Bank Handlowy w Warszawie S A : Citi Handlowy named “SuperEthical Company”

In a Puls Biznesu survey of corporate operating standards, Citi Handlowy has confirmed its consistent adherence to the highest ethical requirements. The bank has been among awarded organizations every year since the beginning of the contest. This year Citi Handlowy has retained the title of SuperEthical Company, which is conferred every three years. It is the only bank among only nine laureates chosen in this year's survey and one of two banks entitled to use this prestigious title.

The award is granted to entities for which ethical conduct is a key and indispensable element of their presence in the market. These are organizations that pride themselves on the transparency of their business activities, responsible approach to running a business and the trust of customers and the market, and which share best practices and experience, and inspire change. Every year, Citi Handlowy is ranked among winners who actively and systematically build a value-based organization.

- As part of the Citi Group, the only global bank in Poland, we have been applying the highest ethical principles and best business practices for a long time. The time of the pandemic has not changed that. We continue to apply corporate governance rules for supervised institutions. We strongly promote ethical behavior within the organization and build a culture of volunteering to support local communities. We have a similar approach to working with clients: a focus on transparency; for many years now, we have not been using asterisks or 'small print'. This is very important for our clients, Polish and international companies, which see such rules of conduct as a guarantee for a good partnership in business. We are glad that this is being noticed in auditors' surveys as well as by media' says CEO Sławomir S. Sikora.

According to the justification of the decision to again name Citi Handlowy a SuperEthical Company, 'the activities of Bank Handlowy in Warsaw promote and support those ladies who want to develop in the area of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Additionally, in cooperation with the 'Perspektywy' Educational Foundation and in consultation with the Foundation for Female Entrepreneurship, the bank helps women who want to open a business. Under the SilentHeroes initiative and its fight with COVID-19, the organization has funded purchases of nationally innovative equipment (...) As part of its ecological activities, to mark its 150th anniversary, among other things, Bank Handlowy has planted two hectares of forest.'

For the past seven years, the Ethical Company contest has been rewarding the best business models. It is carried out with the substantive support of PwC Legal based on the strict criteria meant to verify potential winners. In the survey, companies are asked about their procedures, codes of conduct and regulations, as well as about their approach to ecology, community service and employee training.