, businesses and agricultural holdings.

After the opening of the branch office, representatives of PSB Bank visited the "Jan Kolar" high school with student residence, where Dejan Mikerević, member of the Supervisory Board of Postal Savings Bank JSC Banja Luka and a former student of this high school, presented this educational institution with a symbolic gift - a laptop computer.

The management of Postal Savings Bank, headed by the Chairman of the Executive Board, Bojan Kekić, and the management of Postal Savings Bank JSC Banja Luka, represented by the Chairman of the Bank's Management Board, Boško Mekinjić, held a meeting with the Minister of Finance of the Republic of Srpska, Zora Vidović, on March 11. The meeting discussed the possibilities of deepening the cooperation between the largest domestic Serbian state bank and its subsidiary in Banja Luka with the state institutions of the Republic of Srpska. On that occasion, deep ties that exist between Republic of Serbia and Republic of Srpska were pointed out, as well as the fact that there are huge potentials for further strengthening of financial, economic and trade cooperation.

It was agreed that in the coming period, the two parties will work intensely to find appropriate modalities of cooperation, primarily in the areas of financial cooperation of the public sector of the Republic of Srpska with Postal Savings Bank JSC Banja Luka, as well as in the segment of monitoring certain projects that the Government of the Republic of Srpska intends to implement in the coming period.

Postal Savings Bank opened a modernized, renovated and expanded branch office in Leskovac.
Aleksandar Čortan, member of the Executive Board of Postal Savings Bank, said that PSB Bank continues to expand its business network and to raise the quality of all the services it provides.

"In this new, refreshed space covering an area of more than 200 square meters, 14 people will work who will be able to provide high-quality and fast financial services to all their fellow citizens," said Čortan in Leskovac, adding that PSB Bank works every day on improving the quality of services, both for individuals and legal entities. "The process of e-fiscalization based on the Law on Fiscalization is in the final stage, according to which all taxpayers who are subject to this law will switch to new fiscal cash registers starting from May 1. Along with the business account, the Bank has prepared a special terminal for all its clients and for all those covered by the fiscalization" said Čortan. He explained that it is a multifunctional device that enables card payments, but at the same time it has all the certificates verified by the Tax Administration for use as a fiscal cash register.

"I invite you to visit one of our 200 branch offices and find out more about the offer, as well as about this device and its functionality, which the Bank has prepared for entrepreneurs and legal entities, or to simply register through our website and apply for one of these payment terminals that can greatly speed up work and satisfy all processes of modern digitization and e-fiscalization," said Čortan.

The Mayor of Leskovac, Goran Cvetanović, reminded that Postal Savings Bank celebrated 100 years of existence and operation last year, adding that it is a proof that when the state is the founder and when there are financial stability and responsible people, such an institution can grow and be more efficient every day. "It is precisely for this reason that last year we awarded the City of Leskovac October Award to Postal Savings Bank on the occasion of 100th anniversary of its operation and existence", said Cvetanović, expressing his satisfaction that PSB Bank decided to modernize its premises in Leskovac, as well as that more people will be employed at this branch office.

The Minister of Finance of the Republic of Serbia Siniša Mali together with the Director of the Serbian Tax Administration Dragana Marković, the Chairman of the Executive Board of Postal Savings Bank Bojan Kekić and the Director of the "Duško Radović" theater Aleksandar Nikolić attended the promotion of the new e-fiscalization system and Bank's payment terminal, which combines e-fiscalization and non-cash payment.

From May 1, all cultural institutions will be subject to fiscalization, and the "Duško Radović" theater was the first to switch to this tax payment model with the help of Postal Savings Bank, which donated a new fiscal device to this Belgrade theater.
Minister Mali used Postal Savings Bank Dina Card to buy two tickets for the theater play at the "Duško Radović" theater and received a fiscal receipt with a QR code, which he scanned with his mobile phone in order to immediately check whether the tax was paid. The Minister thanked Postal Savings Bank and the Chairman of the Executive Board Bojan Kekić for supporting, as he said, one of the most important projects of the Government. "It will contribute to the fight against shadow economy and introduce an organized tax collection system and better and more transparent business operations," said the Minister.

Dragana Marković pointed out that the new fiscalization system has a wider scope than the old one. "Here we were able to see that in addition to the fiscalization process, the non-cash payment process is also supported in a single device, which was not possible with the old model.

"Postal Savings Bank as a state bank with a clearly articulated state interest in every project of the Government of Serbia, especially of the Ministry of Finance, supports all activities," said Bojan Kekić.
Keeping these goals in mind, the Bank has prepared a special offer for all clients to whom the new Law on Fiscalization applies. Namely, during the promotional period lasting one year, the following services will be free of charge: current account maintenance, mobile banking, electronic banking, SMS notifications and issuance of the national Dina Card. Thanks to a highly branched business network, the Bank can quickly and efficiently implement this special offer by installing a "2 in 1 device" which can, at the same time, accept payment cards and serve as an e-cash register, and also provide training. "As a bank entirely owned by the Republic of Serbia, thanks to the support of the Ministry of Finance, we are taking confident steps towards the future", said Kekić.

The director of the theater Aleksandar Nikolić said that this cultural institution understands the progress and importance of e-fiscalization. "This is our support for e-fiscalization and expansion of non-cash payment network. We thank Postal Savings Bank for donating us a payment terminal," said Nikolić.

