Tradycyjne i nowe produkty bankowe dla inwestorów w ochronie środowiska

Abstract

Globalisation processes, significant capital flow freedom, disappearance of business activity borders and increasing competition, on the one hand, and penetration of technical achievements to the financial service sector, on the other hand, are key factors which have contributed to changes in banks' offer in the world in recent years. The introduction of new services as well as the modernisation of traditional services substantially influence the operation of banks. The organisation of banking activities and contemporary bank management methods are subject to transformation. Thus, at present, banks focus not on developing and delivering products, but on researching the market and their present and prospect customers' needs, forecasting market trends, creating products satisfactory to customers in a relevant place and time, implementing such products and controlling their market life. Economic situation allows banks for searching new sources for customer finance. This causes that they are eager to support, through their banking services, actions aiming at the development of environmental industry and services, as well as the market of products and services relating to environment protection. The purpose of this article is to present the offer of standard and innovative banking products used to finance environmental investments. The thesis is that banks activeness increases, which is reflected by an innovative market offer addressed to environmental investors, as well as a need to develop such an offer because of the attractiveness of the environmental sector as a market of investors, large demand for finance, and necessary finance combinations for projects financed with EU funds. Without banks, especially at a project prefinance stage, no EU funds could be absorbed in 2007-2013. This article is composed of three parts. The first part describes the impact of environmental investments on the modification and establishment of modern banking products for investors' purposes. The second part presents typical banking products used to provide environmental services, including especially the role of Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego and Bank Ochrony srodowiska SA. The third part makes an attempt to define trends in the establishment of modern products by banks given the existing demand for protective project finance.