Erste Plavi is first to offer a digital membership application

Zagreb, 19 September 2016 – Erste Ltd mandatory and voluntary pension fund management company (Erste Plavi) is the first to offer an online application for a fully digital admission to membership in a voluntary pension fund. The digital application allows users to complete the entire process, from filling out the application for membership in a voluntary pension fund to making the first payment, without needing to visit a physical branch office of Erste banka or other partners. By filling out the application a payment slip with a 2D code is generated automatically, which makes paying simple via the Snap and Pay mobile banking service. The design of the application itself is adjusted based on the user's device, from the computer to the smartphone.

The application for membership can be filled out at any time. After the user choses a fund and fills out the membership application, a verification link is sent to their e-mail address, followed by a confirmation e-mail and the payment slip with the 2D code which makes paying simple via the Snap and Pay mobile banking service. The user becomes a member of the chosen fund upon making the first payment.

At the end of August, Erste Plavi recorded an increase of over 18% in the number of new members in the open voluntary pension funds in 2016, while payments made by new members increased by 30% compared to the same period last year.

Average payment made by new members grew by 10%, amounting to over HRK 3000, while total payments of all members grew by 25%. A significant number of citizens is already investing in voluntary pension funds. Despite that, Erste Plavi is working intensively on expanding distribution channels and developing online tools to contribute to an even greater recognisability of voluntary pension savings with a focus on employers and younger generations.

Customers can set up an Erste Plavi voluntary pension savings account at all branch offices of Erste banka, Splitska banka – SG, Istarska kreditna banka and, since July 2016, at the branch offices of Wiener osiguranje as well, while promotional materials of Erste Plavi pension funds are also available at the branch offices of our partner – Wüstenrot stambena stedionica.

For additional information:

Erste&Steiermärkische Bank d.d., 51000 Rijeka, Jadranski trg 3a

Corporate Communications

Zagreb, Ivana Lucica 2, e-mail: pr@erstebank.com

Dario Gabric, tel.: +385 (0)72 37 13 71; mob: +385 99 2371 371

Danijela Trbovic, tel.: +385 (0)72 37 15 31; mob: +385 99 2371 531

Natasa Vuletic,  tel.: +385 (0)72  37 15 21;

Sara Zadravec, tel.: + 385 (0)72 37 24 93