Built on passion, guided by prudence, and sustained through innovation, Raiffeisen Certificates has become one of Central Europe’s most trusted names in structured investments. Over two decades, the franchise has grown into a hallmark of integrity and reliability, driven by a culture that fuses capital markets expertise with a deeply human approach to client service.
When Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) integrated its certificates business in 2022, the transition was less about structural change and more about reinforcing a legacy. The team behind Raiffeisen Certificates — already one of the most experienced and respected in the region — has spent twenty years cultivating an investor base built on trust, education, and product excellence. Today, their success story is defined as much by culture as by performance.
“Do what you do with passion,” says a senior representative of Raiffeisen Certificates. “Our team would not have achieved so much if we viewed our work merely as a job. We are united by our enthusiasm for the capital markets and for certificates in particular. Our customers and sales partners feel that passion — it is the key to our success.”
The shift from Raiffeisen Centrobank (RCB) to RBI was a milestone, but not a disruption. “Honestly, not much has changed,” the representative explains. “We are still the same coordinated and experienced team, operating close to our customers’ needs. During integration, it was crucial that neither product quality nor customer service suffered. Clients care about the value we deliver, not about our internal structure.”
That commitment has paid off. Since the integration in December 2022, Raiffeisen’s certificates business has grown strongly, reflecting both customer loyalty and the enduring relevance of structured products in the modern investment landscape. “Our customers have stayed with us because we’ve remained focused on their needs,” the representative adds. “Stability, transparency, and quality are constants in how we operate.”
In a retail-heavy market, where short-term performance often overshadows long-term value, Raiffeisen Certificates stands out for its emphasis on product integrity. “The best customers are satisfied customers,” the representative says. “Those who have positive experiences with their certificates are more likely to reinvest. That’s why we prioritise diversified underlyings and adequate safety mechanisms that give investors peace of mind.”
This client-centric design philosophy is not just about compliance — it’s about building durable relationships. Certificates are crafted with a strong focus on suitability across market cycles, with red lines drawn where leverage or structural complexity could compromise investor trust. In an era where financial innovation can sometimes blur the line between creativity and risk, Raiffeisen’s disciplined approach ensures that innovation never comes at the expense of integrity.
As Head of Certificates and Equity Trading, the representative oversees operations in markets where pricing, inventory, and hedging are constantly tested by volatility. The response is a blend of cutting-edge technology and human discipline.
“Controls are key,” they note. “We maintain robust risk management frameworks, real-time monitoring systems, and effective communication channels within our trading team. Efficient hedging requires state-of-the-art pricing models that reflect market conditions in real time.”
That rigour was tested in April 2025, when markets surged following U.S. tariff announcements. “Volatility spiked — but we saw inflows into Raiffeisen certificates on every single trading day. That tells us our systems and our clients’ confidence held strong. Investors recognised the advantages of certificates in turbulent markets.”
Education has been central to Raiffeisen Certificates’ mission since its inception. The firm recognises that behavioural biases often lead investors to misjudge risk and opportunity. “Many retail investors focus only on the risks of the capital markets and miss the opportunities,” the representative says. “Others want to invest but wait endlessly for better entry points — meanwhile, the market moves on.”
For such investors, capital-protection certificates provide a vital entry bridge into markets. They offer exposure with defined safety mechanisms, allowing first-time investors to participate confidently. Raiffeisen’s emphasis on accessible, transparent education has made certificates a gateway product for thousands of clients who might otherwise remain on the sidelines of investment markets.
Beyond its client base, Raiffeisen Certificates plays a leading role in setting standards for the European certificates market. The representative, active within both EUSIPA and Austria’s Zertifikate Forum Austria (ZFA), is a long-time advocate of pragmatic regulation.
“I am not opposed to regulation,” they clarify. “But balance is crucial — where does legitimate consumer protection end, and where does overregulation begin? In some cases, self-regulation is the more effective path.”
They point to the EUSIPA Principles as a milestone in establishing ethical and operational standards for the industry. “Still, I believe the best investor protection is financial education. That must begin in schools. Unfortunately, many European countries still lag in that regard.”
They also highlight the EU’s Savings and Investment Union (SIU) as an important step toward mobilising retail investors. “Certificates can play a major role in bringing individuals into capital markets in a secure, structured way.”