Postal Savings Bank opened a branch in Čačak at a new location, in Gospodar Jovanova Street, in the very center of the city.

Nataša Marković, a member of the Bank's Executive Board, pointed out that it is a particular pleasure that the Bank is opening new premises in a city where the level of investment has never been higher. "Postal Savings Bank, motivated by this economic pulsation of the city of Čačak, decided to move its branch office to the center and offer its customers a bank that not only has a long tradition but also with a very high ambition, a bank that currently has 202 branch offices and around 1,650 employees in the entire business network".

"During many years of our existence, we have changed and improved, but along the way we did not lose our spirit or the art of good communication, and to this day we have kept a special and distinct way of communicating with our clients," said Nataša Marković and added: "With 101 years of experience, we continue to develop just as ambitiously and to respond to all the challenges that are put before us, and in the city of Čačak, we offer our clients unreserved trust and respect".

Milun Todorović, the mayor of Čačak, expects further strengthening of Postal Savings Bank, and, as a result, new jobs.

"I hope that the Bank will have better conditions and develop faster in this new space to the satisfaction of, above all, its customers. New jobs are also important for the people of Čačak. I wish all the best to all employees!" said Todorović.

The President of the Republic of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, awarded Postal Savings Bank with the second-class Order of Sretenje, for special merits and achieved results in public and economic activities, on the occasion of its 100th anniversary.

The order was received on behalf of Postal Savings Bank by Bojan Kekić, Chairman of the Executive Board of PSB Bank, at a solemn ceremony held on the occasion of Statehood Day at the Palace of Serbia, which was also attended by Nataša Marković, member of the Executive Board.

"We are very honored that Postal Savings Bank is the recipient of the second-class Order of Sretenje. As a state bank, with a clearly articulated state interest, which marks 100 years of existence and continuous operations, we are proud to receive this significant award on the Serbian Statehood Day", said Bojan Kekić and emphasized:

"This award is the culmination of the work and efforts of all 2,600 employees, the Executive and Management Boards, as well as the Bank's General Assembly, who are always aware of the role and importance of Postal Savings Bank." That is why this award is a great incentive for the Bank and an even greater obligation, a pledge for the new centenary, to go into the new century responsibly and safely, with the desire to be the leader of that new time, to constantly progress and at the same time showcase the progress, modernization and improvement of the country".

Recognitions on the occasion of Candlemas Day and Statehood Day are awarded to institutions and individuals for special merits for services rendered to the Republic of Serbia and its citizens.

Representatives of Postal Savings Bank JSC Belgrade and the companies Dunav Insurance JSIC and Mtel JSC Banja Luka held a meeting on February 3 at the headquarters of Postal Savings Bank in Belgrade, where the basic strategic guidelines for the joint appearance of the three companies on the market of the Republic Srpska, i.e. the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina were defined.

To the satisfaction of all those present, positions were agreed upon regarding the opening and further expansion of a joint network of branches, which will be a place where all existing and potential customers will be able to, in the shortest time and at the lowest costs, satisfy all their needs within the scope of the activities of these three companies.
It was agreed that the network of joint branches in the near future will cover a significant part of the territory of the Republic of Srpska and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, so that the majority of the population will be able to take advantage of the products and services provided by the three companies.
A joint package of products will also be designed, which will contain the most attractive products and services of the three companies, which will provide users with significant benefits both qualitatively and financially.
In this way, three large Serbian companies, leaders in their fields of business, are starting another segment of business cooperation that will be operational in a very short period of time.

Postal Savings Bank presents itself at the Conference of agronomists and farmers of the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Srpska, which is organized by the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops in Novi Sad and is being held in Zlatibor until February 3.

Aleksandar Čortan, member of the Executive Board of Postal Savings Bank, pointed out that the Bank, with its offer intended to farmers, follows and supports agricultural producers in their work and development, that is, participates in encouraging the development of villages and agriculture as an important backbone of the development of the entire Serbia.
"Postal Savings Bank follows all projects of the Ministry of Agriculture. At the same time, it also offers various commercial loans. The dynamics of repayment of short-term cash loans depends on the needs and possibilities of each agricultural producer," explained Čortan.

Čortan pointed out that the Bank's services are available to a large number of clients thanks to its extensive business network. "In the past five years, the Bank has expanded its business network throughout the country, taking into account even regional representation, and today we are serving customers at more than 200 branch offices. Two mobile branches are also available, which are constantly on the move in different locations across the country."

Čortan reminded of the fact that Postal Savings Bank and Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, Novi Sad signed a protocol on cooperation last year, which defined the framework for implementation of intensive activities of the two state institutions.

Prof. Dragana Latković, PhD, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, stressed the importance of mutual support and cooperation between the institute of national importance and the state bank, primarily in expanding knowledge in both agriculture and finance, as well as in numerous other areas.

Postal Savings Bank, JSC Belgrade is the owner of Komercijalna Banka JSC Banja Luka as of today, after successfully finalizing the purchase transaction at the Banja Luka Stock Exchange.

The agreement on the purchase of Komercijalna Banka Banja Luka was signed on October 27, 2021, and the purchase of 100 percent of the shares on the Banja Luka Stock Exchange was realized after obtaining the consent of the regulatory bodies: the Banking Agency of the Republic of Srpska, the National Bank of Serbia and the Commission for the Protection of Competition of the Republic of Serbia.

