Vienna International Banking Industry News

Future RBI Chief Höllerer Promotes Exit from Russia and Expansion into Eastern Europe

At this year’s annual general meeting of Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) in Vienna, the course for the future was set. Michael Höllerer, who will take over from Johann Strobl in July, outlined a clear strategy: a more systematic withdrawal from Russia, coupled with massive growth in the core markets of Central and Eastern Europe.

April 12, 2026

Austria's Industry Defies the Crisis: Billion-Dollar Contracts, Expansion, and a New Direction in the Capital Markets

While geopolitical tensions and fragile supply chains keep the global economy on edge, the domestic industry is making a powerful statement. From massive infrastructure projects by voestalpine and Andritz to multi-million-euro plant expansions at FACC—Austria’s leading companies are demonstrating resilience. This upswing is accompanied by a slight easing in corporate bankruptcies and new legal measures to facilitate IPOs.

March 18, 2026

Vienna Positioning Itself as a Global Hub for Ukraine's Reconstruction

At the end of February, 50 international special coordinators met in Vienna to set the course for the reconstruction of Ukraine. For the domestic economy, this is about more than just solidarity—it is an investment project of historic proportions.

March 2, 2026

The Mullahs' Vienna Network: How the Iranian Regime Moves Millions in Austria

A failed million-dollar deal involving a Viennese supermarket chain, secret crypto transfers, and visas for the regime's elite: There are many reveals around the dense network through which the Iranian leadership—including the son of the revolutionary leader—uses Vienna as a financial hub and escape route.

February 26, 2026

Bridges to an Uncertain Future: Infrastructure and Emerging Markets as Anchors in 2026

In a world that is undergoing a realignment between geopolitical upheavals and technological quantum leaps, investors are seeking stability. The current balance sheet of Raiffeisen Capital Management (RCM) and the analyses of the Raiffeisen Investment Forum last year paint a clear picture: the path to successful returns in 2026 will be via tangible assets and the courage to differentiate regionally.

February 19, 2026

Real Estate Market 2025: Salary Increases and Inflation Make Housing More Affordable Again

The Austrian real estate market presents a paradoxical picture at the beginning of 2026: while prices are rising on paper, home ownership is actually becoming more affordable. New data from the Austrian National Bank (OeNB) shows that the combination of strong wage growth and falling real valuations has significantly improved “affordability.”

January 29, 2026

Vienna as a Bridge to Latin America: Austria Becomes a Pioneer Donor for Urban Development

In a groundbreaking round of consultations, Austria has consolidated its role as a strategic partner to Latin America. The Republic is the world's first donor to support the Inter-American Development Bank's (IDB) new “Cities and Regions” program. This positions Vienna as a central hub for sustainable urbanization and economic cooperation shortly before the IDB's major annual meeting in Paraguay.

January 28, 2026

IAEA and International Financial Institutions Strengthen Cooperation

Representatives from the World Bank Group, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and the OPEC Fund for International Development met at the Vienna International Centre of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to discuss recent progress in financing nuclear energy projects. The meeting was part of a new phase in which cooperation between the IAEA and multilateral development banks is moving from purely diplomatic dialogue to tangible projects.

January 28, 2026

Austrian Banks with Capital Reserves Prove Resilient Despite Downturn

Despite Austria's longest, albeit not deepest, recession since World War II, domestic banks are in robust shape. Thanks to high profits in 2024, most of which were retained to strengthen the equity base, the Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio rose to an impressive 18.6 percent by mid-2025.

November 12, 2025

OPEC Fund Development Forum 2025: Global Partners Seek Ways to Build a Stronger Future

The international development community is gathering in Vienna for the fourth OPEC Fund Development Forum. Under the theme “A Transition that Strengthens Our Tomorrow,” more than 500 high-level representatives, including heads of state, ministers, and heads of international institutions, are coming together in the historic setting of the Hofburg Imperial Palace to discuss pressing global challenges.

July 29, 2025

Ex-Meinl Austrian Banker Peter Weinzierl in U.S. Pretrial Detention

The former CEO of the now-defunct Meinl Bank, Peter Weinzierl, is in custody in the United States. After years of investigations and complex extradition proceedings, the 59-year-old Austrian was transferred to a federal prison in Brooklyn, New York.

May 11, 2025

Erste Group Expands into Poland: Takeover of Santander Bank Polska worth Billions

The Austrian Erste Group Bank AG has announced a step towards expansion in Central and Eastern Europe. The bank is acquiring a 49 percent stake in Santander Bank Polska for around EUR 6.8 billion and a 50 percent stake in asset manager Santander TFI for a further EUR 200 million. This transaction made Erste Group the third-largest bank in Poland and expanded its customer base in the region to around 23 million people.

