The FINANCIAL -- According to RIA Novosti, one trillion rubles ($35 billion) were needed to transform Russia's national development bank Vnesheconombank from a state corporation into a joint-stock company, the bank's chief said on November 14.

The FINANCIAL -- FINCA International, along with Deutsche Bank, on November 12 announced that they have secured total capital commitments of $21.2 million for the FINCA Microfinance Fund B.V., the first-ever single microfinance network sub-debt deal.

The FINANCIAL -- Romania and European Investment Bank have finalised negotiations for a EUR 395 million loan to support the modernisation of Bucharest metro network, Phase IV, Line 5 Drumul Taberei – Pantelimon, section Drumul Taberei – Universitate.

The FINANCIAL -- Bank of America Merrill Lynch has consolidated its Latin America Shared Service Center, which serves the cash management needs of more than 1,000 clients operating in over 43 countries, in a new location to manage expansion and growth in the dynamic Latin American market.

The FINANCIAL -- US credit card balances increased to $8,083 in Q3 2009 from $7,489 in Q2 2009 according to Mail Monitor, the credit card direct mail tracking service from global market research company Synovate.