Company

Banco Santander is established

Banco Santander starts its international expansion

Bank Zachodni and Wielkopolski Bank Kredytowy are spun off from the National Bank of Poland.

As part of rebranding,

Banco Santander starts using red in its logo.

WBK shares are quoted on the Warsaw Stock Exchange for the first time.

Santander

becomes the biggest bank in Spain.

Allied Irish Banks, an Irish banking group, becomes WBK’s strategic investor.

Banco Santander expands into new markets: Brazil, Chile, Great Britain and Argentina.

Bank Zachodni establishes its „Pomoc Ludziom” Foundation, later renamed as Bank Zachodni WBK Foundation.

Bank Zachodni becomes the first bank in Poland to provide its customers with active access to electronic banking.

The first credit card payment made by a Bank Zachodni customer.

Allied Irish Banks becomes Bank Zachodni’s strategic investor.

Santander merges with Banco Central Hispano.

Bank Zachodni and Wielkopolski Bank Kredytowy merge to form Bank Zachodni WBK (BZ WBK).

Banco Santander launches its operations in Poland.

Santander takes over entire Finconsumo, an Italian consumer finance company, and acquires similar firms in Poland, Norway and the Netherlands. The bank also expands into Austria, Sweden, the Czech Republic and Hungary. All those companies become parts of Santander Consumer, Europe’s leading consumer finance provider.

BZ WBK becomes the first bank in Poland to offer microchip cards to all customers, a milestone in terms of card user security.

Bank Zachodni WBK opens its 500th branch.

The Banker, a reputable British magazine, names Bank Zachodni WBK “Bank of the Year 2010 in Poland.”

Banco Santander acquires the majority of shares in Bank Zachodni WBK.

BZ WBK becomes a part of the biggest financial institution in the Eurozone with over 150 years of track record.

Santander Universidades is launched in Poland.

The aim of this global Santander Group programme is to cooperate with universities to support university education and research initiatives. Over the next five years, 15,000 students and 3,000 academicians will have a chance to obtain financial support that will enable them to participate in international exchange programmes.

BZ WBK merges with Kredyt Bank to create Poland’s third largest bank with nearly 1,000 outlets.

The “From Cranach to Picasso. The Santander Collection” exhibition is opened in the National Museum in Wrocław.

Bank Zachodni WBK becomes the majority shareholder of Santander Consumer Bank.

Bank Zachodni WBK publishes its first corporate social responsibility report

The Santander Orchestra project is launched to support the career development of the most talented young musicians. Project participants hone their skills by training under the supervision of the best tutors and playing in a symphony orchestra conducted by internationally recognised artists. They also acquire practical knowledge that helps them direct their career and succeed in the world of music.

New business model focused on helping people and businesses prosper. Santander Group’s aim is to be the best retail and business bank that earns the lasting loyalty of its employees, customers, shareholders and communities. The Group’s employees all over the world follow the same corporate culture in line with the Simple, Personal and Fair values.

Bank Zachodni WBK is recognised as the „Best Bank in Poland” by Euromoney Awards for Excellence.

The bank’s mobile app, BZWBK24, is named Poland’s best mobile banking by Forrester Research.

BZWBK24 mobile reaches one million mobile customers.

The „How’s Your Driving” educational project attracts 100,000 fans.

BZ WBK launches Finansiaki.pl, a financial education portal.

BZ WBK introduces Konto Jakie Chcę, the first package account in the Polish market, which enables clients to customise the banking services they use.

KNF decides to acquire a demerged part of Deutsche Bank to BZ WBK.

Bank Zachodni WBK changes its name to Santander Bank Polska.