FIMBank inaugurates its Hellenic Branch in Athens

15.10.2014

FIMBank, the Malta-based trade finance specialist, has officially inaugurated its offices in Athens, from where it will service the Greek market, providing a comprehensive range of trade finance and banking solutions, targeting corporate clients, particularly traders, importers and exporters. FIMBank’s operations in Greece are run by a team of Greek professionals, all of whom have first-hand experience of this country’s corporate banking and commercial finance sector. The team is headed by Demetris Zouzoukis.

The FIMBank Hellenic branch was inaugurated by the Group’s Chairman Dr John C. Grech together with Dr Armin Eckermann, Head of Trade Finance Group. In his address, Dr Grech highlighted the fact that FIMBank’s presence in the Greek market was a reflection of the effectiveness and versatility of the Bank’s robust business model and FIMBank’s confidence in the resilience of Greek business and the competence of its entrepreneurs. He said that FIMBank had managed to remain focused on highly specialised trade-related business, and the kind of complex commodity transactions that require a more personalised service and bespoke approach. “Consequently”, he stated, “ not only has FIMBank managed to build a strong reputation as a global leader in trade finance, but it has also made its mark as a major international factoring franchise, operating in markets as diverse as Brazil, Russia, India, Egypt, the Middle East, and now in Greece ”.

Commenting on FIMBank’s strategic plan for Greece, Dr Eckermann explained that the development was prompted by the potential to provide alternative financing solutions within the Greek market, in order to bridge current limitations being faced by local businesses. “FIMBank’s presence in the Greek market will enable it to provide forfaiting, factoring and other alternative trade finance solutions in support of Greek companies during these challenging times. We are confident that the comprehensive technical know-how and business acumen of the team we have set up in Greece, led by Demetris Zouzoukis, will translate into a very positive experience for FIMBank in this market”.

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