Bank Handlowy
Bank in Poland / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Bank Handlowy w Warszawie (BHW, English: Commercial Bank in Warsaw) or Citi Handlowy is a Polish bank based in Warsaw, established in 1870. It is one of the oldest banks in Poland and Europe. It is the 10th largest bank in Poland in terms of assets, and 18th in terms of number of outlets.
Citi Handlowy | |
Native name | Bank Handlowy w Warszawie S.A. |
Company type | Public subsidiary |
WSE: BHW | |
Founded | 13 April 1870; 154 years ago (1870-04-13) |
Founder | Leopold Stanisław Kronenberg |
Headquarters | , Poland |
Revenue | PLN 2.41 billion (2014) |
Parent | Citibank (75%) |
Website | http://www.citihandlowy.pl/ |
The bank was initiated by financier Leopold Stanisław Kronenberg. Founded in 1870, it played a vital role in international trade, representing the Second Polish Republic government's assets in several international firms like the Danzig Shipyard. After World War II, the bank was reactivated in 1945 and later Polish People's Republic. It was one of the few companies to avoid complete nationalization during communism in Poland. After the fall of communism in Poland, the bank played a key role in the Foreign Debt Service Fund scandal, which had a negative impact on the Polish economy during the early 1990s. It underwent privatization in 1997.
In the 21st century, Bank Handlowy merged with Citibank (Poland) SA in 2001, with Citibank becoming its largest shareholder, owning 75% of shares by 2007. The bank has been listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange since 1997 and is a constituent of the WIG20 index. It is currently operating under the brand name Citi (formerly Citibank) and is owned by Citigroup. Its current headquarters is in the Jabłonowski Palace.