Question 1

What is Poštanska štedionica?

Accepted Answer

Poštanska štedionica (full legal name: Banka Poštanska štedionica a.d. Beograd) is one of the largest banks operating in Serbia. As of 2024, it ranks as the 6th largest bank in the country with a market share of approximately 7.87% and total assets exceeding 522 billion RSD (approximately €4.4 billion).

The bank is wholly owned by the Government of Serbia, making it the sole state-owned bank operating in the Serbian market. It specializes in retail banking services for individual customers and small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs), leveraging an extensive distribution network through Serbian postal offices.

Question 2

When was Poštanska štedionica founded?

Accepted Answer

Poštanska štedionica was founded on June 26, 1921 in Palilula, Belgrade, when the Law of Postal Savings Service was implemented in the Kingdom of Serbs, Croates and Slovenes. The bank officially began operations on October 1, 1923, with its first treasury located in the Moskva Palace on Terazije in Belgrade.

By 1926, it had become the main financial savings institution in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, with branches in all postal offices throughout the country. The bank practiced a policy of tax-free financial transactions to encourage savings among the population.

The institution underwent significant transformation in 2002 when it became a fully operational bank. In 2006, it officially changed its name to Banka Poštanska štedionica a.d. and was admitted to the Belgrade Stock Exchange on February 7, 2006 (traded as BELEX: PSBN).

Question 3

Where is Poštanska štedionica headquartered?

Accepted Answer

Poštanska štedionica is headquartered at Kraljice Marije 3, 11120 Belgrade, Serbia. The bank maintains its central operations in the Serbian capital, which serves as the administrative and strategic hub for its nationwide operations.

Question 4

Where does Poštanska štedionica operate?

Accepted Answer

Poštanska štedionica operates throughout Serbia via an extensive distribution network. The bank leverages approximately 1,500 post offices across Serbia to provide banking services, in addition to maintaining 121 dedicated bank branches.

This unique distribution model through the postal network allows the bank to reach customers in urban and rural areas throughout the country, providing widespread accessibility to banking services across all regions of Serbia.

Question 5

What services does Poštanska štedionica offer?

Accepted Answer

Poštanska štedionica provides comprehensive retail and business banking services, including:

Retail Banking Products:
• Current accounts, pension accounts, and student accounts
• Debit cards, credit cards, and prepaid cards
• Savings accounts, time deposit accounts, and children's savings accounts
• Cash loans, consumer loans, car loans, and mortgage loans

Digital Banking Services:
• mBank BPŠ mobile application for iOS and Android devices, offering account management, payments, transfers, balance inquiries, and transaction history
• Online banking platform (e-Postbank) providing web-based access to all banking services
• Mobile payments and digital wallet functionality

Business Banking:
• SME banking solutions
• Business accounts and payment services
• Commercial lending products

Additional Services:
• Foreign exchange services (currency buying and selling)
• Western Union money transfer services
• Payment services for utilities and municipal taxes

The bank accepts deposits up to 50,000 EUR per depositor through Serbia's Deposit Insurance Agency (AOD).

Question 6

What makes Poštanska štedionica unique?

Accepted Answer

Several distinctive features set Poštanska štedionica apart from other Serbian banks:

Extensive Postal Network: The bank's integration with Serbia's postal system provides unmatched geographic reach, with banking services available at approximately 1,500 post offices nationwide—far exceeding traditional branch networks.

Historical Significance: As the first financial institution in former Yugoslavia to introduce credit cards, Poštanska štedionica has been a technology pioneer since implementing IBM computers in 1969.

State Ownership: It is the only bank operating in Serbia that is 100% owned by the Government of Serbia, positioning it as a key institution for financial stability and public policy implementation.

Crisis Management Role: The bank has played a significant stabilization role in Serbia's banking sector, absorbing deposits and clients from several failed state-owned banks including Privredna banka Beograd (2013), Univerzal banka (2014), and acquiring mts banka (2021).

Question 7

What type of financial institution is Poštanska štedionica?

Accepted Answer

Poštanska štedionica is a universal retail bank (univerzalna banka) organized as a joint-stock company (akcionarsko društvo). In the Serbian banking system, it functions primarily as a retail-focused institution serving individual customers and small businesses.

The bank is authorized and supervised by the National Bank of Serbia under reference number 07004893. Its company registration number (Matični Broj) is 07004893, and it operates with the BIC/SWIFT code SBPORSBG and LEI code 254900KA5FP9E2GGKK71.

As a publicly traded entity on the Belgrade Stock Exchange (BELEX: PSBN), it maintains transparency standards required for listed companies, though the Government of Serbia holds 100% ownership.

Question 8

What acquisitions has Poštanska štedionica completed?

Accepted Answer

Poštanska štedionica has played a consolidation role in Serbia's banking sector through several strategic acquisitions and takeovers:

In October 2013, the bank took over all insured and uninsured deposits and assets of the majority state-owned Privredna banka Beograd, which had lost its banking license.

In January 2014, another state-owned institution, Univerzal banka, lost its license, and Poštanska štedionica assumed its client base.

In April 2021, the bank acquired the smaller mts banka, expanding its market position.

Most significantly for regional expansion, in October 2021, Poštanska štedionica acquired the former subsidiary of Komercijalna banka in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Since 2022, the bank has been operating in Bosnia and Herzegovina under the name Banka Poštanska štedionica Banja Luka, marking its first international presence.

Question 9

What is Poštanska štedionica's financial performance?

Accepted Answer

In 2024, Poštanska štedionica demonstrated strong financial performance:

Total Assets: 522.28 billion RSD, representing growth of 12.76% compared to 2023
Annual Profit: 7,272.48 million RSD, reflecting exceptional growth of 72.50% year-over-year
Return on Assets (ROA): 1.48%
Return on Equity (ROE): 18.20%

The bank's loan portfolio grew significantly by 27.73% to 218.2 billion RSD, while customer deposits increased by 11.92% to 465.5 billion RSD. Net interest income rose 27.58% to 18,250.6 million RSD, and net commission income increased 15.83% to 4,895.2 million RSD.

As of 2023, the bank employed 2,833 staff members and generated revenue of approximately €163.29 million with net income of €36.70 million.

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