Santander Bank Polska
Santander Bank Polska SA, formerly Bank Zachodni WBK is a Polish universal bank based in Wrocław, Poznań and Warsaw. It is the third largest bank in Poland in terms of assets value and the number of outlets. It was formed in 2001 by the merger of Bank Zachodni S.A. and Wielkopolski Bank Kredytowy SA. Since 2026, the Bank has been owned by the Austrian bank Erste Group.
On 4 January 2013, Bank Zachodni WBK merged with Kredyt Bank which Santander bought from its Belgian owners KBC Bank. This consolidated its Polish banking business and made Bank Zachodni WBK the third largest bank in Poland by market share. Bank Zachodni WBK has a network of ca. 1000 branches and provides services to 3.5m customers.
On 10 September 2018, Bank Zachodni WBK changed its name to Santander Bank Polska SA. Also, the Bank's headquarters were moved from Wrocław to Warsaw.
In 4th quarter of 2018 year, retail part of Deutsche Bank Polska SA has been incorporated into Santander Bank Polska SA.
As of 2023, there are 369 branches in Poland. The own branch network is complemented by franchisee partner outlets managed by individuals who cooperate with the bank based on agency agreements and offer select products and services of Santander Bank Polska, and as of 2023 there are 421.
In 2024, Santander paid investors a dividend of PLN 0.7601 per share for 2023. The total value amounted to PLN 11,958,281.
In June 2025 Santander announced the sale of 49% of the bank to the Austrian Erste Group.
On 9 January 2026, Erste Group completed its purchase of a 49% controlling stake in Santander Bank Polska and a 50% stake in the asset manager Santander TFI from Santander Group.
WWW santander.pl𝕏 SantanderBankPLFB santanderbankpolskaYT UCbBDnfG5Ofxbw2om35P6YQwIG santanderbankpolska
History
In March 1995, the Irish group Allied Irish Banks acquired 16.2% of shares in Wielkopolski Bank Kredytowy from the State Treasury. In the following years, the group acquired more WBK shares to buy the control stake in Bank Zachodni in 1999. On 13 June, pursuant to the resolution of Banking Supervision Commission dated 7 March 2001, Bank Zachodni WBK was established.On 23 June 2001, the bank's shares were floated on the Warsaw Stock Exchange.
On 30 March 2010, AIB announced the intention to sell its stake in Bank Zachodni WBK S.A, and on 10 September these intentions were confirmed by announcing the buyer – Spanish group Santander which was to buy 70.36% of shares worth EUR 3,1bn from AIB. On 30 March 2011, in a tender offer, Santander acquired 69,912 m company shares taking up 95.67% of its stake.
In 2012, the Santander Group reached an agreement with Belgian KBC Bank on the acquisition of Kredyt Bank, owned by the latter. In the aftermath of acquiring Kredyt Bank by the Santander Group, the two Polish banks merged. The entry in KRS on 4 January 2013, made Bank Zachodni WBK S.A. a legal successor of Kredyt Bank. The merged bank operates as Bank Zachodni WBK and the name Kredyt Bank is used as a trademark of some products.
On 7 September 2018, the bank was officially re-branded as Santander Bank Polska and its headquarters were transferred to Warsaw.
Capital Group
Santander Bank Polska Group encompasses companies whose core business is brokerage, asset management, investment fund management, leasing, factoring, bancassurance insurance services and private banking. Apart from Bank Zachodni WBK, BZ WBK Group's subsidiaries are:- Santander Nieruchomości SA
- Santander Asset Management
- Santander Faktor sp. z o.o
- Santander Leasing SA
- Santander Inwestycje sp. z o.o
- Santander - Aviva Towarzystwo Ubezpieczeń Ogólnych SA
Shareholder structure
- 67,41% Banco Santander S.A.
- 5,01% Nationale-Nederlanden OFE