All clients of Komercijalna Banka Banja Luka will be able to continue using all existing products and services as well as additional benefits prepared for them and future customers by Postal Savings Bank.

Bojan Kekić, Chairman of the Executive Board, pointed out that Postal Savings Bank will provide the best service to clients, citizens and businessmen in the Republic of Srpska as it does in the Republic of Serbia.
"In this acquisition, we recognized our potential, especially in the retail segment, but also the in fact that today in the Republic of Srpska there is no bank with the majority capital of the Republic of Serbia. As a bank that is 100 percent owned by the state of Serbia and with a clearly articulated state interest, Postal Savings Bank will be a financial highway between Serbia and Republic of Srpska. We come here with a clear mission to financially support both individuals and business entities in order for the economy of the Republic Srpska, as well as that of the Republic of Serbia, to move forward with safe and dynamic steps," concluded Bojan Kekić.

Today, Postal Savings Bank JSC Belgrade and Komercijalna Banka JSC Belgrade have signed the agreement on the purchase of Komercijalna Banka JSC Banjaluka. The agreement was signed in Belgrade by Bojan Kekić, Chairman of the Executive Board of Postal Savings Bank and Vlastimir Vuković, Chairman of the Executive Board of Komercijalna Banka Belgrade.

The purchase transaction should be finalized on the Banja Luka Stock Exchange after obtaining the consent of the regulatory bodies: the Banking Agency of the Republic of Srpska, the National Bank of Serbia and the Commission for the Protection of Competition of the Republic of Serbia. After that, Postal Savings Bank will acquire a 100 percent stake in Komercijalna Banka JSC Banjaluka, about which clients will be informed in a timely manner.

Bojan Kekić, Chairman of the Executive Board of Postal Savings Bank pointed out that in the coming period the main strategic goal of the Bank is to achieve long-term sustainable profitability while improving the already stable market position on the Serbian banking market. In the previous five-year period, the Bank first stabilized its operations, and from 2019, it embarked on intensive growth and development, which created the economic and financial preconditions for the Bank to make a breakthrough this year by starting operations in neighboring markets in the form of acquisitions.

"After the takeover of Komercijalna Banka Beograd by NLB JSC, there is no bank in the Republic of Srpska with majority capital from the Republic of Serbia. The strategic positioning of Postal Savings Bank, as the largest domestic bank with 100 percent state ownership and a clearly articulated state interest, is a comparative advantage in the market there. The traditional trust of clients from the Republic of Srpska in the companies and institutions of the Republic of Serbia can only strengthen that advantage, especially in the retail segment where Postal Savings Bank is the leader on the Serbian market," said Bojan Kekić, adding that Postal Savings Bank will serve the needs of clients who do business both in the Republic of Serbia and in the Republic of Srpska in the best possible way, bearing in mind that the Republic of Serbia is also the largest foreign trade partner of the Republic of Srpska.

"NLB Group, of which Komercijalna Banka Belgrade is also a member, is present in seven markets of Southeast Europe, including the Republic of Srpska, as a systemic banking group. In all markets, we are committed to building a modern, digitized and efficient bank, as well as to NLB Group becoming a regional champion", emphasized Vlastimir Vuković, Chairman of the Executive Board of Komercijalna Banka and added: "We would like to thank the Postal Savings Bank team for the fair and transparent acquisition process, as well as for healthy competition in all markets where we operate together".

The Acting Director of PE "Post of Serbia" Zoran Đorđević and the Chairman of the Executive Board of Postal Savings Bank, Bojan Kekić, MA, signed today the contract which marks the beginning of the operationalization of the procurement of more than 2,000 new POS terminals that will be installed in all post offices in Serbia.

"The introduction of state-of-the-art POS terminals in all post offices in Serbia, as well as the replacement of outdated devices, is an important part of the implementation of the plan for accelerated digitization of services, which is one of the primary development goals of Post of Serbia, which is implemented with the support of the Government of the Republic of Serbia. In this way, we will provide citizens with greater reliability and shorter transaction times, as well as modern ways of accepting payment cards in all parts of the country," said Zoran Đorđević, Acting Director of Post of Serbia.

Đorđević added that today's contract represents a new era in business relations between Post of Serbia and Postal Savings Bank, all with the aim of digitization and introduction of new technologies. "Our citizens are our priority, therefore it is important that we cooperate and introduce new services," Đorđević pointed out.

"The contract also enables Postal Savings Bank to get even closer to its clients through post office counters in places where it does not have its own branch offices," said Bojan Kekić, MA, Chairman of the Executive Board of Postal Savings Bank.

"By installing the latest generation POS terminals, our clients, as well as all citizens of Serbia, will be able to receive the highest quality service in the extensive network of Post of Serbia, which will at the same time contribute to the development of the national DINA payment card," said Kekić, and particularly emphasized the importance of cooperation with Post of Serbia for all shareholders of Postal Savings Bank.

Postal Savings Bank presented today at the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in the Republic of Austria its new service TIZI, which enables quick, easy, safe and efficient money transfer to Serbia from abroad in real time and at the lowest cost.

