Hrvatska Poštanska Banka

Hrvatska poštanska banka d.d., commonly known as HPB, is a Croatian universal bank headquartered in Zagreb. Its name translates roughly as Croatian Postal Bank, reflecting its origin as a financial institution established by Hrvatska pošta, Croatia’s national postal service, in October 1991. The bank initially developed through the postal network and served as a domestically rooted provider of retail and commercial banking services. Hrvatska pošta remained HPB’s majority shareholder until 2001. From that point, control moved to the Croatian state through holdings acquired by the state privatization fund, Hrvatski fond za privatizaciju, and the national pension fund, Hrvatski zavod za mirovinsko osiguranje. HPB consequently became one of the country’s principal state-controlled banking institutions while continuing to operate as a commercial bank rather than as a postal savings service alone. The bank’s activities span retail banking for individuals, business banking for companies and public-sector or institutional customers, payment services, deposits, lending, cards, and other ordinary banking products. Its domestic ownership and nationwide institutional role distinguish it from foreign-owned banking groups operating in Croatia. HPB has also maintained a strategic connection with Croatia’s public infrastructure through its postal origins and state ownership. HPB is listed on the Zagreb Stock Exchange and is described as the largest Croatian-owned bank. The referenced profile places it fifth among Croatian banks by total assets, with assets of approximately EUR 7.046 billion; that figure relates to the period covered by the cited profile and should not be treated as a current balance-sheet value without a newer financial source. The bank received external recognition in 2019 when International Banker named it Croatia’s best commercial bank of the year. In March 2020, HPB retained its 2019 net profit following a resolution accepted by the Croatian National Bank. During 2020, it was designated a significant institution within European Banking Supervision and therefore came under direct supervision by the European Central Bank, reflecting its systemic importance within Croatia’s banking market. A major strategic development occurred in 2022. After the Croatian subsidiary of Sberbank Europe entered insolvency proceedings amid European Union sanctions and resolution measures connected with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Single Resolution Board transferred the subsidiary’s shares to HPB. HPB completed the acquisition of the local Sberbank unit on 2 March 2022 for HRK 71 million, reported in the reference material as approximately EUR 9.4 million. The transaction expanded HPB’s domestic customer and branch footprint and represented one of the most consequential acquisitions in its history. In September 2021, the supervisory board appointed Marko Badurina as president of the management board and Anto Mihaljević and Ivan Soldo as management-board members, subject to approval by the Croatian National Bank. HPB remains an active Croatian banking brand with a broad domestic mandate, a state-linked ownership structure, a Zagreb Stock Exchange listing, and direct European Central Bank supervision.