May 5, 2025

Russian Court of Appeal Confirms Billion-Dollar Fine Against Raiffeisen Subsidiary

A Russian appeals court in St. Petersburg has confirmed the decision of a court of first instance, according to which the Russian subsidiary of Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI), AO Raiffeisenbank, must pay over two billion euros to the Cypriot company Rasperia Trading Limited. However, this could also mean two exemptions at the same time - and one of them in Austria.

April 24, 2025

Reclaiming Undisclosed Portfolio Commissions: Erste Bank and Sparkassen Reach Agreement with the VKI

Banks have collected so-called trailer fees when brokering fund products - without disclosing these payments to customers. However, according to the current legal situation, such “kick-back payments” are not permitted if they are not made transparent. After lengthy negotiations, the Association for Consumer Information (VKI) has now agreed with Erste Bank Österreich and the savings banks: Those affected can receive a refund.

February 25, 2025

EAVISTA Takes Over card complete: Bank Austria and RBI Sell Their Shares

The Austrian credit card company card complete Service Bank AG has a new majority shareholder. UniCredit Bank Austria and Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) have sold their shares in the company to EAVISTA Beteiligungsverwaltungs GmbH.

February 17, 2025

Raiffeisen Bank International: Profit Slump due to Provisions for Russia

Raiffeisen Bank International's consolidated profit decreased by over 50% in 2024 due to a €840 million provision from a Russian court ruling, which ordered the bank to pay EUR 2 billion in damages.

February 4, 2025

Igor Strehl Launches Dunaj Family Office Consulting in Vienna

With the founding of Dunaj Family Office Consulting 24/7 GmbH, Igor Strehl, an experienced expert in the field of financial and real estate management, is establishing a new player in the Austrian consulting landscape. The company, which specializes in investments, relocations, and property management, is positioning itself as a comprehensive service provider and trustworthy partner for private and institutional clients in Austria.

December 2, 2024

Raiffeisen Bank International: Consolidated Profit Excluding Belarus, Russia at 856 Million Euros

Raiffeisen Bank International AG (RBI) is successfully continuing its strategy of reducing risks in challenging markets and was able to present a solid performance for the first nine months of this year despite the withdrawal from Russia and Belarus. Adjusted consolidated profit, which was calculated without contributions from these two countries, amounted to EUR 856 million. RBI thus remains stable, while at the same time implementing its withdrawal plan from the Russian business.

October 29, 2024

Austrian Financial Market Authority Orders Forced Closure of Euram Bank

The Financial Market Authority (FMA) has withdrawn the business license of European American Investment Bank AG (Euram) in Vienna with immediate effect. This follows an extraordinary general meeting at which the bank failed to present a plausible plan for an orderly self-resolution. The bank should have either decided on a capital increase of 25 million euros or presented a credible liquidation strategy.

October 16, 2024

Vienna to Become a Center for Financial Technology: AFT 2024 International Conference

Vienna will once again become the international hub for innovative financial technologies in September 2024. From September 23 to 25, 2024, the sixth edition of the Advances in Financial Technologies (AFT) conference will take place at the Austrian National Bank (OeNB).

September 11, 2024

Foreign Currency Loans in Austria Fall to New Low in Q2 2024

The market for foreign currency loans in Austria continues to decline sharply. The Financial Market Authority (FMA) published a new survey for the second quarter of 2024, which shows a further significant decline in the outstanding volume of such loans.

September 11, 2024

Russian Court Decision Complicates Raiffeisen Bank International Planned Sale of Subsidiary Bank

The planned exit of Raiffeisen Bank International AG (RBI) from Russia has suffered a significant setback. A Russian court has issued a temporary injunction blocking the sale of the Russian subsidiary AO Raiffeisenbank. This decision could significantly delay the Austrian bank's efforts to reduce its presence in Russia.

September 5, 2024

UniCredit Bank Austria: Austrian Economy Remains in the Downturn - Hope for Recovery Only in 2025

The economic situation in Austria remains tense and a sustainable recovery does not appear to be in sight until 2025. The latest reports from UniCredit Bank Austria paint a gloomy picture for 2024. Despite some positive signs, particularly in the service sector, the economy is in a prolonged slump. Industry and the construction sector in particular continue to be under great pressure, which is weighing heavily on the overall situation in Austria.