The first transaction was made by the Serbian Ambassador in Austria, Nebojša Rodić, who sent money to his family in Belgrade.
Ambassador Rodić expressed his satisfaction at hosting the delegation of Postal Savings Bank, state bank that celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, and said:
"It is a period that is worthy of respect in any country in Europe and the world." Of course, Postal Savings Bank always leads the way," said Ambassador Rodić, recalling that the Bank was the first to introduce IBM technology in its operations back in 1969.

"Today, Postal Savings Bank presents us with its new product, TIZI, which is primarily intended for our citizens who wish to quickly, inexpensively and expeditiously send money to their families, friends and loved ones in their homeland. It is a huge advantage that we have not had until now. TIZI enables the sender to pay an incomparably lower fee, and the exchange rate determined by the National Bank of Serbia will be absolutely respected, which guarantees that the funds sent from the Republic of Austria to your loved ones in the Republic of Serbia will be adequate to the amount they will receive, said Ambassador Nebojsa Rodić and added: "A large number of our citizens live here, they are hard-working people who earn their money honestly and who help the Republic of Serbia and watch with great pride every day the change that is happening in our country." This is something that is encouraging, something that gives hope that many of them will return to their homeland, not only when they retire but also earlier to continue their business. The TIZI project that Postal Savings Bank is presenting to us today is the future towards which Serbia is moving forward. It is really something to be proud of, something that makes us so pleased that we can walk through the city of Vienna, through Austria with our heads held high as we have something to offer to all our citizens, to all people who need to communicate with their loved ones in the Republic of Serbia through a bank. Thank you, I wish you success and hope that hundreds of thousands of clients will take advantage of this project which saves both time and money".

Bojan Kekić, Chairman of the Executive Board of Postal Savings Bank, pointed out that there are few cities with which our people have been connected since the 17th century in such a way, as Vienna. This is precisely why this city was chosen for the promotion of the new service, which will facilitate transfer of money to Serbia from abroad, which will mean a lot to our diaspora, as well as to customers in Serbia.

Expressing gratitude to the hosts for the support provided to Postal Savings Bank as a state bank with a clearly articulated state interest, Mr. Kekić, MA, pointed out:
"In Serbia, Postal Savings Bank is present from Čantavir and Subotica to Trgovište, Vranje and Kosovska Mitrovica, from Sjenica and Tutin to Negotin and Kladovo. Today in Vienna, the Bank is presenting the TIZI project, which will enable our people who live in Vienna as well as around the world, who are connected to Serbia, to send money to their relatives in Serbia more easily. We are particularly pleased that Serbia has been recognized as a promising and strong country in the past few years, so we, as a bank, are trying to follow its lead and we proudly expect that it will be so in the future."
Money transfers to Serbia from abroad are made possible through the TIZI portal, which can be found on the Postal Savings Bank website www.posted.co.rs and is available to everyone. Jelena Sekulović, Director of Payment Cards and Digital Banking Division of Postal Savings Bank, explained that the sender first needs to register for the service at the TIZI portal which is very easy to do, and then enter the recipient's details along with the recipient's mobile phone number. For now, payment in RSD is made by international VISA and UnionPay payment cards issued abroad, while payment by Master cards is planned to start by the end of the summer.

Immediately after the approval of the payment card transaction, the Bank makes the money available to the recipient by paying the amount into an RSD current account if the recipient already has an account with Postal Savings Bank, or by paying out the funds at the counter of any of the Bank's 206 branch offices in the country if the recipient does not have an account with Postal Savings Bank. At the same moment, the Bank sends an SMS to the recipient notifying them that the funds are available.
"This type of money transfer was developed and certified according to the highest standards in the world from a security point of view, so that in addition to speed, efficiency, ease of use, as well as minimal costs for the sender, security is guaranteed for all participants," concluded Jelena Sekulović.

The delegation of Postal Savings Bank, led by Bojan Kekić, MA, Chairman of the Executive Board and Nataša Marković, member of the Executive Board, also consisted of Jelena Sekulović, Biljana Korica and Bojan Rajić.

Postal Savings Bank is a participant in the first investment conference on the opportunities and challenges of the economic development of the Republic of Srpska "Invest Srpska 2021", which is being held in Laktaši from June 17 to 19.

The Chairman of the Executive Board of Postal Savings Bank, Bojan Kekić, MA, speaking on the panel "Financing of economic development, development institutions versus the commercial sector", said that commercial banks usually have no interest in financing strategically important state projects due to the low rates of return they carry and long deadlines for their realization.

"Postal Savings Bank is perhaps a unique example of a financial institution that, on the one hand, fully operates in accordance with the current regulations prescribed by the National Bank of Serbia, which apply to commercial banks, while on the other hand, in addition to commercial loans, its task and mission is to financially monitor strategically important state projects. We really have the privilege of being under the formal jurisdiction of the Ministry of Finance, which fully understands the Bank's position," said Bojan Kekić, citing the project of mass state housing for members of the security services as a good example of this approach, which is implemented in cooperation with a state-owned construction company.

"Without state funds and state financial institutions, crisis times cannot be overcome, as was shown by the crisis caused by the corona virus pandemic," said Kekić, stressing that Serbia had really generous state aid packages for citizens and businesses, such as the first and second moratorium, third aid package, direct cash benefits and guarantee scheme project.

