MBU Informe Anual 2009 Ingles24may10:maquetaci..n 1

These activities focus on supporting projects to further the professional development of
students, as well as medium and long-term scholarship programs for students from lowincome
backgrounds.
The Bank also assisted various public and private social development organizations that run
programs in priority areas such as health and nutrition, prevention, disability training and
culture. These and other iniciatives have supported the adquisition of equipment and
medication and caring for children and young people with cancer and heart problems as well
as other activities aimed at improving their quality of life and promoting culture. The efforts
of the following institutions deserve special mention: Children with Cancer Foundation,
Fundación Cardioamigos, Comedores Madre Teresa de Calcuta, “J.M. de los Ríos” Children’s
Hospital, Hogar Bambi, Dividendo Voluntario para la Comunidad, Acción Solidaria Fundación
Alzheimer, Fundaprocura, Fundación Contra la Parálisis Infantil, Centro de Salud Santa Inés,
Cáritas de Venezuela, Venezuelan Red Cross, Sadarbol, Fundación Camerata de Caracas,
National Youth Orchestra System of Venezuela and Superatec (Personal Growth through
Technology program). The Bank continued with the “Mercantil Online contributes to
Venezuela” program run in conjunction with Fundación Mercantil. The program uses
Mercantil’s website to disseminate the social action that various institutions are undertaking
and to allow customers and clients them to make donations by electronic fund transfer.
Last but not least, we would like to acknowledge the staff and their families for their active
involvement in social action programs. The voices of the Bank’s employees and the Mercantil
Choir have been heard loud and clear all around the country on the occasion of their visits to
charitable institutions who help people of all ages in need.
Acknowledgements
In its February 2009 edition, Global Finance magazine awarded Mercantil Banco Universal its
”World’s Best Trade Finance Providers 2009” prize for Venezuela. This prize is for financial
institutions with the highest volume of transactions, range of global coverage, customer
services, competitiveness in prices and technological innovation in the world. Also in its July
2009 edition, Mercantil Banco Universal was rated the Best Consumer Internet Bank in
Venezuela for the second time running.
Dinero magazine published its July edition the results of a survey on “The brands executives
prefer” conducted among 289 executives from different professions in Venezuela’s main cities,
in which the Mercantil Banco subsidiary ranked as the bank preferred by executives to handle
their main accounts, while Mercantil Seguros was their second insurance company of choice.
In its December 2009 edition, The Banker chose Mercantil Banco Universal as the: Best Bank
in Venezuela in 2009 thanks to its outstanding financial results. The magazine emphasized the
high profit yield maintained by Mercantil Banco Universal, characterized by its sound
organizational structure, optimum risk management and adequate level of capitalization. The
Banker highlighted the creation of the new "Mercantil's Ally" network of service points which
provide banking services and innovative products to segments of the population that had
previously lacked any banking presence.
Mercantil Banco Universal
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