Hrvatska poštanska banka was founded in October 1991 by Hrvatska pošta, Croatia’s national postal service. Its creation established a banking institution linked to the country’s postal infrastructure and gave HPB a domestic foundation from which to develop retail and commercial banking activities. Hrvatska pošta remained the bank’s majority shareholder through 2001. During that year, majority control shifted to the Croatian state through stakes acquired by Hrvatski fond za privatizaciju, the state-owned privatization fund, and Hrvatski zavod za mirovinsko osiguranje, the national pension fund. This ownership transition made HPB a state-controlled commercial bank while preserving its role as a Croatian financial institution serving households and businesses. Over time, HPB broadened its business beyond its postal origins. Its banking scope came to include personal accounts, deposits, loans, payment services, cards, business banking, and other services normally associated with a universal bank. The bank remained focused on Croatia and became the largest Croatian-owned bank, operating alongside larger foreign-owned banking groups active in the country. HPB is listed on the Zagreb Stock Exchange. A referenced description ranks it fifth in Croatia by total assets and reports assets of approximately EUR 7.046 billion for the period associated with that description. Because the cited figure is not accompanied here by a reporting date or current financial statement, it is best understood as historical context rather than a current financial measurement. The bank received recognition in November 2019 when International Banker selected it as Croatia’s best commercial bank of the year. In March 2020, HPB retained its 2019 net profit following a resolution accepted by the Croatian National Bank. That year, European Banking Supervision designated HPB a significant institution. The designation brought the bank under direct supervision by the European Central Bank and reflected its importance within Croatia’s financial system. A management transition followed in September 2021. HPB's supervisory board appointed Marko Badurina as president of the Management Board, with Anto Mihaljević and Ivan Soldo appointed as Management Board members. The Croatian National Bank approved the proposed appointments. HPB’s largest documented strategic transaction came in 2022. Sberbank’s European unit became insolvent amid sanctions imposed by the European Union in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Single Resolution Board decided to transfer the shares of Sberbank’s Croatian subsidiary to HPB. On 2 March 2022, HPB completed the purchase of the Croatian business for HRK 71 million, reported in the reference material as approximately EUR 9.4 million. The acquisition strengthened HPB’s position in the domestic market and expanded its role in the consolidation and resolution of Croatia’s banking sector. HPB continues to operate as an active, state-controlled Croatian bank with a Zagreb headquarters, a domestic operating focus, a stock-exchange listing, and direct European Central Bank supervision. Croatian Postal Bank was founded in October 1991 by Hrvatska pošta, Croatia's national postal service, during the early period of the country's independent financial and institutional development. The postal connection shaped the bank's initial identity and gave it a domestic distribution rationale distinct from banks established as subsidiaries of international financial groups. Hrvatska pošta was the majority shareholder during the bank's first decade. In 2001, ownership shifted to the Croatian state. Control was obtained through stakes held by Hrvatski fond za privatizaciju, the state-owned privatization fund, and Hrvatski zavod za mirovinsko osiguranje, the national pension fund. This transition made HPB a state-controlled national banking institution. The bank subsequently developed as a universal commercial bank, serving personal, entrepreneurial, corporate and institutional customers through deposit, lending, payment and other banking activities. HPB later became a listed company on the Zagreb Stock Exchange. Its status as the largest Croatian-owned bank distinguished it from the larger group of foreign-owned banks operating in the Croatian market. The bank's domestic ownership and postal heritage remained central to its public identity, while its product and operating model expanded beyond a narrowly postal role. In November 2019, International Banker selected HPB as Croatia's best commercial bank of the year. In March 2020, HPB retained its 2019 net profit after accepting a Croatian National Bank resolution. During the same year, European Banking Supervision designated HPB a significant institution. The designation brought the bank under direct supervision by the European Central Bank, reflecting its importance within Croatia's banking system and the broader euro-area supervisory framework. The most consequential strategic event in the reference period occurred in 2022. After sanctions connected with Russia's invasion of Ukraine contributed to the insolvency of Sberbank's European Union unit, the Single Resolution Board decided to transfer Sberbank's Croatian subsidiary to HPB. The transaction was completed on 2 March 2022. HPB paid HRK 71 million, reported as approximately EUR 9.4 million, for the local subsidiary. The acquisition expanded HPB's position in the Croatian market and demonstrated the role of a domestically controlled institution in resolving a distressed banking subsidiary during a broader European banking crisis. HPB is an active Croatian banking group. It continues to combine retail, corporate and institutional financial services with a nationally focused brand, state majority ownership and direct European banking supervision. The available reference material does not establish a complete current management roster, detailed product chronology or a precise current ownership percentage; those areas require verification against the bank's latest annual and corporate-governance disclosures.

• 2022

  Acquisition of Sberbank’s Croatian subsidiary

  [1]Hrvatska poštanska bankaen.wikipedia.org

  HPB acquired Sberbank's Croatian subsidiary on 2 March 2022 for HRK 71 million (approximately EUR 9.4 million) following a Single Resolution Board transfer.

• 2021

  New management-board appointments

  [1]Hrvatska poštanska bankaen.wikipedia.org

  Marko Badurina, Anto Mihaljević and Ivan Soldo were appointed to senior Management Board roles, subject to Croatian National Bank approval.

