History

 

The Bank was founded in 1990 as Ekorazvitie commercial bank by a number of Belarusian entities. It was later renamed Olymp Bank, finally being re-named Belgazprombank in 1997.

1996

• Accredited by the EBRD to participate in its programme aimed at supporting small and medium-sized enterprises in the Republic of Belarus.

1997

• JSC Gazprom and JSB Gazprombank (CJSС) became majority shareholders.

1998

• Became involved in settlements for natural gas between Gazprom on the one hand, and Beltransgaz and Belarusian entities, on the other;
• Opening of the Brest branch. •  The National Bank of Belarus and 22 Belarusian commercial banks opened their accounts with Belgazprombank that helped to restart settlements between Russia and the Republic of Belarus.

1999

• Became a member of Interregional Gas Industry-Banking Group.
• Second share issue.

2000

• Appointed to act as an authorized bank of JSC Gazprom in the Republic of Belarus;
• Commencement of international leasing operations;
• Opening of the Grodno branch;
• Approved by the EBRD to participate in its second tranche of the credit line to the Republic of Belarus;
• Appointed by Beltransgaz to act as its agent in operations with promissory notes.

2001

• All settlements for Russian natural gas between Belarusian entities and Gazprom were directed through the Bank;
• The Bank began to work under the EBRD's microlending programme.

2002

• Started lending under the EBRD programmes aimed at working capital financing and finance leasing.

2003

• The third issue of the Bank's shares;
• Cooperation agreement between JSC Gazprom and Belgazprombank was signed. The agreement provided for all settlements between Belarus and Russia made by Gazprom subsidiaries to be directed through Belgazprombank;
• Beltransgaz transferred its accounts to the Bank;
• License for dealing in precious metals received;
• Started operations with payment systems Belcard and MasterCard.

2004

• The fourth issue of shares;
• EBRD and the Bank signed USD 6 mln Loan Agreement for the tenor up to 5 years within the SME programme;
• signed the EBRD Trade Facilitation programme Agreement;
• Gazprom together with Gazprombank provided the Bank with a subordinated loan in the amount of USD 10 mln with a tenor of 7 years;
• Opening of the Gomel branch;
• Reorganisation of the Bank's business processes began;
• Became the first bank in the Republic of Belarus to start working with Electron Money System EasyPay;
• Included in the top 50 most rapidly developing banks of Central Europe and CIS by The Banker magazine.

2005

• Fitch Ratings Agency assigned the Bank long-term rating "B-";
• The fifth issue of shares with shareholders structure remained unchanged (Gazprom Group owns 67.82% stake in the Bank, Beltransgaz – 23.50% and the Belarusian Government - 8.63%);
• The EBRD and the Bank signed another Loan Agreement for the total amount of USD 4 mln for the tenor up to 5 years within the SME programme;
• The IFC certified the Bank to participate in its long-term ( 5 years) unsecured credit line in the amount of USD 5 mln;
• The first bank in Belarus to issue corporate bonds in the amount of BYR 10 bln (USD 4.6 mln );
• A debut USD 15 mln loan from a syndicate of European banks received;
• A new system of consumer lending DELAY introduced to the customers.

2006

• Fitch Ratings affirmed Borrower's Issuer default rating “B-“;
• A USD 5 mln loan received from Gazprombank for SME programmes;
• A USD 21 mln syndicated loan was raised from the international markets;
• The extension and increase of the debut syndicated facility up to USD 21 mln in equivalent;
• Belgazprombank awarded 'The Best Bank providing services to entrepreneurs';
• Belgazprombank won the national contest 'Brand of the year 2006';
• A new microlending product express-loan USD 10.000 introduced to customers;
• Belgazprombank the first Belarusian bank to start internet-acquiring for banking plastic cards.

2007

• A USD 7 mln loan was received from Gazprombank for SME programmes;
• The Bank introduced a new consumer lending system Speed Money based on the credit cards;
• Belgazprombank honoured as 'The Best Bank providing services to entrepreneurs' in the Republic of Belarus for the second consecutive year;
• Belgazprombank awarded with a diploma for the contribution to the development of the Belarusian business society within the framework of the national contest 'Brand of the Year 2006';
• In June Belgazprombank entered into the third syndicated facility agreement arranged by BayernLB, VTB and Gazprombank. The deal launched with an amount of USD 25 mln was oversubscribed to USD 50 mln , and signed in the amount of USD 35 mln;
• The sixth issue of shares. Following the purchase of shares by Gazprom and its subsidiary Gazprombank in October 2007, the share of Gazprom Group in the shareholder capital of Belgazprombank increased to 85.46%, the share of Beltransgaz – 10.62% and the Belarusian Government - 3.9%4
• In September EBRD opened its third MSME credit line in favour of Belgazprombank in the amount of USD 5 mln.;
• Upgraded to "B" international ratings by Fitch;
• In November Belgazprombank entered into the forth syndicated facility agreement arranged by BayernLB, VTB, VTBE and Gazprombank in the amount of USD 35 mln.;
• The Bank introduced a new private money transfers system UNIStream;
• Opening of a banking service centre in Mogilev.

