On December 6, OTP Bank team was recognized for its efforts to promote gender equality at the “Finance for Her – Creating Opportunities for Financial Inclusion” conference organized by UN Women Moldova, the Women’s Fund for Peace and Humanitarian Assistance, with the support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Sweden in the Republic of Moldova.
The event brought together over 100 professionals from the financial sector, entrepreneurs, experts, as well as public financial authorities, such as the Ministry of Finance, the National Bank, the National Financial Market Commission and the Ministry of the Economy.
OTP Bank has a rich history of promoting equal opportunities through initiatives such as supporting women in leadership roles, wage equality, facilities for parents, but also a sensitivity to the needs of its clients through personalized solutions. In this context, the OTP Bank team was one of the first banks to align with the Women's Empowerment Principles – an international effort to promote equitable policies, not only in operations, but also in relationships with partners.
"We are making a constant effort to ensure equity among employees and to make financing accessible to women. Together with partners such as the EBRD, the European Union offers financing with a grant component. In 2023 alone, within the joint program with the International Fund for Agricultural Development, over 140 women and young entrepreneurs from rural areas accessed grants worth over 22 million lei. We will continue this path by offering personalized and accessible financial solutions," noted Petru Delinschi, Deputy CEO - Commercial Director Retail Banking, OTP Bank.
During the conference, OTP Bank team members Tatiana Popescu, Head of Department, Corporate Product Management and Nadejda Stratenco, Director of Branch no. 9 Centers and Catalina Borzin, Mission Coordinator, participated in the development of strategies and products for accessible financing for women. “Women reinvest on average 90% of their income in business development, they are also 60% of the decision-makers in the use of family income. Empowering and supporting them could provide economic benefits on a large scale both individually and at community level. For us, the reasoning is very clear – investing in gender-sensitive financing and policies is good for business and society,” noted Tatiana Popescu.
The gender-sensitive approaches promoted by the bank and the support of financial education projects such as “Bani la Feminin” (Finance for Women) implemented by the OK Foundation contribute to significant successes in the inclusion and empowerment of women, with over 75% of employees being women and over 24,000 beneficiaries of financial education courses, including women from vulnerable groups.
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OTP Bank Moldova, a subsidiary of OTP Group, is an integrated and universal provider of financial services. With an approach defined by responsibility, commitment and professionalism, OTP Bank understands the needs of its clients and the current market context, and is a reliable financial partner. In line with its values of people-centeredness and sustainability, OTP Bank was the first bank in Moldova to adhere to the Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs) in October 2022.
