- Business
- Komercní banka, a.s. (Komerční banka) operates as a universal bank and the parent company of the KB Group, a member of the Société Générale international financial group, providing a comprehensive range of retail, corporate, and investment banking services complemented by specialized financial services from subsidiaries. Founded in 1990 and headquartered in Prague, Czech Republic, at Na Příkopě 33, the bank serves over 2.2 million clients primarily in the Czech Republic through approximately 205 branches and a network of over 2,700 ATMs (including shared ATMs), with additional corporate services extended to Slovakia via a foreign branch in Bratislava; its core offerings encompass current and savings accounts, term deposits, building savings, pension insurance, overdrafts, credit card loans, personal loans, mortgages, and loans for sustainable housing and technologies in the retail segment; corporate products including revolving loans, business loans, leases, foreign currency and derivative products, syndicated and export financing, guarantee transactions, and tailored advisory for small businesses, medium corporates, municipalities, and top corporates; investment banking services such as trading in financial instruments, portfolio management, and private banking; as well as insurance, consumer loans, factoring, and fintech-enabled solutions like real estate investments through Upvest. The KB Group includes key subsidiaries such as Modrá pyramida (building savings), ESSOX (consumer finance), Factoring KB, SG Equipment Finance Czech Republic (asset financing), KB SmartSolutions (fintech investments), and a 49% stake in Komerční pojišťovna (insurance), with services distributed via branches, direct banking, online platforms like the KB+ app, and partnerships. Targeting individuals, small businesses, mid-sized enterprises, large corporates, municipalities, and public sector clients, the bank emphasizes digital transformation, sustainability, and ESG integration, including financing for renewable energy and energy-efficient projects. Recent developments include the July 2024 signing of a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding with Société Générale Equipment Finance S.A. to acquire the remaining 49.9% stake in SG Equipment Finance Czech Republic, culminating in full ownership by February 2025; the launch of the KB+ digital banking app surpassing 1 million users by December 2024 as part of the ongoing "New Era of Banking" transformation initiated in April 2023 with Temenos core banking platform; expansion of shared ATM services for deposits with Moneta Money Bank and Air Bank starting August 2024; integration of KB Poradenství into retail banking in October 2024 and centralization of mortgage processing at Modrá pyramida; securing EUR 400 million from the European Investment Bank in November 2024 for SME and mid-cap lending, half allocated to climate projects; sale of its head office building at Václavské náměstí to the City of Prague in June 2024 to consolidate operations in Prague-Stodůlky; and new ESG-focused products like the Sustainable Housing Loan and Digital Carbon Footprint Calculator for SMEs. In 2024, the bank reported consolidated net profit of CZK 17.2 billion, total assets of CZK 1.54 trillion, and strong capital ratios including a CET1 ratio of 17.64%, while advancing sustainability ambitions with CZK 20.4 billion in new ESG-beneficial investment loans.