This Conference is sponsored by Erste Group Bank. Erste Bank is one of the largest banking groups in Austria and Central & Eastern Europe. In the core business areas - deposits and lending - emphasis is put on private customers, business customers and the public authorities. Erste Bank has more than 50,000 employees serving more than 17 million clients in 3,200 branches in 8 countries (Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Ukraine).