"By attracting investors, I will deliberately not insist on foreign investments, although they are more than desirable, and by creating a favorable environment for their operation, Republic of Srpska will create reliable conditions for financing those branches of the economy that will bring interest to those same investors to invest their capital and multiply it. I am sure that the Republic of Srpska will have something to be proud about in the coming years," Bojan Kekić concluded.

Milorad Dodik, member of the Presidency of BiH from Republic of Srpska, Radovan Višković, Prime Minister of Republic of Srpska and Nenad Popović, Minister without portfolio in the Government of the Republic of Serbia spoke at the "Invest Srpska 2021" conference, which was organized by the Investment and Development Bank of the Republic of Srpska in cooperation with the Government of Republic of Srpska.

At the First Constitutive Session of the Parliament of Businessmen of the Belgrade Chamber of Commerce and Industry, held on May 18, 2021, the Chairman of the Executive Board of Postal Savings Bank, Bojan Kekić, MA, was re-elected as the Deputy Chairman of the Parliament of Businessmen of the Belgrade Chamber of Commerce and Industry and as the representative of businessmen in the General Assembly of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, while Miroljub Aleksić, owner and director of the AMASIS company, was elected as the Chairman of the Parliament for the second time.

"The second mandate in the Parliament of Businessmen is a confirmation of the trust in and recognition of Postal Savings Bank, which this year celebrates a century of its operations and responsible work, for its contribution to the development of Serbia's economic environment", points out Bojan Kekić, adding that the Bank's goal is to be a strong support and long-term partner to businessmen. 85 business representatives from the Belgrade area will represent the interests of businessmen operating in the territory of the capital city in the Parliament of Businessmen of the Belgrade Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Four largest national companies and financial institutions - PE Post of Serbia, Telekom Srbija JSC, Postal Savings Bank JSC Belgrade and "Dunav" Insurance - have signed the Protocol on Cooperation today. The goal is for all citizens of Serbia to have access to the most modern services of postal traffic, banking, insurance and telecommunications in one place, as well as to help the development of less developed areas of Serbia.

First joint center will be opened in the post office in Bosilegrad, where currently there are no branch offices of Postal Savings Bank, Telekom and "Dunav" Insurance.

“Satisfied citizens of Serbia - that is the aim of all four companies and this Protocol is just the first step towards that goal. We will work to ensure that the highest quality services are equally available to all the customers. In accordance with the commitment of the Government of Serbia, our cooperation will develop in the direction of digitalization of services, which will enable citizens to perform most of their obligations from home”, said Zoran Đorđević, Acting Director of PE Post of Serbia.

“In the developed European countries it has long been natural for insurance to be offered to the customers through banks and postal and telecommunications operators. That is why I believe that with this partnership we will bring our services even closer to the citizens and thus contribute not only to their satisfaction, but also to the development of our companies”, said Ivana Soković, Chairwoman of the Executive Board of "Dunav" Insurance.

“This Protocol is a sublimation of everything that our companies, whose owner or majority shareholder is the state, individually represent and that is why we have a great and binding responsibility towards all citizens of Serbia. This cooperation will enable us all to grow faster and be as stable and secure as the state of Serbia”, pointed out Bojan Kekić, MA, Chairman of the Executive Board of Postal Savings Bank.

“Telekom Srbija” has the ambition to become telecommunications leader in the region and this Protocol on Cooperation will enable us to reach the customers through Post of Serbia in the parts of the country where we did not have our own branch offices. I would especially like to emphasize the socially binding role of this cooperation, which we will use to create the best possible environment in Serbia through joint projects and donations“, said Vladimir Lučić, Director General of “Telekom Srbija” JSC.

Chairman of the Executive Board of Postal Savings Bank, Bojan Kekić, and Executive Board Advisor for economic and financial affairs, Marko Matić, participated today in the meeting of the Board of Directors of the China-CEEC Interbank Association, which was held via video conference link due to the current epidemiological situation.

The topics of this year's meeting were as follows: adoption of a new action agenda of cooperation between member banks for the next five-year period and approval of the Hellenic Development Bank's accession as a new member of the Association.
The China-CEEC Interbank Association, which was initiated by the China Development Bank, brings together 17 development and commercial banks in state ownership, whose goal is to find appropriate financing modalities for projects in various spheres of the economy.
Postal Savings Bank is one of the founders and a permanent member of the Association since November 2017.

In cooperation with Postal Savings Bank, NIS has introduced the possibility of withdrawing cash up to RSD 5,000 when making payments with Dina Card at all NIS Petrol and Gazprom gas stations throughout Serbia.

The service is made possible in cooperation with the National Bank of Serbia, Postal Savings Bank as the largest issuer of the national card and NIS, which is the first company on the Serbian market to recognize the importance of the aforementioned service.

The Governor of the National Bank of Serbia, Jorgovanka Tabaković, PhD, attended today in Belgrade the first such cash withdrawal transaction and said that "Withdraw cash in dinars" service provides the national Dina Card with a new functionality, thus becoming more valuable.

Kirill Tyurdenev, CEO of NIS, said that the company's leadership position in the oil derivatives market is an obligation to keep improving.

