The corporate branch of PKO Bank Polski is beginning its operations in the Czech Republic

- Opening a branch in Prague is an important step in the development of the Bank. As the undisputed leader of the Polish banking sector, we have consistently implemented a strategy of supporting local companies in the global markets and those aspiring to international development. The Czech Republic is one of the most important foreign markets for Polish companies and therefore PKO Bank Polski wants to be their first choice financial partner also there - emphasizes Maks Kraczkowski, Vice President of PKO Bank Polski.

The Bank’s branch located in Prague operates under the name of PKO Bank Polski, Czech Branch. The branch activity is focused on servicing corporate clients, which is analogous to that of the PKO Bank Polski branch in Frankfurt. The Czech branch offers: maintenance of clearing accounts, handling of non-cash settlements, depositing excess cash, short-, medium- and long-term financing, and providing liquidity management services and trade finance products services. An important element of the settlement offer is the real-time payment between the accounts held at PKO Bank Polski. Customers of the Branch in Prague may also directly use the offer of the PKO Bank Polski headquarters in Warsaw e.g. in treasury solutions.

The branch director in Prague is Jacek Kasprzewski, who started his banking career almost 30 years ago. He has worked for Chase Manhattan Bank in Paris since 1995, and since 1996 at the bank’s representative office in Warsaw. After its merger with J.P. Morgan in 2000, he assumed the position of Executive Director in Treasury Services, dealing with Central European and Israeli banks, and from 2011 to 2016 he was also the Director of J.P. Morgan Chase in Poland.

The Czech Republic is one of the most important markets for corporate clients of the Bank. Last year our southern neighbors occupied the 3rd position in Polish exports (6.6% share) and the 7th position in Polish imports (4.1% share). According to preliminary GUS data, in 2016, Polish exports to the Czech Republic reached nearly EUR 12.1 billion, rising by 1.2% y / y. Polish export hits on the Czech market are, among others, car parts and accessories, engines, petroleum oils and furniture.

The launch of PKO Bank Polski corporate office in the Czech Republic is part of the Bank's international expansion strategy, which aims at following clients and supporting the development of Polish companies. Its important element was entering the German market. In December 2015, PKO Bank Polski opened its first foreign branch - a corporate branch in Frankfurt am Main. The bank is also present in Ukraine, where Kredobank, which belongs to the capital group, operates and in Sweden where PKO Leasing Sverige has been operating since 2013. In parallel with increasing the physical presence on foreign markets, the financing of international trade in distant markets is also being developed. The Bank is working with correspondent banks in every major region of the world, and was also the first Polish bank ready to settle with Iran after the abolition of some of the sanctions imposed on the country. Recently, PKO Bank Polski has strengthened its potential for mutual settlements in the Gulf Region.

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PKO Bank Polski is the indisputable leader in the Polish banking sector. In 2016, according to the consolidated data, its net profit amounted to PLN 2.87 billion, whereas the balance sheet sum reached PLN 285.6 billion. The bank is the basic supplier of financial services for all client segments and has highest share in the deposit market (17.3%) and loans (17.8%), including mortgage loans; every third mortgage loan is granted by PKO Bank Polski and PKO Bank Hipoteczny. Having 7.9 million pay cards, the Bank is the largest issuer of debit and credit cards in Poland with a share in the market on the level of 22%. Thanks to the development of digital tools, including the IKO app, which was already activated over million times, PKO Bank Polski has become the most mobile bank in Poland. The Bank’s strong position is reinforced by companies from the Capital Group. Dom Maklerski (Brokerage House) of PKO Bank Polski is the leader with respect to the number and the value of IPO and SPO transactions at the capital market. After the take-over of Raiffeisen-Leasing Polska, the Capital Group became a leader at the lease market, with a share on the level of 13%. Efficient implementation of growth strategy made PKO Bank Polski the highest positioned domestic financial company in the Forbes Global 2000 ranking, including largest listed companies in the world. In 2016, The Banker monthly magazine that belongs to Financial Times, awarded PKO Bank Polski with the “Bank of the Year in Poland” prize for the third time.