Bank Ochrony Środowiska S.A. (BOŚ S.A.) (literally: Environmental Protection Bank) started operations in 1991. It specializes in supporting undertakings and activities contributing to environmental protection. As of 2015, BOŚ S.A. allocated approximately 15,1 billion PLN for the financing of ecological projects, only in 2014 the total amount of loans for pro-ecological projects exceeded 1,9 billion PLN. Implementation of investments for environmental protection, credited by the bank and completed in 2014, contributed to significant environmental effects.[1]
BOŚ S.A. is one of Poland's 20 largest banks. Since 1997 its shares have been traded in the primary market of the Warsaw Stock Exchange. Bank's major shareholder is the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management (NFOŚiGW) (holding 56.62% of the total number of votes).[2] The offer of BOŚ S.A. targets individual and institutional customers, with particular regard to local government units and municipal companies.
BOŚ S.A. is very active in the field of environment protection. It also pursues a number of projects within the area of social responsibility of business. Since 2009 the bank has conducted the "BOŚ – Climate Friendly Bank" project, the purpose of which is to compensate for the institution's impact on natural environment. The bank also co-organizes competitions, seminars and workshops devoted to ecological issues. BOŚ S.A. itself, too, won various awards and honorary mentions in competitions like "Leader of Polish Ecology" and "Polish Ecology Hall of Fame".