Bank’s response to armed conflict in Ukraine

With the armed conflict in Ukraine still ongoing, Bank Pekao is continuing the steps it has taken in this area. In 2023, the Bank not only maintained products dedicated to Ukrainian citizens, but expanded its offerings for business customers.

Due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, the Bank has taken steps to end or limit cooperation with entities that do business with sanctioned countries. By order of the President in July 2022, the “List of Sanctioned Countries in Connection with the Aggression against Ukraine” was created (hereinafter: “List of countries”). In the purchasing process, the Bank verifies the entities invited to purchase procedures based on the list of entities published by the Yale School of Management University, where individual entities are given categories from A to F. Category F is given to entities that continue their business relationships with countries on the “List of countries”. In 2023, the Yale list included 1,589 entities. Based on negative verification, the Bank has terminated cooperation with 1.32% of the entities identified on the Yale list, in addition, entities that have received an F category are not allowed to participate in the procurement process.

An analogous analysis was carried out in the credit process.

In 2023, Bank Pekao has consistently supported Ukrainian citizens. On offer for Ukrainian citizens is Konto Pomocne [Helpful Account], which is an option for those who do not have the documents needed to set up Konto Przekorzystne [Advantage Account]. When setting up a Helpful Account, the procedure is simpler – documents other than a passport are accepted, including, among others, an internal passport – a Grazhdan Ukrainian passport, a certificate of confirmation of legal residence in Ukraine for a citizen of another country, a Polish identity document for a foreigner or a temporary Polish travel document for a foreigner, a certificate issued by a Consulate, a certificate of assignment of a PESEL number or the mObywatel [mCitizen] application. The account makes it possible to meet financial needs efficiently – receipts from aid benefits received, making ongoing payments by cards or through electronic banking. It is important to note that Bank Pekao does not charge fees for operating them. The Bank has abolished – for Ukrainian citizens – both the fee for operating the account card and making cash withdrawals with it at ATMs in Poland and abroad. With an Advantage account there is also an additional possibility to have a sub-account in 4 different currencies (USD, EUR, CHF, GBP) and exchange currencies at favorable rates. The Bank also does not charge a foreign exchange commission/margin on account card transactions abroad. The special offer to waive account, card and ATM withdrawal fees with the Advantage Account has been extended until the end of 2025.

In addition, the Bank has extended in time the possibility of making free transfers from and to Ukraine for all individual customers of the Bank, including citizens of that country, until 31.12.2025.

In 2023, a wide offer for PLN 0 has been prepared for companies registered in Ukraine or Poland, establishing a relationship with Bank Pekao S.A., where a citizen of Ukraine runs a sole proprietorship, civil partnerships or partnerships, one of whose partners is a citizen of Ukraine. The Bank has decided not to charge fees for business accounts, debit cards, and domestic and foreign exchange transfers (electronic and paper), as well as e-banking services for the first 12 months of the account agreement.