VTB Bank’s CEO Andrey Kostin has been recognized as Banker of the Decade, reads an official statement on the lender’s website.

      The title was awarded by Itogi magazine as part of its Big Money awards held on Banker’s Day, which is co-sponsored by Itogi, Fitch Ratings and the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs.

      This is an annual award given to individuals and companies for their contribution to the development of banking in Russia.

      This year saw the tenth celebration of Banker’s Day, with prizes awarded for professional achievements over the past decade.

      The ceremony was attended by the heads of more than 80 large banks and senior state and government officials, including representatives of the Central Bank, the Finance Ministry and the Economic Development Ministry.

      “Over the past decade, which saw many highs and lows, VTB has become a major universal bank, taking every available opportunity to achieve this goal. We have grown our assets more than 30-fold, and created leading investment and retail businesses from scratch, and we now have offices in dozens of countries,” said Andrey Kostin, according to the press release.

      VTB Group, a global provider of financial services, offer a complete range of financial services including retail, corporate and investment banking; broking and other stock-market services, insurance, asset management for pension and unit funds, leasing, and more. The services are available to clients in more than 20 countries across the CIS, Europe, Asia and Africa.

      Part of the Group, VTB Bank is Russia’s second largest lender by assets. Classified as blue chips, VTB shares are among the most liquid on the Russian stock market. The Bank’s securities are traded on Russia’s joint MICEX-RTS Exchange and as global depository receipts on the London Stock Exchange under the VTBR ticker. The Russian government owns 60.9 percent of VTB Bank’s equity.