The Baltic Investment Group Bank (BIG) opened its 16th branch in Estonia and fifth in southern Estonia today, 17 May 2007, in Võru.

Located in the new Maxima shopping centre at 2 Kooli Street, the branch provides all of the loan and fixed-term deposit services that BIG offers. It is open from Monday to Saturday.

Piia Vitkar, BIG's Regional Manager for southern Estonia, says that opening the Võru branch will make the bank\'s products and services more available to the county's residents. "At the moment we have quite a lot of people from Võru as clients. By opening a local branch we're hoping to be able to provide them with service that is quicker and more convenient than ever before. Our small loans and deposits are both popular in this part of the country."

BIG Branch Network Manager Veiko Sepp explains that although the bank has invested a lot in the development of its electronic channels (such as telephone and Internet services) in recent years, there remains a clear need for fast, personal service. "There isn't a single electronic channel than can fully replace the face-to-face experience with customer service staff."

The Baltic Investment Group Bank (BIG) is an Estonian-owned bank and the largest specialist lender to private clients and companies in the Baltic States after universal banks and leasing firms.

BIG's goal is to provide both private and business clients with fast, attentive and flexible financial services. At the end of 2006, BIG had a total of 44,000 clients in Estonia and Latvia. It has 260 employees. BIG's bonds are listed on the Tallinn Stock Exchange.

For further information please contact:

Piia Vitkar
Regional Manager, Southern Estonia
Telephone: +372 737 7586
Mobile: +372 515 3960
piia.vitkar@big.ee

Veiko Sepp
Branch Network Manager
Telephone: +372 630 9919
Mobile: +372 521 4633
veiko.sepp@big.ee