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Vienna International Banking Industry News
Read the latest headlines about developments in the international banking industry in Vienna and Austria
Austria: Fekter Demands “More Intelligent Model“ for Hypo
Finance Minister Fekter plans on introducing a “more creative model“ than a bad bank.
September 17, 2013
Romania: Austrian Investors Demand Transparency
In an interview with Business Review Romania, Rudolf Lukavsky, commercial counselor for Romania and Moldova at the Austrian Embassy described the downsides and advantages of the economic environment in the country.
September 17, 2013
CESEE Investment Market with Growing Potential
The Eastern European investment market continues to post robust levels of transaction.
September 17, 2013
Bank Austria Considers Establishing Franchise Banks in Austria
The streamlining of the CESEE network of Bank Austria seems to take on a very concrete form now.
September 16, 2013
IHS/WIFO: Austrian Hypo Group Needs Bad Bank
Christian Keuschnigg and Karl Aiginger claim that the nationalized Austrian bank should be split into a “good” and a “bad” part. Austria´s public debt would increase substantially.
September 16, 2013
RBI Revises Expected Provisioning Requirement
Vienna-based Raiffeisen Bank International AG (RBI) has revised its outlook for the net provisioning requirement for the current financial year.
September 16, 2013
Hungarian National Bank to Use Foreign Currency Reserves
In order to support Hungarian homeowners, MNB (Hungarian National Bank) sells a part of its forex-reserves.
September 15, 2013
Slovenia: Bankruptcy Without ECB/ESM?
Without external aid, Slovenia will not manage its severe financial crisis, experts say. A bail-out becomes more likely.
September 15, 2013
Austrian Banking Sector: Profitability Below Potential
Not only the high NPL quota in the CESEE region, but also the overcapacity in Austria is a burden for the domestic banking industry.
September 14, 2013
Boom in CESEE Will not Return
In the next years, the growth rates of the pre-crisis will not come back in the CESEE region. For the banking industry, the region is still a substantial risk factor.
September 14, 2013
Austria Must Implement Liquidation Mechanism for Banks
In order to minimize fiscal losses, Austrian problem banks should be liquidates soon, IMF claims. In this case, Austria would not reach its fiscal targets in the next years.
September 13, 2013
Eurogroup Grants Cyprus Further € 1.5bn
Payments will be made at the end of September
September 13, 2013
Hypo Needs € 700m in Capital Increase
The ailing banking group needs a further capital injection in order to fulfill the lawful capital adequacy requirements.
September 12, 2013
Austria: OeNB Denies Hypo Revaluations
According to the Austrian National Bank (OeNB) there are no revaluations in regard to Hypo Group Alpe Adria’s capital requirement.
September 12, 2013
Hypo Group Needs up to € 17bn
The scenarios for the nationalized Austrian banking group become even more pessimistic.
September 12, 2013
Austria: Enormous Amounts Could Pile Up For Hypo Group
According to Austrian daily “Standard“, the winding down of the ailing bank Hypo could be even more expensive than assumed so far. The amount of required capital reanges between € 6.2bn (until the end of 2014) and € 17bn (until 2017).
September 11, 2013
Romania: Chinese Investors to Support Infrastructure Projects with € 3bn
According to the Romanian Infrastructure and Foreign Investments Department (DPIIS), investors from China will support the construction of new highways and electricity generating power plants in the amount of more than € 3bn.
September 11, 2013
Former President of Budapest Stock Exchange New Head of Division at RBI
RBI appoints Attila Szalay-Berzeviczy Head of Group Securities Services Business.
September 11, 2013
IMF: Praise and Criticism for Austria
According to the IMF´s country report, Austria´s main problem is the fiscal situation.
September 11, 2013
Turkish Dogus Group Not Interested in Hypo Alpe Adria
A high-ranking representative of Turkish Dogus Group denied that the corporation was interested in taking over Austrian bank Hypo Alpe Adria. In an interview with “Wall Street Journal” he claimed there had been no negotiations with Hypo.
September 10, 2013
Orban on Foreign Banks: „Colonization is Over“
Hungary´s Prime Minister Viktor Orban emphasizes that foreign banks have to pay for foreign exchange loans.
September 9, 2013
Slovenia Shuts Down Two Small Banks
In order to ensure the stability of its financing sector, Slovenia decided to liquidate two banks, Factor Banka and Probanka. According to state officials, the step was also taken to avoid international bailout.
September 9, 2013
Romania: West Region to Catch Up Economically
Romania's West Region aims to catch up with its more developed peers in the European Union.
September 9, 2013
TAP: Surveys with Contractors to Begin
Trans Adriatic Pipeline has authorized its contractors to start surveys.
September 9, 2013
Eight Austrian Banks to be Supervized by ECB
The European Central Bank will supervise 130 banks in the Eurozone. 18 German and six Austrian banks will have a new supervision authority.
September 6, 2013
Romania to Issue New Bonds
Romania plans to generate at least € 1bn from a second bond issue.
