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Basic Information
Komerční banka, a.s. (hereinafter also “KB” or the “Bank”) is the parent company of KB Group (hereinafter also the “Group”) and is also a member of the Société Générale Group. KB ranks among the leading banking institutions in the Czech Republic, as well as in Central and Eastern Europe. KB is a universal bank providing a wide range of services in retail, corporate and investment banking. Member companies of Komerční banka Group provide additional specialised financial services – such as pension fund and building society schemes, factoring, consumer lending and insurance – accessible through KB’s branch network, its direct banking channels, and the subsidiaries’ own sales networks. KB also provides services through its branch in Slovakia.
Service for corporate clients of Komerční banka is provided by two segments, usually according to annual turnover of client and number of products which client use. Companies with turnover from 60 million under 1500 billion are generally service by Business Centers of Corporate segment, clients with turnover over 1500 billion are in principle service by Business Divisions of Top Corporate segment, which are located in Praha and Brno.
In the Slovak Republic, KB provides its clients with services via a branch called “Komerční banka, a.s., pobočka zahraničnej banky”. The KB branch in the Slovak Republic is especially focused on large and medium-sized enterprises with a turnover of EUR 33 million or more. The position of the KB branch in Slovakia is a strong one in this field, having at its disposal the know-how of the parent KB and using synergy in terms of the KB and SG Group, thanks to which it is able to provide its clients with comprehensive financial solutions.
The KB branch in the Slovak Republic offers standard banking services, which include Cash Management, electronic banking, payment cards, financing and investment banking products. The branch also provides Trade Finance products, where KB holds a leading position in the Czech Republic. An individual and personal approach and custom-made products, tailored to suit the requirements of the specific client, constitute an integral part of the offer of services. The KB branch in the Slovak Republic does not offer cash operations.
More detailed information is available at: www.koba.sk
Komerční banka and KB Group in 2010
The Bank’s almost 1.59 million clients can access its banking services through 395 branches and using 677 ATMs across the Czech Republic, as well as via internet, telephone and mobile phone banking channels. The Bank’s branch network includes 20 specialised business centres designed for medium enterprises and municipalities, as well as 4 centres dedicated to large corporations. In 2010, services on the Slovak market were provided through the subsidiary Komerční banka Bratislava. Today, they are offered by KB’s own branch dedicated to serving corporate clients.
Modrá pyramida stavební spořitelna, a.s. (hereinafter “Modrá pyramida”) served some 691,000 clients, while Penzijní fond KB had 501,000 participants registered in its pension schemes. The number of active clients at the consumer finance company ESSOX rose to 316,000.
The average number of employees in KB Group was 8,619 during 2010. As of the end of 2010, KB’s long-term credit ratings stood at A1 in both foreign and domestic currency terms from Moody’s Investors Service, A from Standard & Poor’s, and A from Fitch Ratings. Penzijní fond KB held a national scale rating of Aa1.cz from Moody’s Investors Service, which is the highest possible rating for a pension fund in the Czech Republic.
History
Komerční banka was established in 1990 as a state institution, and in 1992 it was transformed into a joint-stock company. KB’s shares have been listed on the Prague Stock Exchange, as well as in the RM-System, since its inception. Global depository receipts (GDRs) representing KB shares have been traded on the London Stock Exchange since 1995. In 2001, the state’s 60% holding in Komerční banka was purchased by Société Générale. Following privatisation, KB began significantly to develop its activities for individual customers and entrepreneurs, in addition to building on its traditionally strong position in the enterprises and municipalities market. Part of the development of retail activities was its purchase of the remaining 60% of shares in Modrá pyramida in 2006. Thereby, Komerční banka attained full control over the Czech Republic’s third largest building society. Effective as of 31 December 2010, KB was combined in a cross-border merger with Komerční banka Bratislava. As the successor bank, KB assumed all assets and liabilities of its former subsidiary and continues operations in Slovakia through a branch.
Société Générale Group
Komerční banka has been an important part of Societě Générale Group’s international retail banking since October 2001. Société Générale Group is one of the largest financial services groups in the euro zone. The Group’s three key businesses comprise:
- Retail Banking, Specialised Financing & Insurance
- Private Banking, Global Investment Management & Services
- Corporate and Investment Banking
In 2010, some 157,000 employees of SG Group were serving 32 million clients in 83 countries. SG Group’s net profit totalled EUR 3.92 billion for 2010. Its Tier 1 ratio under Basel II standards stood at 10.6% at the end of 2010, of which the core Tier 1 ratio was 8.5%. As of the same date, SG was rated Aa2 by Moody’s, A+ by Standard & Poor’s, and A+ by Fitch.
In 2001, Société Générale became the first publicly traded French bank to commit itself to the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative’s Statement by Financial Institutions on the Environment and Sustainable Development. A member since 2003, each year Société Générale Group renews its commitment to the United Nations Global Compact in the areas of human rights, labour standards, environment and anti-corruption.