For Raiffeisen Certificates, people are as important as products. “We have two key assets — the competence of our team and the trust of our customers,” the representative explains. “Both must be continuously nurtured.”
The company’s leadership philosophy combines high expectations with continuous development. “I focus on challenging and supporting,” they add. “Young professionals need honest feedback to grow. Passion, meticulousness, and a willingness to learn are non-negotiable. The best structurers and market-makers are those who stay curious.”
This emphasis on mentorship has created a culture of consistency — where innovation is grounded in experience, and experience is continually renewed through talent development.
Technology has also been instrumental in strengthening Raiffeisen’s agility. “Our advanced pricing engines and scenario visualisers have drastically shortened time-to-market,” the representative notes. “They help us assess multiple scenarios in advance, enabling rapid, informed decision-making — especially during volatility.”
Automation, they say, has not replaced human judgement but enhanced it. “It allows us to focus our expertise where it matters most — on client outcomes and strategic innovation.”
Today, Raiffeisen Certificates stands as a model of resilience in a rapidly evolving market. Its foundations — passion, discipline, and education — remain as relevant as ever. From its stronghold in Austria, the franchise continues to expand across Central and Eastern Europe, offering investors a blend of safety, flexibility, and transparency.
“Our growth reflects one simple truth,” the representative concludes. “When you operate with integrity and passion, success follows. We’ve built this business over twenty years not just on products, but on people — our team, our partners, and our clients. That’s what makes Raiffeisen Certificates what it is today.”
{ "@type": "FAQPage", "@id": "https://cfi.co/banking/2025/11/raiffeisen-certificates-two-decades-of-passion-precision-and-purpose/#faq", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "What is Raiffeisen Certificates?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "It is the structured-products franchise of Raiffeisen Bank International, serving primarily retail investors with a focus on integrity, suitability and education across market cycles." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How did the 2022 integration into RBI affect customers?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "According to the team, integration reinforced continuity. The same experienced group maintained product quality and service, with strong growth following December 2022." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What principles guide product design?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Discipline and suitability: diversified underlyings, adequate safety mechanisms, and clear red lines where leverage or complexity could undermine investor trust." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How did the franchise perform during volatility in April 2025?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Despite a volatility spike after U.S. tariff announcements, the team reports net inflows on every trading day, citing robust controls and client confidence." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Why is investor education central to the model?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Education addresses behavioural biases and helps investors understand both risks and opportunities. Capital-protection certificates offer an entry path with defined safeguards." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What is the stance on regulation versus self-regulation?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Balanced regulation is supported, with self-regulatory frameworks like the EUSIPA Principles seen as effective. The team also advocates stronger financial education in schools." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How does technology improve agility and risk control?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Advanced pricing engines and scenario visualisers shorten time-to-market and support real-time decisions, while automation enhances human oversight rather than replacing it." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What defines the team culture?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "High expectations paired with continuous development and honest feedback, nurturing talent and client trust as the franchise’s two core assets." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Where is growth focused geographically?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "From its Austrian base, the franchise expands across Central and Eastern Europe, aiming to blend safety, flexibility and transparency for retail investors." } } ] },
{ "@type": "CreativeWork", "@id": "https://cfi.co/banking/2025/11/raiffeisen-certificates-two-decades-of-passion-precision-and-purpose/#prov-rbi", "name": "Raiffeisen Bank International – Corporate website", "url": "https://www.rbinternational.com/", "description": "Official RBI website referenced for organisational context." }, { "@type": "CreativeWork", "@id": "https://cfi.co/banking/2025/11/raiffeisen-certificates-two-decades-of-passion-precision-and-purpose/#prov-rcert", "name": "Raiffeisen Certificates – Official site", "url": "https://certificates.raiffeisen.at/", "description": "Product universe and investor information for Raiffeisen Certificates." } ] }
If Gemini’s training run proves anything, it is that Google’s in-house silicon is no longer…
Since founding and leading three publicly listed companies and co-founding numerous other high-growth ventures, Dr…
Tekcapital has honed a differentiated model for discovering university inventions, turning them into real businesses,…
The Africa Finance Corporation is redefining development on the continent by championing bankable, climate-resilient, and…
Under the stewardship of Samaila Zubairu, the Africa Finance Corporation has become a driving force…
With a pioneering spirit and deep-rooted Indo-Nepalese collaboration, Nepal SBI Bank Ltd. is redefining the…