The Sofia branch of the bank, was granted a full banking licence, the press center of the bank announced. The Bank Group "Bank Austria Kreditanstalt", which is responsible for the markets of Central and Eastern Europe within the "HVB Group", will launch its operations in the second quarter of 2002. Currently the group is represented in Bulgaria through one branch in Sofia and representative offices in Rousse and Bourgas. The new bank will be a 100 per cent subsidiary of "Bank Austria" and will operate under the name of "HVB~Bulgaria". "HVB~Bulgaria" will focus on operations with corporate clients, treasury operations and citizens servicing. The bank plans to open a second branch in Sofia as early as in 2002. Later on it will open branches in the main cities.