RZB FINANCE LLC (RAIFFEISEN) JOINS U.S.-UKRAINE
BUSINESS COUNCIL (USUBC), MEMBER 91

U.S.-Ukraine Business Council (USUBC)
Washington, D.C., Tuesday, September 16, 2008

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The executive committee of the U.S.-Ukraine Business
Council (USUBC), on behalf of the entire membership, is most pleased to announce that RZB Finance LLC (Raiffeisen) has been approved for USUBC membership.  RZB Finance LLC is USUBC member number 91.

RZB Finance LLC is organized under the laws of the State of Delaware and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Raiffeisen Zentralbank Osterreich AG (RZB), the central institution of the Austrian Raiffeisen Group and third-largest Austrian bank with assets in excess of $200 billion.  

While RZB has a long history of representation in the US dating back to 1980, RZB Finance LLC commenced operations in 1997. The company is head-quartered in New York with offices in Bethel, CT, Chicago, IL, Houston, TX and Los Angeles, CA.

USUBC has been working with Vice President Brad Woodhouse for several months. Brad heads up the RZB Finance Ex-Im Bank Group and works in the Bethel, CT office. Dieter Beintrexler, President, will represent RZB Finance LLC on the USUBC Board of Directors. 

RAIFFEISEN INTERNATIONAL BANK 
One of the leading banking groups in Central & Eastern Europe

With its constantly expanding network in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), Raiffeisen International Bank-Holding AG has developed into one of the region's leading banking groups. Raiffeisen International is a fully-consolidated subsidiary of Raiffeisen Zentralbank Osterreich AG (RZB). RZB owns about 69 per cent of the common stock, the balance is
free-float. The shares are traded on the Vienna Stock Exchange.

Starting already in 1986 by founding what is today Raiffeisen Bank, Hungary, Raiffeisen International has consistently entered growth markets and expanded its regional and local presence. Recent examples are the acquisitions of banks in Kosovo, Belarus, Albania and Ukraine from 2002 through 2005.

In January 2006, Raiffeisen International acquired 100 per cent of Russian Impexbank. In July 2006, it purchased Czech eBanka. Both banks were integrated into the network by merging them with the existing local Raiffeisen banks.

As of 30 June 2008, Raiffeisen International managed subsidiary banks, leasing companies and a number of other financial service providers in 17 markets of the region. More than 61,800 employees serve 14.4 million customers in more than 3,000 business outlets. No other international bank in the region has a similarly extensive and closely-knit distribution
network.

RAIFFEISEN BANK AVAL IN UKRAINE

VAT Raiffeisen Bank Aval was founded in 1992 as Joint Stock Post-Pension Bank Aval and rapidly developed into one of Ukraine's leading retail banks. Raiffeisen International acquired 93.5 per cent of the bank in October 2005 and increased its stake to 95.7 per cent by December 2007.

Raiffeisen Bank Aval confirmed its position as the country's second-largest bank with a balance sheet total of euro6.1 billion, which represents an increase of 42 per cent. It also has one of the largest local networks, comprising 1,180 business outlets.

At the end of 2007, Raiffeisen Bank Aval was serving 4.1 million personal customers, about 196,000 small and medium-sized enterprises, and more than 9,000 corporate customers. Particular success was once again achieved in personal customer business in 2007. That segment's loan portfolio grew by 43 per cent to 2.9 billion euro, and deposits rose by 20 per cent to 2.6 billion euro.

The product range for affluent customers was extended by the founding of Asset Management Company Raiffeisen Aval in September 2007. LLC Raiffeisen Leasing Aval surpassed all expectations with new business amounting to almost 115 million Euros already in its first full year.

Moody's gave Raiffeisen Bank Aval a foreign currency bank deposit rating of B2 with a positive outlook in May 2007. That put the bank only negligibly below the country rating of B1 with a positive outlook.

The Banker honored Raiffeisen Bank Aval in 2007 as Bank of the Year. Additional information can be found at www.rzbfinance.com.

"The U.S.-Ukraine Business Council (USUBC) is most pleased to have RZB Finance LLC join the rapidly expanding USUBC membership." said Morgan Williams, SigmaBleyzer, who serves as President of USUBC. 

USUBC MEMBERSHIP WILL REACH 100 IN 2008

RZB Finance LLC is the 40th new member for 2008, and the 70th new member since January of 2007. USUBC membership has quadrupled in the past 20 months, going from 22 members in January of 2007 to 91 members in September of 2008. Membership is expected to top 100 very soon.

The other new members in 2008 are MaxWell USA, Baker and McKenzie law firm, Och-Ziff Capital Management Group, Dipol Chemical International, MJA Asset Management, General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, Halliburton, DLA Piper law firm, EPAM Systems, DHL International Ukraine, Air Tractor, Inc., Magisters law firm, Ernst & Young, Umbra LLC., US PolyTech LLC, Vision TV LLC, Crumpton Group, Standard Chartered Bank, TNK-BP Commerce LLC, Rakotis, American Councils for International Education, Squire, Sanders & Dempsey LLP, International Commerce Corporation, IMTC-MEI, Nationwide Equipment Company, First International Resources, the Doheny Global Group, Foyil Securities, KPMG, Asters law firm, Solid Team LLC, R & J Trading International, Vasil Kisil & Partners law firm, AeroSvit Ukrainian Airlines, ContourGlobal, Winner Imports LLC (Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Volvo, Porsche), 3M, Edelman, and CEC Government Relations.

The complete USUBC membership list and other information about USUBC
can be found at: http://www.usubc.org.