Bank Polska Kasa Opieki Spółka Akcyjna, commonly using the shorter name Bank Pekao S.A., is a universal bank with its headquarters in Warsaw, Poland. Italian bank UniCredit owns 59% of the company.
The bank was founded in 1929 by the Ministry of Treasury as a national bank, mainly to provide financial services to Poles living abroad. In 1939 the bank had branches in virtually every capital city of countries where Poles lived.
The full name "Polska Kasa Opieki" may be translated literally as "Polish Bank of Aid," and the popular form "Pekao" sounds out the acronym "PKO."
Bank Pekao S.A. should not be confused with another large, old Polish bank with an identical acronym, PKO Bank Polski.
Bank Pekao SA's flag with characteristic logoBank Pekao SA Head Office in Warsaw
See also
"Polska Kasa Opieki" can also be translated "Polish Health Fund"