2008

• In April 22, 2008 the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus completed the official registration of the USD 75 million capital inflow from Belgazprombank's main Russian shareholders – Gazprom and Gazprombank;
• In April 2008 Mogilev banking service centre has been converted into a regional branch;
• In April 2008 EBRD and Belgazprombank signed a Revolving Credit Agreement;
• Belgazprombank won the national contest 'The Best Entrepreneur of the Year' for the third consecutive year;
• Belgazprombank was granted a diploma for the significant contribution to the development of entrepreneurship from Business Union of Entrepreneurs and Employers n.a. M.S. Kunyavsky4
• In March 2008 the General Meeting of Shareholders approved the Bank's mid-term strategy for the period 2008-2011 which shows the Bank's ability to improve its future financial results;
• In June 2008 the USD 35 mln Trade Related Syndicated Facility attracted in June 2007 was successfully extended and increased to USD 45 mln;
• STP Excellence Award from Commerzbank AG;
• In November 2008 the USD 35 mln Trade Related Syndicated Facility attracted in June 2007 was successfully extended;
• In October 2008 EBRD Board approved the USD 40MM MSME Credit Facility; the first USD 10 MM 5-year tranche was disbursed in December, 2008.

2009

• In April, 2009 Fitch Ratings upgraded Belgazprombank’s Individual Rating to ‘D/E’ from ‘E’ and simultaneously affirmed BGB’s other ratings4
• In June, 2009 EBRD increased its TFP/RCA credit line from USD 1 mln to USD 10 mln.;
• In July, 2009, Belgazprombank joined IFC GTFP framework, the current limit within this framework is USD 30 mln.;
• In July, 2009, EBRD and Belgazprombank signed  their next MSME Facility in the amount of USD 30 mln.;
• On October 21, 2009 the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus completed the official registration of the USD 75 million capital inflow from Belgazprombank's main Russian shareholders – Gazprom and Gazprombank.

 

• In 2010 Belgazprombank celebrated its 20th Anniversary;
• In  May 2010 EBRD increased its TFP/RCA credit line from USD 10 mln to USD 20 mln.;
• In May 2010 EBRD and Belgazprombank signed RUB RCA aimed at supporting Belarus trade flows with Russia;
• In August 2010 Belgazprombank attracted a new investor to the Belarusian market – European Fund for Southeast Europe, the largest microfinance fund in Europe – with their USD 15 mln 5-year MSE Facility and USD 15 mln 9-year Housing Finance Facility, which is unprecedent for the Belarusian market;
• In October 2010 IFC increased its GTFP credit line from USD 20 mln to USD 60 mln.;
• In November 2010 Belgazprombank signed the General Terms and Conditions of USD 20 mln Trade Finance Facility from Eurasian Development Bank, a multilateral institution formed by Russia, Kazakhstan, Tadjikistan, Belarus and Uzbekistan;
• In December 2010 EBRD increased its TFP/RCA credit line from USD 20 mln to USD 40 mln.;
• For the third time Belgazprombank was awarded “The Best Bank providing services to entrepreneurs within the national contest “Best Entrepreneur of the Year;
• Belgazprombank became a member of VISA International Settlements Association.

2011

• Belgazprombank was recognized by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) as the Most Active GTFP Issuing Bank in Europe and Central Asia for Energy Efficiency;
• Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) and Belgazprombank signed the the framework agreement for financing of export and import operations performed by Belgazprombank’s customers;
• Increase of TF limit from Gazprombank from USD 40 mln to USD 90 mln;
• Attraction of USD 5 mln SME credit line from Gazprombank;
• Attraction of USD 40 mln subordinated loan from Gazprombank;
• STP Award 2010 from Commerzbank AG;
• 2011 Elite Quality Recognition Award from JPMorgan Chase Bank.