Brief history of the KBC Group

We are an integrated bank-insurance group, catering mainly for retail, private banking, SME and mid-cap clients. Our core markets are Belgium, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Bulgaria. We are present to a limited extent in several other countries.

1998	Two Belgian banks (the Kredietbank and CERA Bank) and a Belgian insurance company (ABB) merge to create the KBC Bank and Insurance Holding Company. KBC’s unique bancassurance model is launched in Belgium
1999	The group embarks upon its policy of expansion in Central and Eastern Europe with the acquisition of ČSOB (in the Czech Republic and Slovakia).
2000-2005	The group continues to expand its position in the banking and insurance markets of Central and Eastern Europe by acquiring banks and insurance companies in Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, becoming one of the top three players in the region’s financial sector. The bancassurance model is gradually introduced to the home markets in Central and Eastern Europe.
2005	The KBC Bank and Insurance Holding Company merges with its parent company (Almanij) to create KBC Group NV. The benefits to the group include the addition of a network of European private banks.
2006-2008	KBC’s presence in Central and Eastern Europe is stepped up through acquisitions in Bulgaria, Romania and Serbia. KBC establishes a presence on the Russian banking market Add-on acquisitions/greenfield operations in various countries Capital transactions and guarantee agreements with the government (in 2008 and 2009).
2009	Renewed strategy focuses on home markets in Belgium and five countries in Central and Eastern Europe (the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland and Bulgaria)
2010	Start of divestment programme
2011-2013	Strategic plan is amended (including planned sale of activities in Poland) Further execution of divestment programme
2014	Divestment program completed Adjusted strategy and objectives announced on our Investor Day
2015	KBC repays all outstanding debt to government before the end of the year
2016	Update of corporate sustainability strategy
2017	Acquisition of UBB and Interlease in Bulgaria
2019	Acquisition of remaining part in CMSS in the Czech Republic
2020	KBC shifts digital transformation and customer experience up a gear with updated strategy ‘Differently: the Next Level’ Acquisition of OTP Banka Slovensko in Slovakia
2021	Acquisition of NN’s Bulgarian pension insurance and life insurance businesses. Agreement to dispose of substantially all of the non-performing mortgage loan portfolio of KBC Bank Ireland and agreement relating to the sale of substantially all of KBC Bank Ireland’s performing loan assets and its deposit book. The finalisation of both pending deals will ultimately lead to KBC withdrawing from the Irish market
2022:	Acquisition of Raiffeisenbank (Bulgaria) in Bulgaria
2023:	Finalisation sale of KBC Bank Ireland Merger Raiffeisenbank (Bulgaria) and UBB Launch of 1.3-billion-euro share buyback programme Advancing our digital strategy with ‘Save Time and Earn Money (STEM): the Ecosphere’
2025:	Agreement on the acquisition of 365.bank in Slovakia Agreement on the acquisition of Business Lease in the Czech Republic and Slovakia

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Last update: 23-10-2025