August 22, 2024

Bank Merger in Carinthia and Burgenland: New Era for Anadi Bank and Bank Burgenland

Following the sale of Anadi Bank to the Grawe Banking Group last December, further details have now been announced. Bank Burgenland will take over 42,000 customers, ten branches, and an SME and real estate loan portfolio from Anadi Bank in September and will operate as Bank Burgenland Kärnten in the future.

August 4, 2024

Austrian National Bank Examined the Spread of Crypto Assets in Austria

Cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin are widely known in Austria, but their actual distribution in private households remains modest. A recent study by the Austrian National Bank (OeNB) found that only 3% of the population own crypto assets. These few owners usually only hold small amounts, which rarely make up more than a third of their total financial assets.

July 16, 2024

Raiffeisen Bank International Withdraws from Controversial STRABAG Transaction

Raiffeisen Bank International AG (RBI) has announced that it will no longer pursue the planned acquisition of shares in STRABAG SE. This decision was made public in an ad hoc announcement in which the bank stated that it had not received the necessary comfort in discussions with the relevant authorities to proceed with the transaction. RBI therefore decided to refrain from the transaction for reasons of prudence.

May 15, 2024

RBI in a Balancing Act Between Sanction Risks and Solid Management

Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) is currently caught between geopolitical tensions and its own business progress. Recent developments have led the bank to take cautious steps to avoid sanction risks on the one hand and to present its robust quarterly results on the other, which show that the bank remains strong even without the income from Russia and Belarus.

May 2, 2024

Raiffeisen Bank International Expects ECB Call to Accelerate Withdrawals from Russia

Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) is facing increasing pressure from the European Central Bank (ECB) to reduce its business activities in Russia more rapidly. This follows a number of developments and the publication of an ad hoc announcement by the bank in which it is expected that the ECB will make an official request to accelerate the wind-down measures in the near future.

April 18, 2024

Serbian Investor Plans Entry into Austrian Addiko Bank

A new investor is showing interest in Addiko Bank, a financial institution that emerged from the former Hypo Alpe Adria Balkan banks. The Cypriot company Agri Europe Cyprus, which is attributed to Serbian businessman Miodrag Kostić, is planning to acquire a significant stake in the bank.

March 25, 2024

Raiffeisen Bank International Under Observation by U.S. Sanctions Authorities

Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI), a prominent financial institution based in Austria, is the focus of the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) due to its ongoing business relationship with Russia. OFAC has contacted the bank to request details of its transactions and processes related to Russia.

March 11, 2024

Financial Market Authority Initiates Investigations Against Raiffeisen Bank International

The Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA) has launched an investigation into Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI). The focus is on possible deficiencies in the implementation of money laundering prevention measures, as can be seen from the bank's annual report published today.

February 25, 2024

Austrian Banking Sector Focuses on Sustainability: OeKB > ESG Data Hub Established

In a remarkable step towards promoting sustainability in the financial sector, Oesterreichische Kontrollbank (OeKB) has successfully introduced the OeKB > ESG Data Hub. Around 80% of the domestic banking sector, including well-known institutions such as UniCredit Bank Austria, Raiffeisen-Sektor, Erste Bank, and Sparkassen as well as Oberbank, already use this central online platform.

January 11, 2024

Ukraine Removes Raiffeisen Bank International from the List of "War Sponsors"

The Ukrainian government has temporarily removed Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) from the controversial list of "war sponsors". This step follows intensive bilateral talks and consultations with representatives of the European Commission. RBI, which was previously criticized for its business activities in Russia and the recognition of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics by its Russian subsidiary, is now no longer suspected of supporting the Russian war of aggression.

December 17, 2023

Vienna Stock Exchange Strengthens International Presence with Barclays as New Trading Member

The Vienna Stock Exchange announced a significant step in its international expansion with the addition of Barclays Bank Ireland PLC as a new trading member. This marks an important milestone in the history of the exchange by adding one of the world's leading banks to its trading circle.

November 21, 2023

Uncovering of Money Laundering and Real Estate Fraud in Austria and Cyprus

New leaks have uncovered a complex network of opaque asset transfers centered around Russian oligarchs and Austrian real estate. According to the investigative project "Cyprus Confidential", Austrian real estate is particularly popular with wealthy Russians. Around 40 Cypriot companies own real estate in Vienna, often penthouses in expensive locations.

November 16, 2023

Austria's Consumer Protection Ministry Mandates Action Against Banks for Low Interest Rates

According to the Consumer Protection Ministry, the practice of Austrian banks of charging high-interest rates on overdrafts while granting no interest at all on credit balances is meeting with growing resentment among consumers.

