Sustainability Pages

Financial inclusion

Access to credit and financial inclusion

It is particularly important for the Bank to support vulnerable people and social groups both through dedicated projects and with specifically designed products for them, thus helping to ensure a fair distribution of resources.

Small Business

The Russian-Ukrainian war following the outbreak of the coronavirus as well as the energy crisis across Europe have left many businesses in a difficult situation, so state-subsidised schemes available under the Széchenyi Card Programme MAX in 2022, then the Széchenyi Card Programme MAX+ in 2023 were introduced to support these businesses in restarting and accessing funds; these products were among the most sought-after loan products available to small entrepreneurs in 2024 and 2025.

Not only SMEs and large companies, but also small businesses (and even sole traders) may use the CIB Business Online platform, which is an electronic channel with a wide range of functionalities – e.g. multiple transfers, direct debit orders, extensive range of forms and self-administration functions – thereby replacing many previously paper-based processes.

In addition, for recently established small businesses and other customers with a low number of transactions, the bank offers the Partner Start Account Package, which provides them with a cost-effective means of conducting their banking. As part of this package, CIB Bank waives the following fees during an initial discount period:

• CIB Bank Mobile Application and CIB Internet Bank / CIB Bank Online registration fee (which is usually payable at the time the bank account agreement is concluded)
• CIB Bank Mobile Application monthly fee
• Bank card fee in the first year (Visa Compact business card)

The discounts apply to transactions on the electronic and CIB Business Online channels (HUF and FCY payments, HUF payments via GIRO to the tax authority (NAV) account (on all the electronic channels)). 

The above discounted rates are valid for account turnovers of at least HUF 40,000/month. The account package can be offered to both individual and corporate businesses, but the main target group is newly established businesses.

Education and spread of financial culture 

The bank considers it particularly important to offer its clients what it calls ‘Real Opportunities’, i.e. actual opportunities rooted in the real economy that have a significant impact on businesses in the long term.These opportunities will encourage customers to take responsible, carefully considered financial decisions in full knowledge of the possible outcomes and the risks involved. The bank is aware of its responsibility to shape the financial awareness of its environment and is therefore actively involved in programmes focusing not only on improving financial literacy. Financial education and familiarisation with matters financial cannot be started early enough and schools have a decisive role to play in this. The bank also helps them in this objective by participating in two programmes that focus on developing the financial awareness of primary and secondary school students. 

From the very beginning, the bank has participated – at the initiative of the Hungarian Banking Association – in the Pénz7 (Money Week) series of programmes launched with the professional support of the ‘Pénziránytű’ Foundation, thereby joining the European Money Week initiative. In 2024, 10 colleagues participated in the programme as volunteers with holding online financial education classes (14 in 2023). 

The bank participated in financial education initiatives launched by its Parent Bank, such as:

• In 2017, the ‘Art of Saving’ initiative was launched, which is a financial education programme linked to the World Savings Day on 31 October. Since its inception, it has organised several initiatives and workshops, including face-to-face sessions in schools as well as online formats also promoted through the bank’s communication channels. In 2024, the bank's volunteers gave financial education lessons to a total of 80 students aged between 10 and 18 (90 in 2023). 
• In 2023, the bank joined its Parent Bank's latest initiative, the Money Master Challenge, a playful financial quiz challenge for seventh-grade students. In 2024, 141 students took part in the national round (62 in 2023). This took place in October 2024, with the international round held in the same month. This initiative has been conducted under the umbrella of Financial Literacy International Network (FLITIN) that consolidates financial literacy awareness across IBD Banks.
• On 6 February 2024, on Safer Internet Day, the bank’s staff held an online class titled Cybersecurity Adventures for students aged 14-18. The aim of the programme is to provide this age group with useful, practical knowledge to face the increasingly important cybersecurity challenges of today. The online class was attended by 462 participants. This initiative has been conducted under the umbrella of Financial Literacy International Network (FLITIN) that consolidates financial literacy awareness across IBD Banks.
• In 2022, the bank joined for the first time as a sponsor of the national financial awareness competition ‘Become a Junior Financial Achiever!’ and continued to provide financial support in 2024. The spring round of the competition was open to high schools, while the autumn round to technical and vocational schools. The organisers have set up the programme specifically for educational purposes, to give students the chance to gain practical knowledge in a playful way. They are specifically targeting an increasing number of students from less privileged backgrounds. Financial educational materials for students from technical and vocational schools have been compiled and supervised by experts for the competition, which help them learn about everyday finance based on real-life situations.

Downloadable material