UniCredit continues to demonstrate industry leadership in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) through an extensive franchise that offers comprehensive services and deep local-market knowledge. The bank’s client-centric approach emphasizes tailored post-trade solutions, process efficiency through high levels of automation, strong operational risk management, and market advocacy to address new regulations. With this approach, the bank is building on its strong position in each of its markets, experiencing consistent growth in assets under custody, revenue from existing customers, and new client mandates. Reflecting this progress, UniCredit is also the country winner in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, and Hungary.
A key element of the bank’s success lies in its service model. Across UniCredit’s franchise, it offers two service options: The bank’s direct-servicing model provides market access and transaction execution in its 10 CEE markets. With the bank’s hub and spoke model in Austria, clients benefit from a single counterparty relationship for efficiencies with documentation and due diligence, as well as a dedicated relationship manager.
Ongoing technology advancement involves upgrading UniCredit’s TCS BaNCS custody system in eight markets, and launching a data-aggregation platform for greater access throughout the franchise to improve services addressing changes in local regulatory landscapes. Improving efficiency is one of the most critical components of the post-trade process. UniCredit has made enhancements in straight-through processing of transactions. These enhancements leverage automation and artificial intelligence (AI) to streamline workflows, reducing manual intervention and errors, for faster processing and improved client service.
Additionally, the bank is developing more-effective digital client platforms to provide real-time access to portfolio transactions, with analytics and custom reporting. With UniCredit’s extensive tenure and expertise in the region, it is an advocate for its clients on regulatory and market developments. The bank is also a powerful resource for peers and regulators across its franchise and has contributed to advancements and efficiencies with the market infrastructure in areas including reduced settlement cycles, taxation, corporate actions, and proxy voting.
Methodology
In selecting the institutions that reliably provide the best services in these local markets and regions, Global Finance’s editorial board considered market research, input from expert sources, and entry information from the banks themselves. The criteria included such factors as customer relations, quality of service, technology platforms, and post-settlement operations, as well as knowledge of local markets, regulations, and practices.
