Best private bank: Banca Comerciala Romana
Banca Comerciala Romana showed impressive growth over the review period, driven by its strong product offering.
With a 25% market share in Romania’s private banking sector, the bank saw its client base expand by 5% during the review period, reaching 3,408.
Supported by a team of 27 certified investment consultants accredited by the Financial Supervisory Authority, the bank stands out with its exclusive discretionary portfolio management services and its unique position as the only bank in Romania to retail physical gold.
Digital innovation is a core focus for the bank, exemplified by George, its digital financial platform, which offers a complete digital onboarding process for all investment solutions. In 2024, the bank added Bond View to George, enabling clients to analyse their government bonds, as well as Capital Plan, allowing clients to diversify their portfolios by opening multiple Capital Plan programmes across different funds.
The bank offers customised investment solutions from both Erste Group and global partners, including 43 ESPA funds, with three added during the review period, and 79 Fidelity International funds, with eight introduced in the same period. The offering provides a diverse and high-quality portfolio for clients, aligned with their risk tolerance and financial goals.
Best international private bank: Raiffeisen Private Banking
Raiffeisen Private Banking experienced significant financial growth over the review period, driven by enhancements to its product offering.
The bank’s assets under management increased by 9% between September 2023 and October 2024, reaching €1.6 billion, while gross income grew by 18% in the first three quarters of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. Supported by a team of 17 relationship managers and four regional sales managers, the bank manages a total client base of 2,716, marking a 5% increase during the review period.
Recent enhancements to the bank’s product offering included the launch of several new investment opportunities in 2024 – two corporate bonds and a structured note – which have collectively raised over €26 million through public offerings.
As the first Romanian bank to issue green bonds, Raiffeisen continues to lead in sustainable financing, with €1 billion in green and sustainability bonds issued over the past three years.
Another noteworthy achievement came in June 2024, when the bank reached a record high of €1 billion in investment products.
Best for sustainability: Raiffeisen Private Banking
Raiffeisen Private Banking stands at the forefront of environmental, social and governance (ESG) investment, demonstrating a strong commitment to sustainability and responsible business practices.
Raiffeisen was the first bank in Romania to offer a green mortgage loan to individual customers for the purchase of green properties certified by the Romanian Green Building Council.
In the review period, the bank continued to enhance its sustainable investment offering. In March 2024, it added two new sustainable Raiffeisen Capital Management funds, focused on the US dollar short-term bond market and smart energy equities.
The bank takes transparency seriously, ensuring that its sustainability bond report and green bond report are both externally audited. These reports provide a comprehensive overview of the allocation and impact of the proceeds from the bank’s green and sustainability bonds.
Raiffeisen’s green framework and sustainability framework have both been revised by Sustainalytics, confirming the credibility and positive environmental impact of the eligible projects defined in the frameworks, as well as their alignment with the highest market standards.
