DSK Bank
A bank as it's people
We care about building
a sustainable future
We help Children and Education
Children are the future of a nation and their development and education from a very early age is of utmost importance for their further integration into society. This is also our driving force to create and participate in projects supporting the development of children in Bulgaria.
Our long-standing partnership with SOS Children's Villages began more than 10 years ago. DSK Bank is the largest corporate donor to the cause of children's villages. Each year we support two foster families through corporate sponsorship, and we also provide the opportunity for any of our customers or employees to contribute to the cause by donating through ATM devices and online banking.
In addition to monetary resources, we give children with the most precious thing - time and attention. In 2021, sixteen of our colleagues participated in online training sessions that covered two main topics: financial literacy and my first job. They aimed to increase young people's financial literacy and make them more self-reliant.
We have other activities planned for this year to give more of our time to the children of SOS Children's Villages.
“I found the training sessions on loans and debit and credit cards the most interesting. I’ve heard about it, but many things became clear to me after the sessions. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in such training. At first, I thought it would be like some other trainings - uninteresting, where only the ladies understood what it was about. But in the end, everything new was explained clearly and understood, just like for us who are hearing for the first time about social security, the different types of authority, the civil and employment contracts, etc. On the other topics, I knew some things in advance, but most of my ambiguities were filled in as I listened. Very nicely explained terms and specific actions to be done. Participating in this training makes me more informed, and being informed gives me security"
Michael, 16 years old
"I participated in all the trainings. It was really interesting and fascinating. I added a lot to my knowledge. I liked the topic about banking the most. About preparing a CV and a cover letter. I finally got the feeling that I can do it on my own. I feel like I have more confidence of being knowledgeable and capable. I think, though, about the people who were hosting the modules - how fluent they are and it's obvious they know what they're talking about. I want to communicate with them more"
Victoria, 18 years old
Results of our partnership with
Total donated funds
for a period of 10 years
(December 2015 - December 2020)
The number of children and young people we have supported for a period of 6 years:
Supported children in foster care
Supported children in SOS Youth Homes
Supported young people in the Home Independent Program
Supported children in the Centre for Community Support /Family Support and Prevention of Separation/
We help Nature
In recent years, DSK Bank has been actively supporting and financing green projects. At the end of 2021, green investments make up nearly BGN 86 million of the Bank's loan portfolio. They are mostly related to the construction of solar and wind farms.
In addition, in partnership with the Regional Urban Development Fund (RUDF), we support a variety of sustainable projects related to improving energy efficiency and renovating a number of public buildings in the country, including community centres, libraries, concert halls, museums, etc.
From 1 April 2022, we are also launching our major program with Mastercard - Mastercard Wildlife Impact Card. By joining this programme, DSK Bank becomes the first European bank to offer Mastercard debit cards made from recycled material and in support of biodiversity..
For every Mastercard Wildlife Impact Card issued, we at DSK Bank and Mastercard donate one dollar to Conservation International to help protect and restore wildlife habitats. By 2030, this project will cover priority areas equivalent to 40 million hectares of land and 4.5 million square kilometres of water worldwide.
In addition, together with RUDF and our subsidiary OTP Leasing, DSK Bank is involved in financing a number of projects to provide environmentally friendly public transport in the country.
Green Week is our gesture to nature. We organize it every season. Under the motto "DSK Bank - With Tomorrow in Mind!", within a week, we share with colleagues and discuss information, facts, advice on a selected green topic, which is different for each publication - water, waste, paper and electricity. We are also involved in exciting green challenges, with the ultimate goal of higher environmental commitment and a cleaner environment.
“DSK Bank's unique new wildlife cards will help raise awareness of endangered species and environmental issues. Our partnership with Mastercard and the global organisation Conservation International is a great example of the many key roles that business can play in helping people and communities in their collective efforts for a greener planet. With this card, we would like to join forces with our more than 2.5 million customers in the fight for a clean environment and the conservation of endangered wildlife species."
Art and urban development
Our mission: to live in a city as its people
Sofia belongs to each of us and we all shape its image. Sofia means "City of Wisdom", but is full with graffiti sending messages of hatred and intolerance, drawing lines of division between different people.
At DSK Bank we believe that Sofia can be better. That everyone should feel accepted. That the walls that divide us can bring us together. That the walls that divide us can bring us together.
We can prove it together with you.
