The first Sustainability Report is prepared in accordance with the GRI principles (Global Reporting Initiative) and according to them it covers economic performance indicators, environmental protection and social performance indicators. The Report is printed in Croatian, English and Italian and it is the result of work in which all the Bank employees took part by forming the sustainability report working group. In addition, the main activities of Banco Popolare Group in the area of social responsibility are presented in a separate section of this Report. Furthermore, this Report contains plans for the forthcoming period of two years and the results related to that period will be presented in the next Sustainability Report.

Banco Popolare Croatia has been a member of the Croatian Business Council for Sustainable Development (HRPSOR) since April 2008, and it has taken part in the CSR Index for two years in a row. The CSR Index is a project aimed at assessing CSR practices of Croatian companies and it is organized by the Association for Promoting CSR within the HGK (Croatian Chamber of Economy) and HRPSOR. Moreover, precisely this award has recently been given to Banco Popolare Croatia for its most significant progress regarding CSR in 2009 compared to the results of the previous year. 

The Bank operates a network of 36 branches across Croatia, employs staff of 291 employees and services over 80.000 customers, holding total assets of HRK2 bn and a liable capital of HRK260m. The banking business focuses on individuals, small and mid-sized business, especially manufacturers and exporters. The close cooperation with the parent bank, Banco Popolare Group, offers the Bank benefits of a multifunctional and innovative group, in tecnological terms as well as in terms of the range of products and services it offers. Bank's capital adequacy amounts to 14.23%, the credit volume amounts to HRK1.4bn kuna and the deposit volume to HRK1.3bn.

Banco Popolare Croatia is by a majority owned by one of the largest Italian banks (97.98% share of the stock capital), Banco Popolare Group, which was created as a result of the merger between Banco Popolare di Verona e Novara and Banca Popolare Italiana on 1 July 2007. The Group has EUR131bn of capital assets, EUR11bn of capital, the network of 2.100 branches, as well as 3.1 million clients and 20.700 employees. 

 

For all additional information related to this, please contact Sanja Pančić, head of Corporate Communications and Marketing on the following phone numbers:  (++385) 01 4653 459,
(++385) 099 310 7522, or at the e-mail: sanja.pancic@bpc.hr; www.bpc.hr.