Hellenic Bank Public Company Ltd (Greek: Ελληνική Τράπεζα Δημόσια Εταιρία Λτδ) (CSE: HB), is the third largest bank on the island of Cyprus with a 10% share of deposits and 6.2% of the loans market, as of September 2012. By market capitalisation of 100 Million as at March 2013 it is the third largest Cypriot bank. Its shares are listed on the Cyprus Stock Exchange.

The bank was founded in 1976 and in 1996 it bought the local operations of Barclays Bank. A major shareholder (29%) is the Cypriot Orthodox Church.[1] The Church of Cyprus increased its stake in Hellenic Bank through big block trading passed through the Cyprus Stock Exchange on October 10, 2007. Specifically, Athena Cyprus Investments, which was successfully acquired by Hellenic Bank earlier in the year sold 2.8 mln shares of HB at EUR 5.40 amounting to EUR 15.3 mln.

In January 2011 Hellenic Bank started operating in Russia.[2] The bank also has representative offices in Kiev, St Petersburg, Moscow and South Africa.
Group Milestones

1976: The Bank begins operations with a branch in Nicosia and 33 employees.

1985: The subsidiary company, Hellenic Bank (Finance) Ltd, is founded, providing asset finance.

1986: The subsidiary company, Hellenic Bank (Investments) Ltd, is founded, providing investment services.

1988: The Telebank service is introduced in Cyprus, enabling an innovative method of electronic information and money management from a personal computer.

1990: The Insurance Services Department is founded, representing a number of insurance companies offering a wide choice of insurance products. The first of its kind International Business Centre is founded in Limassol.

1991: Network of Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) established, providing a 24-hour service.

1994: The Bank Marketing Association of the USA, a subsidiary organisation of the American Bankers Association, grants three awards to the Group.

1996: The Group dynamically expands its operations by acquiring the onshore facilities of Barclays Bank PLC in Cyprus. Hellenic Bank (Investments) Ltd acts as advisor for the founding and public share offering of a new public limited company, 'Athena Cyprus Investment Fund Ltd'. The company is established as a closed end approved investment fund. Recognising the ongoing evolution of the internet, the Group takes its first step in the World Wide Web with the launch of its own website.

1997: The Limassol International Business Centre acquires the ISO 9002 international certificate of service quality - the only centre of its kind in Cyprus to do so. Hellenic Bank (Investments) Ltd forms a business alliance with Merrill Lynch International.

1998: Hellenic Bank opens its first branch in Greece in central Athens. Hellenic opens representative offices in Sandton, South Africa and Moscow.

1999: cquisition of the Ledra and Pancyprian insurance companies by the Hellenic Bank Group. Creation of the Hellenic Bank (Factors) Ltd subsidiary.

2000: Creation of Hellenic Alico Life Insurance Company Ltd for the provision of bank-assurance products, following an agreement between the Hellenic Bank and the American Life Insurance Company (Alico AIG Life-now MetLife Alico). Hellenic Bank opens six new branches in Greece.

2001: Hellenic Bank (Investments) Ltd launches the electronic brokerage service, HBI eTrade. It also enters into an agreement with Bloomberg for providing daily market data on the Cyprus Stock Exchange to foreign investors.

2002: Launch of Hellenic Net Banking and Customer Service Line.

2003: Adoption of Corporate Governance Code and implementation of the new organizational structure. Integration of the group’s subsidiary insurance companies “Pancyprian Insurance Ltd” and “Ledra Insurance Ltd” under Pancyprian Insurance Ltd. Hellenic Bank Investments Ltd obtains a license from the Securities and Exchange Commission to operate as a Cyprus Financial Services Company. Launch of Net Banking for Business.

2004: Hellenic Bank opens nine more branches in Greece. Opening of the new Head Office building in Nicosia. Adoption of EFQM (European Foundation for Quality Management). Adoption of the Bank’s promotional campaign slogan: “Evolution is in our nature.”

2007: Hellenic Bank acquires “Athena Cyprus Investment Fund Ltd”, making it a subsidiary company of the Group.

2009: Hellenic Bank opens a representative office in the Ukraine, and establishes a subsidiary in Moscow.

2010: Hellenic Bank succeeds the European Union Banking Stress Test Exercise. With this exercise, carried out on Bank’s initiative, it is assured that it enjoys a healthy financial position, maintaining its strong capital adequacy even in the worst case scenarios.

2011: Hellenic Bank operates its first branch in the Russian capital, offering full banking operations 11 January 2011.

2013: On 25th March 2013 Hellenic Bank sells its Greek branches to Piraeus Bank.

External links

Hellenic Bank Group
Hellenic Bank (Greece)

References

^ "Church of Cyprus Increases Stake in Bank". Yahoo! Finance (Associated Press). Feb 1, 2007. Retrieved 2007-02-02.[dead link]
^ http://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/cypriot-bank-to-enter-russian-market-in-2011/409049.html