August 16, 2023

Austrian National Bank: Monetary Policy Strategies Must Act

In his speech at the opening of this year's Economics Conference, Austria's National Bank - Governor Robert Holzmann shed light on the importance of a robust and resilient monetary policy in uncertain times. Given the recent financial market turmoil, he stressed that monetary policy strategies must not remain empty words and that the instruments must work.

May 24, 2023

Raiffeisen Probed by U.S. Sanctions Authority

Raiffeisen Bank International, an Austrian lender that plays a critical role in the Russian economy, is under investigation by the US sanctions authority over its Russia-related business.

February 18, 2023

Austrian Raiffeisen Bank International Gets Under Pressure Due to Russo-Ukrainian War

Its involvement in Russia keeps Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) and its managers, led by Johann Strobl, very busy. The subsidiary institution in Moscow is RBI's biggest profit earner and almost the entire RBI board is on the Ukrainians' "awaiting sanctions" list. Whether RBI will stay in Russia and how to proceed is still unclear, as the banking group is in a tricky situation.

January 9, 2023

Ukrainians Want Raiffeisen Bankers Sanctioned

Austria's Raiffeisen Bank International is coming under pressure in Ukraine. RBI CEO Johann Strobl and another manager are on a list drawn up by Ukrainian authorities, according to which sanctions are recommended.

January 8, 2023

Sanctions: 200 Russian Bank Accounts Frozen in Austria

In the course of the sanctions against Russia due to the invasion of Ukraine, about 200 accounts in Austria have already been frozen. This means that assets of one billion euros are affected.

October 5, 2022

Global Wealth Report: Austrian Financial Wealth Increased

A new analysis of global wealth shows that private financial assets have increased internationally, but also in Austria. In this article you can find out how strongly Austria's economy has developed in recent years and how much the average Austrian has in his or her bank account.

September 21, 2022

What Happened to the Russian Sberbank in Vienna after the Invasion of Ukraine?

The Russian bank Sberbank is one of the largest in Europe and has been hit hard by the European Union sanctions triggered by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. To find out what happened to its Vienna branch and whether it can continue to do business in Austria, read on.

August 10, 2022

Despite the Ukraine War: Raiffeisenbank International Doubles Group Result

In the first half of 2022, Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI), which is heavily active in Eastern Europe, achieved a significant profit despite the Ukrainian conflict. Its Bulgarian subsidiary was sold in June, which was a major contributing factor.

August 2, 2022

Wirecard Scandal: New Indications for Marsalek's Stay in Moscow

Former Wirecard board member Jan Marsalek, who has been in hiding for two years, could be living in Moscow under the protection of Russian intelligence services.

July 26, 2022

Austrian National Bank Expects Highest Inflation Rate in 50 Years

In a recent analysis, the Austrian National Bank expects inflation in Austria to settle at 7.6% in 2022. This particularly high value represents the highest inflation since the crude oil crisis in the 1970s. Inflation is also expected to remain above the target of 1.9% in the coming years.

July 11, 2022

The Austrian Development Bank's Efforts in Climate Protection and Energy Supply

The Austrian Development Bank recently published its latest Impact Report, disclosing the development effects achieved through its investments. The published report shows that the projects supported by OeEB saved more than 1.19 million tons of CO2 emissions and gave more than 297,000 micro, small and medium-sized enterprises access to one or more loans.

May 31, 2022

Impact Fund of the Austrian Development Bank: 72 Million Euros for Developing and Emerging Countries

The Austrian Development Bank, together with Bank Gutmann, has just completed the raising of capital for an investment fund that will benefit developing and emerging countries. A total of 72 million euros is to help improve living conditions in these countries and trigger an economic upswing.

April 15, 2022

Due to the Ukraine War: Austrian National Bank Still Expects Huge Inflation in 2022

Shortages of raw materials and high energy prices, triggered by the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, have led to an increased inflation rate of 5.6% in Austria. After the highest measured inflation rate in March 2022 since joining the monetary union, there is no easing now; this is not expected until 2023.

April 11, 2022

Economic Outlook for Austria: The Kremlin's Aggression against Ukraine is a Game Changer

After a few tough years in which the Covid-19 virus shaped the Austrian economy, a new enormously important factor is coming into play - the war in Ukraine. The Russian aggression led to more pessimistic economic outlook and will still play an enormous factor in the Austrian market in the future.

April 4, 2022