Issuer profile: Joint-stock Bank of the Gas Industry "Gazprombank" is the authorized bank of OAO "Gazprom" and enters the top five Russia's banks with regard to its main financial indices.
Besides the gas industry, Gazprombank currently renders banking services to enterprises and employees of other real sector industries (chemical, engineering, defense, and other industries). The Bank's client base consists of approximately 1,5 million retail clients, over 22 000 corporate clients, including 1200 enterprises and institutions of the gas industry.
Gazprombank has available a ramified regional network. The network comprises 33 affiliates and seven member banks (with Gazprombank's holding in their charter capital) of the Interregional Banking Group for the Gas Industry created in 1999, totally around 260 banking offices. Gazprombank also has shareholding in foreign bank - Belgazprombank (Belarus).
In contrast to many other Russian large banks, Gazprombank virtually with no losses survived the crisis affected all Russian banking system in 1998. Prompt settlements conducting, fulfillment of all obligations to its customers, readiness for cooperation allowed Gazprombank not only to retain its position but also even to improve it significantly. During the post-crisis period a considerable number of large-scale Russian companies including those manufacturing export production became Gazprombank's customers.
