Raiffeisen Bank International announced today to be the first Austrian bank to join the Blockchain Research Institute, a global think-tank that guides its more than 55 members in achieving success in blockchain-related projects in the areas of financial services, manufacturing, retail, energy and resources, technology and media, healthcare as well as government.

„Blockchain is a team sport, where it takes numerous qualified players to be successful in the field. We have decided to join the Blockchain Research Institute to get access to state-of-the-art research on the technology itself, which will enable us to continue our work on use cases for our industry. At this point, we are especially interested in trade finance, capital markets, security services and identity management, where we see great potential for our corporate customers,“ said Johann Strobl, CEO of Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI).

“We are pleased to welcome RBI to the Blockchain Research Institute,” said Don Tapscott, co-founder of the institute and internationally renowned blockchain expert. “The blockchain industry is growing and changing at an accelerated pace and we look forward to helping RBI navigate the blockchain revolution through our research and thought leadership.”

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About Raiffeisen Bank International

Raiffeisen Bank International AG (RBI) regards Austria, where it is a leading corporate and investment bank, as well as Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) as its home market. 14 markets of the region are covered by subsidiary banks. Additionally, the RBI Group comprises numerous other financial service providers, for instance in leasing, asset management or M&A.

In total, nearly 50,000 employees service 16.5 million customers through more than 2,400 business outlets, the majority thereof in CEE. RBI's shares are listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange. The Regional Raiffeisen Banks own around 58.8 per cent of the shares, the remainder is in free float. Within the Raiffeisen Banking Group, RBI is the central institute of the Regional Raiffeisen Banks and other affiliated credit institutions and renders important services in this function.

About the Blockchain Research Institute

The Blockchain Research Institute is a global think-tank that helps organizations to realize the new promise of the digital economy by researching the strategic implications of blockchain technology and producing practical insights that will guide its members in achieving success. The Institute’s global team of experts is dedicated to exploring, understanding, documenting and informing leaders about blockchain strategies, market opportunities, and implementation challenges. There are more than 70 research projects underway in the areas of financial services, manufacturing, retail, energy and resources, technology/media, healthcare and government; as well as how this nascent technology changes the way companies are managed. www.blockchainresearchinstitute.org  

For further information please contact:

Ingrid Krenn-Ditz (+43-1-71707-6055, ingrid.krenn-ditz@rbinternational.com) or
Christof Danz (+43-1-71707-1930, christof.danz@rbinternational.com)
www.rbinternational.com