Fibank On September 18, 2006 in Sofia, First Investment Bank was awarded the prestigious certificate by VISA International for the largest volume of payments made with VISA cards amounting to 20 million US dollars.
Mr. Catalin Cretu, vice president for Romania and Bulgaria of Visa International CEMEA officially handed the certificate to Fibank at a cocktail party, organized by the Bank.
“I am glad that I have the opportunity to hand this certificate to Fibank for the success it has achieved. Fibank is our key partner in Bulgaria. The incentives the bank gives to its customers in order to stimulate the Visa cards usage at POS terminals led to this exclusive increase in the volume of payments made with Visa cards. This is one more indicator that the Bulgarian cards market is developing and the bank cards are turning into a preferred means of payment in the country. VISA International undertakes to support Fibank and all other member-banks in Bulgaria to introduce innovative card products on the Bulgarian market and to communicate their advantages. The Visa cards provide the holders with security, flexibility and convenience in their daily payments” said Catalin Cretu, vice president for Romania and Bulgaria of Visa International CEMEA.
According to Fibank 33% of the transaction volume made at POS terminals with Bulgarian Visa cards is made with cards of Fibank. The Bank’s statistics shows that the Visa cards issued by Fibank are the most commonly used through the country.
First Investment Bank is among the three leading banks in the Bulgarian card sector. Fibank started issuing the Visa cards as early as 2002. Then the bank introduced the Visa Electron debit card to its customers. A little later Fibank was one of the first banks to start issuing the Visa credit cards – standard, gold and platinum. Last year Fibank launched the first charity cards in Bulgaria: Visa Electron (Fibank - Bulgarian Red Cross) debit card and Visa (Fibank - Bulgarian Red Cross) credit card without deposit.