Chairman of the Executive Board of Postal Savings Bank, Bojan Kekić, MA, said that innovations create new values and quality, emphasizing that this project shows that the National Bank of Serbia, NIS and Postal Savings Bank are leaders in this area. "I believe that our innovative teams will very soon succeed in implementing the IPS QR code at all gas stations so that our clients will be able to make payments in the most modern way via mobile phones," said Bojan Kekić.

On June 16, 2020, Mr. Miodrag Kojić, vice president of the Association for Preservation of Cyrillic Alphabet "Dobrica Erić" presented the Chairman of the Executive Board of Postal Savings Bank, Bojan Kekić, MA, with the "Blagodarje" award for his outstanding contribution to the preservation of Serbian language and Cyrillic alphabet.

The reason was the comprehensive use of the Cyrillic alphabet in all areas of the Bank's operations, as well as participation in the campaign "Text in Cyrillic", as part of which the Bank published free stickers in the Cyrillic alphabet in the Viber store.

In a pleasant atmosphere, the representatives of the association informed the members of the Bank's Board about their achievements. They discussed the possibilities of cooperation, especially during 2021, when the Bank celebrates its 100th anniversary. On that occasion, the words of Vuk Karadžić were quoted: "As long as the language lives, as long as we love and respect it, speak and write in it, purify it, the nation will also live, people can understand each other and mentally unite, they will not flow into other nations or perish."

The "Drive up" ATM for drivers, the first of its kind in the Postal Savings Bank network, started operating on June 11, 2020, at the Milan Gale Muškatirović Sports Center in Dorćol. The advantage of this type of ATM is that customers can withdraw cash quickly and easily without leaving their vehicle.

In addition, another Postal Savings Bank ATM and a Smart bench with mobile phone chargers and wireless internet have been installed within this sports facility.

The Governor of the National Bank of Serbia, Jorgovanka Tabaković, PhD, made the first instant payment transaction in Serbia by IPS QR code at a merchant's point of sale on February 27, 2020, and showed how instant payment by mobile phone works in practice. In the presence of a large number of guests and representatives of the media, Postal Savings Bank JSC Belgrade and Merkator-S organized the promotion of the project of national importance initiated by the National Bank of Serbia - instant payments at the merchant's point of sale (by IPS QR code) using the "IPS Show".
Instant payment by mobile phone at the merchant's point of sale, using the mobile banking application which integrates the IPS QR code, is the most modern service provided in a safe, fast and easy way without using cash or payment cards.
The Governor of the National Bank of Serbia, Jorgovanka Tabaković, PhD, pointed out that this transaction is the result of one of the largest projects that the National Bank of Serbia has ever implemented and proof that with hard work and application of the most modern technologies, it is possible to achieve something that even the most developed countries in Europe and the world can envy. An example of this is instant payments at points of sale, which are becoming a reality in Serbia today.
Violeta Kovačević, executive director of finance at the company Merkator-S, emphasized that the key factors of differentiation of that company have always been innovations and additional benefits it provides to consumers.
The Chairman of the Executive Board of Postal Savings Bank, Bojan Kekić, MA, spoke about the importance of Postal Savings Bank's participation in such a large project of national importance, emphasizing that the Bank, as a 100% state-owned financial institution, is actively working to improve and create an offer of modern banking products and services.
"Postal Savings Bank, following the measures of the central bank and the policy of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, is the first bank in Serbia which, precisely thanks to the National Bank of Serbia, has provided its clients with the most modern way of instant payments by QR code, without using payment cards and cash.
Postal Savings Bank is everything that a state bank should be: a stable financial institution whose operations contribute to a great common goal - creating a more successful, richer and better Serbia. All the reforms, growth and investments that our country has gone through have been reflected, on a micro level, on our bank as well. We grew, developed, changed at the same pace as Serbia, tying each of our successes to the success of Serbia, and vice versa," said Bojan Kekić, MA.

Postal Savings Bank, as one of the oldest financial institutions in the country, with a tradition almost a century long, pays special attention, in addition to its core business, to socially responsible business operations.
In order to help families with three or more children, to encourage family expansion and the population policy implemented by the Government of the Republic of Serbia with the support of Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs, Postal Savings Bank joined the project "Proud Card - Price Minus for 3+", which was initiated by the non-governmental organization "Three Plus" from Čačak.
The Bank has prepared numerous benefits for each of the estimated 120,000 families with three or more children in Serbia. Family members who join the "Three Plus" movement and open or already own a current account with Postal Savings Bank can, under the conditions applicable to the VIP category of clients, use numerous products and services.

Postal Savings Bank ceremoniously opened a renovated branch office in the municipality of Zubin Potok on January 14, 2020. The opening of the branch office was attended by the Chairman of the Executive Board of the Bank Bojan Kekić, MA, the assistant director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Petar Petković, the head of the Kosovo-Mitrovica district Slavko Simić, the mayor of the municipality of Zubin Potok Srđan Vulović, the manager of the Bank's branch office in Kosovska Mitrovica Igor Radić.
The importance of Postal Savings Bank's existence and its presence in Kosovo and Metohija was pointed out by Petar Petković, assistant director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, who said that in a very short time the Bank managed to become the pillar of economic development in the north of Kosovo and that with the opening of this modern branch office, the citizens received the most valuable gift for the Orthodox New Year.
Chairman of the Executive Board of the Bank, Bojan Kekić, MA, pointed out that Postal Savings Bank develops its network evenly throughout Serbia, in order to make it even closer and more accessible to all its citizens.
Igor Radić, manager of the Bank's branch office in Kosovska Mitrovica, welcomed those present on behalf of the host, announcing that the branch office in Leposavić will also be renovated this year.
In the presence of representatives of the Office for KiM, clergy, clients and employees of the Postal Savings Bank branch office in Kosovska Mitrovica, the annual ceremony and veneration of their patron saint, St. Basil the Great, was held, celebrated by our country's oldest financial institution since April 2018, when it took over Jugobanka Jugbanka Kosovska Mitrovica.

