Business customers

We offer products and services that enable entrepreneurs to effectively operate and develop their business in the domestic and international markets. Our offer is addressed to companies and enterprises with a turnover between PLN 8m and PLN 1.2bn, as well as local governments and the public sector.

Companies and enterprises are serviced through 3 Regions and 19 Business and Corporate Banking Centres. The Business and Corporate Banking Centres have 25 Business and Corporate Banking Offices located across the country.

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown of the economy necessitated the transition to remote channels of operation with the full range of offerings and the highest quality of service. In H2 2020, the priorities of the Corporate Business Banking Division were as follows:

• We have enabled customers to enter into leasing contracts remotely (including the use of an electronic signature).
• In the iBiznes24 electronic banking channels (internet, mobile, Connect), we have introduced many changes to meet customer’s current needs.
  • In iBiznes24 internet we have introduced, among other things, automatic verification of the recipient’s account in the VAT taxpayer register, an e-application to apply for subsidies from the Polish Development Fund and the e-FX module available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  • We also tested the new version of the iBiznes24 system: we conducted a pilot with the participation of customers and began the process of migrating customers to the new iBiznes24 (211 companies with 674 individual users are using the new system now).
  • In Biznes24 mobile we have introduced solutions applied in iBiznes internet. In addition, we have made it possible to log into the mobile application using a mobile signature as an authentication tool and to confirm 3ds card payments on the internet using a mobile signature.
• We have implemented a full-fledged CRM based on Salesforce – the system offers an even faster service of business customers. More information is available here.

• We launched preferential guarantee conditions for loans.
• We facilitated the renewal of loans (annexing nearly 1,300 agreements for over 900 customers)
• We launched the application process and the operation of the PFR 1.0 Anti-Crisis Shield programme for customers (53,000 subsidies granted).

Our initiatives to support business customers during the pandemic are described here

In addition, in 2020, as in previous years, we undertook initiatives and provided products to support business and corporate clients in their development through, among others, trade finance, cross-segment activities or supporting the foreign expansion of Polish companies. We have described these activities in detail here

We offer access to customised solutions and the opportunity to take advantage of products available through Group companies, such as those related to international trade support or working capital.

In pursuit of our responsible banking strategy, we offer our clients solutions based on Sustainable Development Goals or ESG indicators. We actively participate in the transformation of the Polish energy system to a low-carbon one by, among other things, financing renewable energy projects.

We are constantly responding to clients’ needs for financing related to business expansion or new projects. We also make sure to maintain our leading position in financial advisory in Poland, particularly in the capital market.

• Green transport

In 2020 we financed the production of zero-emission public transport vehicles worth in excess of PLN 150m (for Solaris).

• Financing of RES projects under the Project Finance formula

We have participated in financing wind turbine and photovoltaic projects for leading developers and investors, including being a partner to the largest portfolio of photovoltaic projects financing in Poland to date.

• Sustainability-linked bond issue

We acted as the coordinator, arranger and dealer of the first sustainability-linked bond issue for Tauron Polska Energia worth PLN 1 billion. Funds from the issue will support the transformation of the TAURON Group and will be used to finance the costs of construction/acquisition of projects based on renewable energy sources, distribution and general corporate activities of the Issuer’s Group related to RES or zero-emission energy transformation. The funds will also be used to refinance the Issuer Group’s debt incurred to finance the above projects.

The funds obtained from the bonds shall not be used for financing any new or existing coal units or financing the activities of Tauron Wydobycie S.A. and Tauron Wytwarzanie S.A. (for undertakings other than those indicated above).

In addition, the TAURON Group together with the emission coordinator set the following indicators: CO₂ emission reduction indicator (annual average 2%) and RES capacity increase indicator (annual average 8%). If the targets are not met, the base margin will be increased in line with the provisions of the emission conditions. Each year an independent auditor will examine and validate the correctness of the calculations of the sustainability indicators.

• Green IRS

A transaction hedging the risk of interest rate volatility in which the client swaps payments based on a floating index (e.g. WIBOR) for a fixed rate of a specific amount further modified to take into account sustainability-linked principles.

In 2020, together with Tauron Polska Energia, we conducted the first green IRS transaction in Poland. As part of it, lowering CO₂ emissions and increasing the production of energy from renewable sources will result in tangible financial benefits for Tauron in the form of a reduction in the fixed interest rate paid.

• Green bond issue

We acted as co-arranger of Cyfrowy Polsat S.A.’s first green bond issue, the first  in Poland among non-financial entities, with a total value of PLN 1bn and a 7-year maturity. The funds raised from the issue were used to refinance the costs incurred by the issuer and the issuer’s subsidiaries between 2017 and 2019 related to energy efficiency improvements. Additionally, the costs of reducing the use of electronic components and, as a result, of the issuer’s and its subsidiaries’ carbon footprint were refinanced in accordance with the Green Bond Framework.

• ESG-linked bond issue

We participated as a dealer in a bond issue for PKN Orlen S.A. This is the first bond issue both on the Polish market and in Central Europe where the interest margin was linked to ESG rating by MSCI. Verification of the ESG-linked target will be carried out semi-annually before the date of determination of the interest rate.

More information about sustainable green finance can be found here

We have proceeded with the digitisation and optimisation of processes and services:

• We have extended Kantor Santander’s hours of operations to 24/7.
• We implemented a new architecture and design of Kantor Santander (pilot phase). We added new currency pairs for corporate clients.
• We continued to work on the digitisation of our derivative product offering.
• We have built a uniform tool for transactional banking products, available to all Group customers.