Best bank 2025: UniCredit Bank
UniCredit Bank has demonstrated remarkable growth and innovation in the Bosnia and Herzegovina banking sector, justifying its nomination as the country’s best bank.
The bank’s gross loans from customers noted an increase of 14.7% year-over-year, reaching KM4.52 billion ($2.7 billion). Similarly, total assets grew by 12.6% to KM8.01 billion, reflecting solid financial health and expansion.
The bank’s profitability also showed robust progress with a local net profit of KM185 million, marking a 14.4% increase year-over-year, and an international net profit for consolidated purposes of KM 202 million, which grew by 25%. These figures indicate strong financial management and operational efficiency.
In a notable innovation, UniCredit Bank launched the UniCredit Invest BH in 2024, which quickly captured an approximate 10% market share in its inaugural year, showcasing effective market penetration and product acceptance. The introduction of Bosnia’s first fully online cash loan process using qualified electronic signature further underscores its lead role in the digital banking transformation, enhancing customer experience and operational efficiency.
UniCredit Bank is also committed to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives. The establishment of a new department directly reporting to the CEO reflects the strategic priority given to sustainability. Moreover, collaborative efforts with KfW to manage a €20 million fund aimed at renewable energy and SME efficiency investments highlight the bank’s alignment with global sustainability goals.
These achievements collectively portray UniCredit Bank as a front-runner in its field, adeptly combining growth, innovation and corporate responsibility.
Best bank for ESG 2025: UniCredit Bank
UniCredit Bank Bosnia and Herzegovina has demonstrated a remarkable commitment to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards, positioning itself as a leader in sustainable finance within the region. In 2024, the bank significantly increased its new ESG financing, reaching €230 million, which marks a 34% increase from the previous year. This substantial growth reflects a strategic focus on both environmental financing, which doubled to €61 million, and social financing, which climbed to €169 million.
A standout element of UniCredit Bank’s environmental strategy involves its substantial investment in renewable energy. In 2024 alone, the bank allocated a combined €55 million towards solar energy projects, contributing to the development of 131MW of new capacity. This capacity is particularly notable as it includes the establishment of two solar plants on repurposed industrial lands, demonstrating a smart and sustainable use of space that embodies the principles of environmental stewardship.
Moreover, the bank has taken significant steps to align its operations with international standards through the enhancement of its green lending and green bond frameworks. This alignment ensures a robust approach to supporting environmentally sustainable projects across Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Education forms a pivotal component of the bank’s ESG strategy, highlighted by its extensive training programmes. Over the past year, ESG training included over 1,000 students and accumulated 32,101 employee training hours, with an emphasis on net-zero and sustainable finance education.
The continuous integration of net-zero targets into its core ESG strategy underscores UniCredit Bank’s dedication to long-term environmental goals. This strategy is comprehensive, encompassing client transition support, nature-related risk assessments, and the expansion of exclusion policies to mitigate environmental risks effectively. Through these concerted efforts, UniCredit Bank not only champions ESG practices but also leads by example in fostering a sustainable future.
