OREANDA-NEWS. March 21, 2007. Herbert Stepic, CEO of Raiffeisen International Bank-Holding AG and Deputy Chairman of the Managing Board of Raiffeisen Zentralbank Osterreich AG (RZB), was elected "European Banker of the Year 2006", reported the press-centre of  Raiffeisen International Bank-Holding AG. This was announced by "The Group 20 + 1". He is the first Austrian banker receiving this title, which has been issued since 1994. "The Group of 20 + 1" is an association of leading economic and finance journalists based in Frankfurt am Main.

 
The decision of the jury was based on Mr. Stepic's pioneer role in Central and Eastern Europe during the last decades, the excellent positioning of Raiffeisen in the region and the dynamic development of Raiffeisen International since its going public in April 2005. In previous years, the award - European Banker of the Year – was awarded for outstanding management performances to personalities of the European banking world such as Rijkman Groenink, Alessandro Profumo, the European Central Bank Council, as well as Sir Fred Goodwin. The award for the year 2005 went to Peter A. Wuffli, President and Group Chief Executive Officer UBS AG.  By tradition, the award ceremonies in honor of the European Banker of the Year are held in Frankfurt/Main.