OREANDA-NEWS. January 17, 2008. Since the beginning of 2008, Belarusian Priorbank has started offering house mortgage loans, the bank's press service reported. 
 
In 2007, Priorbank provided over 120 billion Belarusian rubles for real-estate financing. By now, over 9,000 families in the country have received Priorbank loans for purchasing and construction of flats in apartment blocks. In the year 2007 the bank attracted funds from EBRD and IFC for real-estate financing. The bank maintains position number two in the republic in terms of real-estate financing. 
 
"Priorbank constantly strives to expand opportunities and simplify procedures of housing problem solving. Our new offer – house mortgage loan, that does not require collateral in the form of guarantee – is one of such opportunities. It allows our clients not to limit their housing choice only because of not being able to find guarantors," Dmitry Frolov, executive director of Priorbank in charge of private individuals, said. 

Priorbank, JSC – is a member of RZB Group and a subsidiary of Raiffeisen International Bank-Holding AG (Raiffeisen International). Raiffeisen International is a fully consolidated subsidiary of Vienna-based Raiffeisen Zentralbank Oesterreich AG (RZB). RZB holds 68.5 per cent of Raiffeisen International's shares, the balance is free-float and traded on the Vienna Stock Exchange.  

Priorbank, JSC was founded in January, 1989. The major shareholders of the bank are Raiffeisen International /63.05% and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development /13.5 %/. 
 
According to "The Banker" magazine, Priorbank became The Bank of the Year in Belarus as of 2003, 2004 and 2005. "Global Finance" named Priorbank the Best Bank of Belarus and the Best Foreign Exchange Bank in Belarus in 2004, 2005 and 2006. "Euromoney" magazine awarded Priorbank the Best Bank in Belarus 2005 and 2006. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development within its Trade Facilitation Programme granted Priorbank to be "Most active Trade Finance Bank in Belarus in 2006".