Balti Investeeringute Grupi Pank (BIG Bank) raised its interest rates on fixed-term deposits this Monday, 10 December, 2007. The rates will now reach 6.25% per annum.

BIG's interest rates depend on the length of the deposit period, the amount of the deposit and the method of interest payment. For example, the interest rate on deposits with a fixed term of one year in BIG will now be 6.1%, while those with a fixed term of three years will have a rate of 6.25%. These are the highest fixed-term deposit interest rates among banks operating in Estonia.

According to Piret Raudsepp, BIG's Financial Manager, the unstable situation in financial markets worldwide over the recent months has stimulated customer interest in fixed-term deposits. "The current interest rates make fixed-term deposits a viable alternative to investments in stocks and shares - for instance take the rate of return: fixed-term deposit rates are not subject to income tax," explained Raudsepp.

The Balti Investeeringute Grupi Pank AS is one of the largest banks in the Baltic States specialising in loans for private individuals and is the leader in the small loans segment of the Estonian market. BIG has a total of over 400 employees in the three Baltic States. The company's loan portfolio exceeded 1.9 billion kroons as of the end of the third quarter of this year.
BIG's bonds are listed on the Tallinn and Stockholm stock exchanges.

For further information please contact:

Piret Raudsepp
Financial Manager
Phone: 7350923
E-mail: piret.raudsepp@big.ee