• 2020

  Placed under direct ECB supervision

  [1]Hrvatska poštanska bankaen.wikipedia.org

  HPB entered the category of significant institutions under European Banking Supervision and became directly supervised by the European Central Bank.

• 2019

  Named Croatia’s best commercial bank

  [1]Hrvatska poštanska bankaen.wikipedia.org

  International Banker recognized HPB as Croatia's best commercial bank of the year.

• 2001

  Croatian state becomes majority owner

  [1]Hrvatska poštanska bankaen.wikipedia.org

  Majority ownership moved from Hrvatska pošta to the Croatian state through state privatization and pension-fund holdings.

• 1991

  Bank founded by Hrvatska pošta

  [1]Hrvatska poštanska bankaen.wikipedia.org

  Hrvatska pošta established the bank in October 1991, creating the institution that became Hrvatska poštanska banka.

A domestically owned Croatian universal bank combining nationwide retail reach, commercial banking capabilities, and a public-sector ownership heritage. A nationally rooted, state-controlled universal bank combining Croatian ownership with broad retail, business and institutional banking services. Its historical connection to Hrvatska pošta supports a distinctive domestic and accessible identity, while its listing, European supervision and acquisition activity position it as a significant participant in Croatia's formal banking system.

• Consumer banking

  Retail banking

  HPB’s retail-banking business serves individuals through everyday accounts, deposits, payment services, cards, and personal borrowing. Its retail role is consistent with the bank’s nationwide Croatian orientation and its historical connection with the postal network. HPB's retail proposition serves individual customers with everyday banking, deposits, payment accounts, cards, lending and related personal financial services. The available reference material identifies the bank as a universal commercial institution but does not provide a verified historical product catalogue or product-level launch dates.

• Business banking

  Commercial banking

  The commercial-banking division provides banking services for companies and other business customers. The documented scope includes business accounts, financing, deposits, payments, and related banking support, although detailed product names are not specified in the supplied sources.

• Lending and savings

  Loans and deposits

  Loans and deposits form core components of HPB's universal-banking offer. The bank serves both individuals and commercial customers, with lending and savings products supporting its domestic banking franchise.

• Payments

  Payment and card services

  HPB provides payment-account and card-related services as part of its retail and business banking activities. The supplied references do not identify individual card brands or named payment products.

• Business banking

  Corporate and small-business banking

  The bank provides banking services for companies and entrepreneurs as part of its universal-bank model. These activities conventionally include business accounts, payments, deposits and credit, although the supplied sources do not specify individual product names or eligibility conditions.

• Payments and digital banking

  Digital and payment banking

  HPB's banking scope includes payment services, cards and digital access for personal and business customers. These services complement the bank's physical domestic network and support routine account management and transactions.

• 2022

  Acquisition of Sberbank CroatiaM&A

  Background

  Sberbank's EU unit entered insolvency after sanctions related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and the Single Resolution Board ordered the transfer of its Croatian subsidiary.

  Action taken

  Following a Single Resolution Board share transfer, HPB purchased the local Sberbank business on 2 March 2022 for HRK 71 million, reported in the supplied reference as approximately EUR 9.4 million.

  Aftermath

  The transaction expanded HPB's domestic banking operations and customer and branch footprint, strengthened its position in the Croatian market, and made it the receiving institution for the resolved Croatian subsidiary.

  Acquisition price. HRK 71 million, approximately EUR 9.4 million (2 March 2022)

  Source

• 2020

  Retention of 2019 net profitStrategy

  Background

  In March 2020, HPB considered its profit-distribution position in the context of a resolution accepted by the Croatian National Bank.

  Action taken

  The bank decided to retain its net profit for 2019 rather than distribute it.

  Aftermath

  The decision preserved earnings within the bank during a period when European banking supervisors were emphasizing capital resilience; the reference material does not specify the retained amount or the subsequent distribution policy.

  Source

1. 1Hrvatska poštanska bankaen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Croatian Postal Bank official websitehpb.hr