In the Palace of Serbia, on December 3, 2019, in the presence of the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, and the President of the Republic of Belarus, Aleksandar Lukashenko, the official ceremony of the exchange of signed Agreements on opening correspondent accounts in EUR, USD and BYN between Postal Savings Bank JSC Belgrade and Belarusbank was held.
On behalf of Postal Savings Bank, the Chairman of the Executive Board, Bojan Kekić, MA, and member of the Executive Board, Nenad Ralević, exchanged the signed documents, while on behalf of Belarusbank, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of this financial institution, Viktor Ananich, and the Executive Director, Mihail Kulichkov, exchanged the signed documents.

In this way, Postal Savings Bank has added another large bank to its list of correspondent banks, which will enable all Serbian and Belarusian companies to smoothly carry out import, export, payment and collection transactions for such operations in euro, dollar and Belarusian ruble. This once again demonstrated the willingness and ability of the Bank to follow the strategic priorities set before it by its shareholder - the Government of the Republic of Serbia, but also the need to expand the network of correspondent banks in the world and provide the best services to its clients in the performance of daily activities.

The signing of the Agreement is the result of the visit made to Minsk in April of this year by the Chairman of the Executive Board of Postal Savings Bank, Bojan Kekić, MA, and the Advisor to the Executive Board, Marko Matić, during which the operationalization of the activities related to the opening of the accounts in question was agreed upon.

The Chairman of the Executive Board of Postal Savings Bank, Bojan Kekić, met with representatives of the municipalities in Kosovska Mitrovica, Leposavić, Zubin Potok and Zvečan, as well as with businessmen and farmers of that region. At the meetings, the needs of business entities in Kosovo and Metohija were discussed, and projects, products and services provided by the Bank were presented which can facilitate their business operations, as well as a promotional offer for individuals.

Bojan Kekić, MA, pointed out that Postal Savings Bank, which has been present in the north of Kosovo and Metohija since April 2018 and the takeover of Jugobanka Jugbanka Kosovska Mitrovica, will continue to support the residents and businessmen of that region, as it has done so far.

"As a state bank with a clearly articulated state interest, we are not driven solely by profit, but we want to help our businessmen and entrepreneurs in Kosovo and Metohija and facilitate their business operations. We are satisfied with the results achieved by the Kosovska Mitrovica branch office, both in retail operations and in cooperation with business entities. These are experienced businessmen who have managed to continue their business operations in the existing conditions, which further obligates us to cooperate and provide them with even better conditions for performing their business operations. The bottom line is that you should know that you are not alone," said Bojan Kekić.

As part of its international activities, the Postal Savings Bank delegation led by the Chairman of the Executive Board, Bojan Kekić, MA, and the Advisor to the Executive Board for economic and financial affairs, Marko Matić, is on a multi-day visit to China at the Seminar within the work of the China-CEEC Interbank Association, organized by China Development Bank.

The topic of the Seminar, which is being held this year in three cities: Beijing, Ningbo and Shanghai, is the potential for financing small and medium-sized enterprises using the so-called green credit lines, as well as the possibility of using international lines of credit for financing large infrastructure projects planned for execution in the Republic of Serbia and the countries of Central and Eastern Europe in the coming period.

The delegation of Postal Savings Bank JSC Belgrade, headed by the Chairman of the Executive Board, Bojan Kekić, MA, and the Advisor to the Executive Board for economic and financial affairs, Marko Matić, participates in the two-day regional Forum "Paths to Partnership", organized by the Bulgarian Development Bank, held on June 17 and 18 in Sofia.

On the first day of the forum, Postal Savings Bank signed a Memorandum of Understanding and thus joined the group of development banks from the region that signed the Cooperation Agreement in 2018.

The forum in Sofia brought together a number of regional promotional and multilateral banks, including EIB, EBRD, IIB, KfW, Hungarian Development Bank, HBOR (Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development), MDB (Macedonian Bank for Development Promotion), policy makers and business actors with with the aim of examining opportunities for cooperation and future investments of national development and promotional banks.

At the meeting held on May 7, 2019 in the Palace of Serbia, which was attended by Milan Krkobabić, Minister of Regional Development of Serbia and the Chairman of the Executive Board of Postal Savings Bank, Bojan Kekić, it was agreed that Postal Savings Bank will support the project of revitalization of cooperatives.

The Bank will grant loans to cooperatives, agricultural holdings and their subcontractors, who will be able to get a favorable loan for working capital, and part of the interest on the loan will be subsidized by local governments from the parts of their budgets allocated for agriculture. By opening an account with Postal Savings Bank, cooperatives and agricultural holdings will be able to get loans more easily, faster and cheaper.

