Central and eastern Europe’s best bank for corporate responsibility this year inevitably goes to an institution that has focused on aid for Ukrainian refugees. For many banks in the region, this was an overwhelming priority during the first days and weeks of the war.
Santander Bank Polska rapidly rolled out a scheme to help the UN’s refugee agency deliver cash to Ukrainian refugees through unique nine-digit codes, or BLIK cheques. Refugees having registered at UN reception facilities could then use the codes, together with an SMS password, to withdraw cash from most ATMs in Poland (not just Santander Bank Polska ATMs). According to Michal Gajewski, Santander Bank Polska’s chief executive, it only took a couple of days to build the solution.
By early April, the Santander group had also helped to raise over €10 million to aid the humanitarian response to the war, much of it from employees and clients of Santander in Poland, with the bank doubling their donations. The group even set aside part of its Madrid headquarters as accommodation for refugees from Ukraine, having helped several hundred refugees reach Spain and Portugal by arranging special flights in cooperation with the Spanish government.
Santander Bank Polska removed charges to businesses and individuals for in or out-going transfers between Ukraine and Poland, mirroring similar measures across the Santander group, in addition to suspending other account charges. It also launched free basic bank accounts for refugees, with a simplified procedure, complemented by call centre assistance in Ukrainian.
The Polish bank organized medical consultations in Ukrainian and Russian with Telemedi.com and online Polish language courses with the University of Szczecin. For its own employees in Poland with Ukrainian family, it offered free support from psychologists, three months advance payments on salaries, additional paid leave and accommodation for Ukrainian relatives in bank-owned apartments, as well as help finding those relatives paid work.