September 6, 2013
Hungary: New Threats for Foreign Banks
Hungary´s government is determined to convert foreign exchange loans at the expense of banks again.
September 6, 2013
Austria: Spindelegger in Favor of “Creative Model“ for Banks
Deputy Chancellor Spindelegger seems willing to lead open discussions about the extension of bank levies.
September 6, 2013
Another Austerity Package in Austria?
Due to the dismal situation of nationalized banks, the economist Christian Keuschnigg anticipates another austerity package after the election at the end of September.
September 6, 2013
RBI to Take Over Croatian Subsidiary Completely
Vienna-listed Raiffeisen Bank International holds 75% of its Croatian subsidiary. RBI confirmed that the remaining shares of Croatian subsidiary will be acquired.
September 6, 2013
Eurogroup: Greece Requires Further Aids
Crisis-struck Greece will require further support by Eurozone member countries, according to head of the Eurogroup Jeroen Dijsselbloem.
September 5, 2013
VBAG to Start Selling Process of Volksbank Malta Ltd.
The Austrian VBAG has started the selling process of its affiliate Volksbank Malta Ltd. (VB Malta).
September 5, 2013
Faymann: “Banks Should Pay for Hypo”
Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann does not consider a new austerity package necessary despite of the threatening billions of Euros for the selling and winding-up of the ailing bank.
September 5, 2013
Austrian Banks Register Growing NPL
The advisory group pwc has issued a new report on the asset quality of Austrian banks. In terms of asset quality, Hungary and Romania are performing worst.
September 5, 2013
Slovenian Finance Minister: “Enough Tax Burdens“
On Tuesday, the Slovenian Finance Minister Uros Cufer announced that enough additional tax burdens have been introduced.
September 4, 2013
Austria: Up to € 11.7bn for Downsizing Hypo Group
Years of discussion went by; now the EU Commission has approved the downsizing plan for nationalized Hypo Alpe Adria.
September 4, 2013
Hungarian Government Wants Further FX Debt Reliefs
The government has talks with the Hungarian banking association. In order to de-burden indebted Hungarian households, Prime Minister Viktor Orban wants to reach a debt relief plan.
September 4, 2013
Hypo: New Risky Loan Agreements Even in 2012
According to the EU Commission, risky loans were granted by ailing Hypo Group even in 2012.
September 3, 2013
Keuschnigg: “We Already Have The Flat Tax in Austria”
The head of IHS demands tax relief instead of further tax burdens and the adjustment to the inflation rate.
September 3, 2013
Cyprus: Waiting for the Next Bailout Tranche
Crisis-struck member of the Eurozone Cyprus will have to wait for the next payment out of the bailout-package. Before the next tranche will be transferred the small country has to implement key measures.
September 2, 2013
Poland: Economic Growth to Speed Up
According to GUS, the Polish Central Statistical Office, GDP grew by 0.8 percent in the second quarter of 2013 on a year-on-year comparison basis, which is an increase of 0.3 percent from 0.5 percent in the first quarter of the year.
September 2, 2013
EU Approves Hypo Group´s Restructuring Plan
The re-privatization of the Austrian publicly held banking group was approved by the Commission. According to the Commission´s report, Hypo Group´s expansion strategy was highly dangerous.
September 2, 2013
Austrian Banking Sector Burdened Heavily With NPL
In total, non-performing loans held by Austrian banks come at € 150bn. This corresponds to 48% of Austria´s GDP.
September 2, 2013
Hypo Group Considers IPO
The Austrian nationalized bank takes an IPO of its Eastern subsidiaries into account.
August 31, 2013
Uher: “Banking Union in Eurozone Great Danger“
Thomas Uher, member of the board of directors at Erste Bank, warns of a banking union that is only limited to the Eurozone.
August 30, 2013
Austria: OeNB Increases Growth Forecast for 2013
The Austrian National Bank (OeNB) has slightly increased its growth forecast for Austria in 2013 from 0.2 percent to 0.5 percent. Govenor Nowotny said there was a better development than expected in the second quarter.
August 30, 2013
Mersch: Banking Supervisory Could Be Delayed
At the Forum Alpbach Yves Mersch, member of the ECB’s (European Central Bank) executive board, presented himself sceptical about whether or not a punktual start of a uniform European banking supervision could take place.
August 29, 2013
VBAG: First Half Year with Losses of € 87m
Partly-nationalized VBAG made net losses in the amount of € 87m in the first half of 2013. In the first half year of 2012 high book profits caused profits to be slightly above zero.
August 29, 2013
Hypo Alpe Adria Threatened with Losses of up to € 3.5bn
According to the restructuring plan and in a worst case scenario, even more losses could amount than in the past five years together. Reports by the media say, this year alone figures never seen before could pile up.
August 29, 2013
Austria: Raiffeisen Group Takes Over VBAG Loans
Loans worth more then € 748m will be taken over by Raiffeisen Group
August 28, 2013