Postal Savings Bank, as a socially responsible bank, will provide loans to cooperatives for the purchase of raw materials, as one of the ways to help the population stay in small communities, thus filling a huge gap in the necessary financial needs of the rural population.

As one of the oldest financial institutions in Serbia with a clearly articulated state interest, Postal Savings Bank confirms not only its corporate, social side, but also its humanitarian side of business.

At the end of 2017, Postal Savings Bank became a member of the China and CEEC Interbank Association within the 16 + 1 cooperation mechanism. This Interbank Association provides an opportunity for member banks to use financial resources to support various sectors of the economy, and Postal Savings Bank took advantage of this opportunity and finalized the negotiations by signing an agreement on international line of credit.
Today in Dubrovnik, at the Summit of Prime Ministers of China and 16 Central and Eastern European countries, a historically significant Agreement on international line of credit was signed with China Development Bank with extremely favorable conditions, which represents the first form of financial cooperation between a Chinese and a Serbian financial institution, which enabled the Postal Savings Bank to establish other alternative sources of credit potential in addition to traditional sources of financing. Funds from the subject line of credit will be used primarily for strategically important development projects of the Republic of Serbia. This is only the first step in establishing financial cooperation with the China Development Bank, and more significant sources of financing from this side are expected soon.
Today's act is just another proof that teamwork brings success - the teams of Postal Savings Bank, China Development Bank and law offices, as well as the financial institutions of the Republic of Serbia - the National Bank of Serbia and the Ministry of Finance, through joint efforts contributed to the realization of this project and the clear implementation of the policy of both President Aleksandar Vučić and the Government of the Republic of Serbia, with a clearly articulated state interest in the state bank - Postal Savings Bank.

The delegation of Postal Savings Bank JSC Belgrade, headed by the Chairman of the Executive Board, Bojan Kekić, MA, and the Advisor to the Executive Board for economic and financial affairs, Mr. Marko Matić, attended the meeting of the Board of Directors of the China and CEEC Interbank Association in Dubrovnik on April 11, 2019, which was held immediately before the Summit within the framework of the 16 + 1 cooperation mechanism.

Postal Savings Bank is one of the founders and a permanent member of the Association since November 2017, while the China Development Bank is the initiator of its foundation. On the agenda of this year's meeting was the initiative on the cooperation of the Interbank Association in support of the development of small and medium-sized enterprises, which was unanimously adopted by the member banks. The fact that the Bank will use the initiative in question in the implementation of a business policy that refers to cooperation with small and medium-sized enterprises in the Republic of Serbia and financial support to these companies is particularly significant, a segment which, in addition to retail operations, represents the Bank's main target group of clients.
On the sidelines of the Interbank Association meeting, the Bank's delegation met with managements of national development banks of Central and Eastern European countries and discussed the potential of future cooperation. This year's meeting of the China and CEEC Interbank Association was hosted by the Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

From April 3 to 5, 2019, the Postal Savings Bank delegation, consisting of the Chairman of the Executive Board, Bojan Kekić, MA, and Advisor to the Bank's Executive Board for economic and financial affairs, Mr. Marko Matić, were in Minsk, Belarus. On that occasion, in the presence of the Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia in Belarus, Mr. Veljko Kovačević, the Chairman Bojan Kekić and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Belarusbank, Mr. Viktar Ananich, signed the Agreement on Strategic Cooperation between Belarusbank and Postal Savings Bank, which, in addition to the establishment of correspondent relations between the two banks, also includes the possibility of expanding the scope of banking operations between the two financial institutions and financial support to business entities in the two countries.

On October 12, the Chairman of the Executive Board of Postal Savings Bank, Bojan Kekić, MA, and Director of the Office of Information Technologies and e-Government, Mihailo Jovanović, senior lecturer, PhD, signed the Agreement on joint provision of electronic payment services using Dina Card, Visa and MasterCard on the e-Government Portal, and the Agreement on joint acceptance of payment cards (Dina Card, Visa and MasterCard) at POS terminals at the counters of state administration and local self-government bodies.

Director of the Office of Information Technology and e-Government, Mihailo Jovanović, stated that in the coming period, citizens will be able to use the services of Postal Savings Bank when paying administrative fees on the e-Government Portal. Also, in order to expand the network of POS terminals at public administration counters as quickly as possible, the Bank will be involved as a partner of the Office of IT and e-Government with the aim that all counters of city and municipal administrations in Serbia will enable the payment of administrative fees by payment cards within a period of six months.

"In this way, paying online or at POS terminals increases efficiency in providing services to citizens, saves the time spent waiting in lines, eliminates the need for citizens to go to the post office or bank and then return to the state administration or local self-government counter," said Jovanović.

The Chairman of the Bank's Executive Board, Bojan Kekić, pointed out that by signing these agreements, Postal Savings Bank, as a financial institution owned by the Government of the Republic of Serbia and with a clearly articulated state interests, contributes to measures to promote non-cash payments by cards online and at POS terminals for the needs of budget users.

"Through these agreements, the Bank and the Office enable citizens to make payments in a faster and easier way for services provided by the competent authorities or for services the citizens are obligated to perform. This is an opportunity to further expand the network for using the national Dina Card, the largest issuer of which is Postal Savings Bank with around 1.6 million issued cards," said Kekić.

The signing of the Agreement was attended by members of the Executive Board of Postal Savings Bank.