Realization of the project City as its People:
"City as its People" is in 2022 again to transform another corner of the capital from a gray and inconspicuous terrain into a colorful and strong place. In 2021 you suggested places to improve and make more pleasant. The result was the wonderful mural. This time we chose the place ourselves, and you guessed it!
Campaign ambassadors
I love the city where my parents were born and raised, where I was also born and raised. In the spring, Lyuben Karavelov street smells of linden, in the summer you can hide from the heat in a small forest paradise in the center of Sofia - Borisova gradina. In autumn, when it is sunny, the streets in "lower Lozenets" are the most beautiful, and in winter we have a mountain at our fingertips. Our city is our home and we all need to take care of our home. This is the simple reason to happily join DSK Bank's "City as its people" campaign. Thank you for the invitation.
Andrea Banda Banda
I am getting involved again as an ambassador of the project of DSK Bank - "A city as its people", because I believe that Sofia can be an bit more cozy, welcoming and beautiful, as long as you want to put your heart and soul - the results are again there and it is my pleasure to be the mediator between society and meaningful causes. The change this year is not only pleasing to the eye, but also useful - to bring children back outside where they belong - to play games, to play sports, to communicate more in person. I believe that the transformed basketball court will be the new attraction not only for children, but also for each one of us who wants to improve our mood, play table tennis and basketball...or just meet a friend. I would definitely define the location as "Sofia's new modern social place". I already feel more and more at home, in a European city full of creative people and a lot of spirit! It is a real pleasure for me to be a part of "City as its people"!
Eli Behar
2021 edition:
In 2021, we launched our project "A City as its People". We wanted to draw attention to the problem of vandalism and ugly signs. By beautifying a corner of the capital, we showed that the buildings and walls of Sofia can be canvases for beautiful street art, the so-called mural and this is an artistic way to tackle the problem.
For our mission we found like-minded people in the person of Divna, Elitsa Behar and Naum Shopov. Here is their motivation to join our cause:
"I support "A City as its People" because I feel the initiative very close to me - I grew up in the heart of Sofia and I am a direct witness of the destruction of the unique buildings with history that adorn our city. Sofia is our home and I would like to change once and for all the thoughtless defacing of the walls and I am happy that DSK Bank is paying attention to this otherwise "invisible" problem. I can't wait to see how the ugly will be transformed into the meaningful and beautiful! I believe that together we can keep our city clean and welcoming." :)
"I love my hometown Sofia and I am happy to stand behind the initiative "A City as its People", which aims to make it even more beautiful."
“I'm joining the City as its People campaign because I believe in the power of art and that it brings us together, inspires us and teaches us how to be human. Art also has the power to heal. I imagine Sofia all in art - beautiful, united and ennobled, better than ever, home of a better future for new generations! DSK Bank's campaign is a significant step on the road to that Sofia and I am happy to be a part of it."
140 Ideas is a team of artists brought together in 2008 by a love of contemporary urban art and a desire to turn our surroundings into a source of inspiration. Over the years they have worked on a number of art projects to raise environmental awareness and enrich urban space. 140 Ideas have been the authors of the "Green Blank Walls" and other murals in Bulgaria, Italy, France, Germany and other European countries.
For us art is a focus not only in the urban environment but in all its forms. That is why for another year we are happy to support the Fashion Academy and the best young designer of Bulgaria.
In 2021 we supported the Hungarian Cultural Institute and their project "Bike and culture". Through this initiative and the placement of bike racks in front of cultural institutes and institutions, we aim to stimulate bicycle access to those places. This is another step to make cultural events easily accessible in a way that does not pollute the environment.
Volunteering
We love to help as well as play sports, which is why our teams actively participate in charity sports competitions such as Run2Gether, Business Run and many more.
We are also keen to organise internal charity events together to support disadvantaged children, women, victims of domestic abuse - such as the Martenitza Charity Bazaar, Christmas Brunch, Flower with a Cause, Sports Day with a Cause and more. Some of the foundations we support are Maiko Mila, BCause, For Our Children, I Want a Baby and many more.
As part of the OTP Banking Group, each year we at DSK Bank submit information for the preparation of the Group's Corporate Social Responsibility Report, which records the sustainable performance of subsidiaries in accordance with the principles and standards of the Global Reporting Initiative. The reports can be found here: OTP Bank - Sustainability reports
In these challenging times, we at DSK Bank are coming together to support people in need affected by the war in Ukraine. For more information see DSK Bank helping Ukraine.
