Ukraine: a big wave of solidarity
To support the Ukrainian population, BNP Paribas has set up a scheme dedicated to its local teams to help organisations involved in the humanitarian field while facilitating the multiple initiatives of all Group employees wishing to help Ukrainians. With only one concern: to step up to the humanitarian emergency.
Since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine, BNP Paribas has been mobilising, notably through its Foundations, to help civilians and refugees. Its subsidiary UKRSIBBANK is adapting and doing its best to guarantee its customers continuity of service in this exceptional situation, while ensuring the physical, psychological and social safety of its employees.
Extensive support
To respond to its employees’ outpouring of solidarity, BNP Paribas has taken several measures. Set up to secure, protect and help the local teams and their families, these measures are constantly adapting to their changing needs.
The Group has released €12.4m for the UN High Commission for Refugees, Médecins Sans Frontières, the Red Cross, Care, Ifaw and other local associations in France, Poland and Ukraine. It has also committed €2.5m to directly support the UKRSIBBANK teams.
The Emergency & Development Fund has raised nearly €5.22m from BNP Paribas customers, employees and pensioners to help the Ukrainian population, including matching of their contributions by the Group.
In total, more than €18.5m has been raised by the Group.
Massive aid for the local population
BNP Paribas Bank Polska has set up a system to transport teams wishing to leave Ukraine and to welcome them in Poland or other neighbouring countries. An initiative that is also offered to BNP Paribas employees with relatives in Ukraine. Ukrainian volunteers from BNP Paribas Bank Polska operated a special hotline to provide psychological support and coordinate reception in neighbouring countries.
For its part, Arval loaned vehicles to several NGOs in Poland and Hungary.
The BNP Paribas Bank Polska Foundation also created a solidarity fund to provide basic necessities and transport solutions to Ukrainians. The “Our Community” HR platform linked offers of and requests for accommodation within the Group, while dedicated HR units ensured mobility and hosts for Ukrainian employees. Furthermore, with the #1MillionHours2Help programme, German, French and Polish volunteer employees were able to dedicate two to five working days to helping Ukrainians.
Finally, the formalities necessary to open a bank account have been simplified for refugees in France, Luxembourg, Germany, Poland, Spain, Belgium and Portugal within our commercial and personal banks network and with Nickel.
Ensuring business continuity in Ukraine
In Ukraine, thanks to the courage of local teams, UKRSIBBANK maintains its activity while ensuring the protection of its employees. An essential presence for the local population as well as for the support of the country’s economy. In this context, our subsidiary won the “HR in Wartime” award, with the “People First” programme, and was recognised as the top bank in the Forbes ranking of 30 resilient private companies in Ukraine.