The FINANCIAL -- As of November 30, Bank of Georgia , the leading Georgian bank by assets, had served GEL 104.3 million of loans for corporate clients and physical persons. In comparison with October, the bank’s total deposits have increased by GEL 61.4 million,” said Irakli Gilauri, General Director of Bank of Georgia .

The FINANCIAL  -- “We do not plan to expand to Georgia,” Dr. Herbert Stepic, CEO of Raiffeisen International, “Bank of 2008”, told The FINANCIAL. “When entering into a market we always consider the political risk, the need for banking products and whether we are welcome. We have never expanded to a market where the authorities did not give us a clear signal that they are supportive regarding our market appearance.”

The FINANCIAL -- Business casual. Slacks, NO jeans, closed toe shoes. Always wear hosiery or socks. Jewellery is ok, but not too much, or too ostentatious. Hair clean and combed. If a male teller, wear a tie and a jacket if you have one, but at least a tie. Any visible tattoos on arms must be covered by shirt. Take out any visible body piercings. This is the dress code for almost all the banks in Georgia. But there are some exceptions. The FINANCIAL asked bank representatives to speak about their specific rules.

The FINANCIAL -- Moody's Investors Service has changed the outlook on the Baa1 long-term foreign currency deposit ratings of eight Russian banks and the A2 senior unsecured foreign currency debt ratings of three Russian banks to stable from positive.

The FINANCIAL -- Moody's Investors Service has on December 12 placed on review for possible downgrade the A1 long-term local and foreign currency deposit ratings of Slovenska sporitelna (Slovakia) and the A2/Prime-1
local currency deposit ratings of Erste Bank Hungary.