The integration of the IT systems of the former Bulbank, HVB Bank Biochim and Hebros Bank was officially concluded on July 2, Viktoria Blajeva of UniCredit Bulbank told The Sofia Echo.
Integrating the IT systems if the three banks started after the three institutions merged into the largest banking operation on Bulgaria’s market, UniCredit Bulbank, on April 27.
“As of July 2, all clients of the former Bulbank, HVB Bank Biochim and Hebros Bank are able to get information about their assets at any of the three banks’ branches,” Blajeva said. Bulbank was the last of the three banks to join the shared IT system.
However this applies only to data received after July 2.
A check by The Sofia Echo found that if a client goes to an office of the former Hebros Bank and asks for data about a Bulbank account for the period of April-May, for example, the system cannot provide this information. The client has to visit the branch of the bank where the bank account was originally opened.
“There is no point in keeping archive information in the shared IT system,” Blajeva said. “The shared IT system applies to data issued after July 2.”
Again because of the new integrated system, clients of the three previous banks will get new IBAN numbers.
“This process started at the beginning of June and we are keeping to schedule,” Blajeva said.
“We have chosen three ways to do so: we posted notices in the major newspapers, sent information via e-mail and sent notices by post.”
Clients who have not received any such notice should not worry, she said.
“You must simply tell the bank your old IBAN number and you will be assisted. I also do not know my new IBAN number, but I have my old one with me, so there is nothing problematic in doing transactions with your money,” Blajeva said. UniCredit Bulbank is a member of the Milan-based UniCredit Group.
The concept is that the new Bulgarian banking entity will be a universal bank, not specialising in any particular type of service, but it will have priorities, such as services for individual clients, consumer lending and credit card products.
