44087 - WCS COVID OBS

Who We Are
Who We Are

IFC is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in developing countries. By encouraging growth, IFC advances economic development, creates jobs and improves the lives of people.
More About Us
About IFC

Our Leadership

Development Partners
Accountability

Learn more about accountability
Annual Report

Download the Report
What We Do
What We Do

IFC advances economic development and improves the lives of people by encouraging the growth of the private sector in developing countries. We achieve this by investing in impactful projects, mobilizing other investors, and sharing expertise.
What We Do Overview
SOLUTIONS

Our products and services
OUR PRIORITIES

Climate Business

Fragile & Conflict Afflicted Situations

Gender

Mobilizing Private Capital

Sustainability
SECTORS & EXPERTISE

Agribusiness & Forestry

Creative Industries

Education

Financial Institutions

Funds

Health

Infrastructure

Manufacturing

Public-Private Partnerships

Tourism, Retail & Property

Trade & Supply Chain Finance

Venture Capital

Working Upstream
Where We Work
Where We Work

As the largest global development institution focused on the private sector, IFC operates in more than 100 countries around the globe. We apply lessons learned in one region to solve problems in another.
Overview
By Region

Africa

East Asia and Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

Middle East and Central Asia

South Asia
Our Impact
Our Impact

Our impact improves lives. IFC brings a clear set of advantages to the world’s most challenging markets. Including a history of innovation, a global mandate, and a determination to achieve measurable development impact.
Our Impact Overview
PRINCIPLES & MEASUREMENT

Impact Investing at IFC

Measuring and Monitoring (AIMM)

Evaluation

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Owned by 186 member countries and consistently rated AAA/Aaa. IFC aims to achieve our mission of promoting development by providing debt and equity to the private sector, through a range of benchmark and bespoke products.

For Partners

For Investors

Get in Touch

Summary of Investment Information

Project Number

44087

Company Name

3Bank AD Novi Sad

Date SPI Disclosed

Jun 23, 2020

Country

Serbia

Region

Europe

Projected Board Date

Jun 30, 2020

Environmental Category

FI-2 - Limited

Status

Completed

Last Updated Date

Aug 27, 2021

Department

Regional Industry FIG LAC & EUR

Industry

Financial Markets

Previous Events

Approved : Jul 2, 2020
Signed : Aug 18, 2020
Invested : Sep 21, 2020

Sector

Commercial Banking - Trade and Supply Chain

Project Description

Opportunity Bank a.d. Novi Sad (“OBS” or “the Bank”) was established in 2002 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Opportunity Transformation Investments Inc. (“OTI”), a holding company owned by charitable organization Opportunity International.

The Bank is the largest lender to the micro enterprises segment in Serbia. OBS operates through network of 30 branches across the country.

International Finance Corporation (IFC) proposed financing of up to US$ 14.5 million (Euro equivalent) under the FIG COVID-19 Emergency Response Working Capital Solutions Envelope (WCS Envelope), is designed to provide funding to trade-related or working capital loans to companies whose cash flows have been disrupted by the global outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

IFC financing will support the Bank's working capital and trade-related lending program to Serbian enterprises, including small and medium enterprises.

Associated Advisory Engagement

Not available.

Sponsor / Cost / Location

Product Line	IFC Investment (million USD)
Risk Management
Guarantee
Loan	14.50
Equity

IFC's loan to the financial institution described in this SII is targeted for on-lending to the following sector(s):

Product Type	Use of Proceeds
Straight Senior Loan	Loans to MSME (mix of Micro and SME)

IFC's Definitions of Targeted Sectors can be found here.

Development Impact

Additionality is driven by IFC's counter-cyclical role during crises, especially at a time when other lending institutions or investors' appetite may be subdued. It is the combination of (i) successful experience in rapid crisis response; (ii) extensive client bank and partner networks; and (iii) set of programs aimed at investing both large scale, transactional liquidity and working capital in emerging markets.

E&S Category Rationale / Risks and Mitigation

The Project has been categorized as FI-2 in accordance with IFC’s Sustainability Policy. OBS’s portfolio constitutes mainly of MSME and the key sectors in that portfolio are low-medium risk activities including mainly small-scale agriculture, retail trade, and services. Most of the portfolio to be supported through this project is expected to have potential limited adverse environmental or social risks or potential impacts that are few in number, generally site specific, largely reversible, and can be readily addressed through mitigation measures. Given the nature of this investment, the project will not be used to support any coal-related activities, and higher risk business activities that may include: a) involuntary resettlement, b) risk of adverse impacts on indigenous peoples, c) significant risks to or impacts on the environment, community health and safety, biodiversity, cultural heritage or d) significant occupational health and safety risks. For this investment, OBS will be required to continue application of the existing ESMS and screen all portfolio which is MSME loans against the IFC Exclusion List and the Serbian E&S laws and regulations. In addition, OBS will continue to be in compliance with Life & Fire safety requirements and the requirements of IFC’s Performance Standard 2 on Labor and Working conditions.

The key E&S risks and impacts of this project will be the ability of OBS to identify and manage the potential E&S risks associated with its lending activities to MSMEs.

Summary of Client Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS)

As an existing IFC’s client, OBS has established an ESMS and will be required to continue proper implementation in line with applicable requirements. Under this project, OBS will continue on retaining proper internal capacity, providing E&S training to the relevant staff including the ESMS officer, and its commitment to manage HR and labor related risks in compliance with requirements of IFC Performance Standard 2 Labor and Working Conditions.

Contacts

For Inquiries About the Project, Contact

Opportunity Bank A.D

Executive Board member
+381.21.4893.170
zsedlar@obs.rs
Bul.Oslobodenja 2a, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
www.obs.rs

For Inquiries and Comments About IFC, Contact

General IFC Inquiries
IFC Communications
2121 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington DC 20433
Telephone: 202-473-3800
Fax: 202-974-4384

IFC supports its clients in addressing environmental and social issues arising from their business activities by requiring its real sector clients to set up and administer appropriate grievance mechanisms and/or procedures to address complaints from Affected Communities in relation to environmental and social issues arising from IFC's clients' business activities. Since 2012, IFC's Financial Intermediary clients applying the Performance Standards are required to develop External Communications Mechanisms to receive and review inquiries or complaints from any interested party regarding the E&S risks and impacts of their operations.

For IFC projects that are active or under consideration, individual(s), or their authorized representative(s), who allege they have been or will be adversely affected by E&S risks or impacts arising from IFC's clients' business activities, may submit a complaint to IFC directly for consideration. When receiving an E&S complaint, IFC engages with complainants and works with its clients to find solutions to E&S concerns as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Complaints can be submitted to IFC online at www.ifc.org/escomplaints or by email to EScomplaints@ifc.org.

IFC complaint response is separate from and complementary to IFC’s clients’ project level grievance mechanisms and IFC’s Independent Accountability Mechanism (CAO). Lodging a complaint directly with IFC does not, at any time, restrict access to CAO.

Affected communities have unrestricted access to the Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO), the independent accountability mechanism for IFC and MIGA. CAO facilitates the resolution of complaints related to IFC and MIGA projects and sub-projects, undertakes reviews of IFC’s and MIGA’s environmental and social compliance, fosters public accountability for their commitments, and enhances the environmental and social performance of IFC and MIGA.

Independent of IFC and MIGA management and reporting directly to the IFC and MIGA Boards of Executive Directors, CAO helps resolve issues raised about the environmental and social impacts of projects through a neutral, collaborative, problem-solving approach via its Dispute Resolution function. It also reviews IFC’s and MIGA’s compliance with environmental and social policies, assesses related harm, and recommends remedial actions through its Compliance function. Additionally, CAO provides advice to IFC, MIGA, and their Boards to enhance environmental and social sustainability performance and minimize the risk of harm.

Complaints may relate to environmental and social harm regarding any aspect of the planning, implementation, or impact of a project or sub-project, and can be made by any individual, group, community, entity, or other party affected or likely to be affected by the environmental or social impacts of an IFC- or MIGA-financed business activity.

Complaints can be submitted by any of the following methods:

Online form: available at https://www.cao-ombudsman.org/
Mail/Hand Delivery to: 2121 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20433, USA
Voice mail: +1 202 458 1973
Email: cao@worldbankgroup.org
SMS, WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal: +1 202 650 2627

CAO receives and addresses complaints in accordance with the CAO Policy, which can be accessed at: https://www.cao-ombudsman.org/policies-guidelines.

This Summary of Investment Information (SII) is prepared by IFC to disclose a factual summary of the main elements of the potential investment. It also includes findings and recommendations related to environmental and social considerations regarding this potential investment. The purpose of the SII is to enhance the transparency of IFC’s activities. For any project documentation or data included or attached herein, whether prepared by the project sponsor or otherwise, authorization has been given for public release by the project sponsor. IFC considers that this SII is of adequate quality for release to the public, but has not necessarily independently verified all of the project information therein. It is distributed in advance of IFC Board of Directors’ consideration and may be periodically updated thereafter. Board dates are estimates only and this document should not be construed as presuming the outcome of the Board Directors’ decision. The following SII is disclosed in accordance with IFC's Access to Information Policy (AIP) that went into effect on January 1, 2012.

The map is for illustrative purposes and does not imply the expression of any opinion on the part of the World Bank, concerning the legal status of any country or territory or concerning the delimitation of frontiers or boundaries. Country borders or names do not necessarily reflect the World Bank Group's official position. In some cases, available project location information is limited to the country of the project's activities. Locations are approximate.

Task Title & Description	Anticipated Completion Date
Submit ESMS implementation records	10/08/2020

Projects

Summary of Investment Information

Project Description

Associated Advisory Engagement

Sponsor / Cost / Location

Development Impact

E&S Category Rationale / Risks and Mitigation

Similar Projects

Contacts

Projects

Summary of Investment Information

Project Description

Associated Advisory Engagement

Sponsor / Cost / Location

Project Sponsor and Major Shareholders of Project Company

Total Project Cost and Amount and Nature of IFC's Investment

IFC's Investment as Approved by the Board

FIG Use of Proceeds/Beneficiaries

Location of Project and Description of Site

Development Impact

Anticipated Impact Measurement & Monitoring (AIMM) Assessment

IFC's Role and Additionality

E&S Category Rationale / Risks and Mitigation

Environmental & Social Categorization Rationale / Key Risks & Potential Impacts

Environmental & Social Management System (ESMS)

Mitigation Measures / Environmental & Social Action Plan (ESAP)

Press-Release

Related Environmental Document

Similar Projects

Contacts

Information on E&S Complaints and Grievance Mechanisms

Disclaimer