Vienna International Banking Industry News

Read the latest headlines about developments in the international banking industry in Vienna and Austria

Erste Group Best Private Bank in Central & Eastern Europe 2012

Due to centralized strategy combined with extensive regional know-how, Erste Group Private Banking substantially expanded its client base, managing assets worth around EUR 15bn across CEE.

November 9, 2012

CEE Deleveraging Remains Moderate

Austrian, German and Italian banks kept lending to CEE6 (except Hungary) relatively stable. Shifts in foreign capital structure and allocation from private to public sector might pose risks to future growth.

November 8, 2012

Erste Group Supports Romanian BCR

The Austrian bank Erste Group injects € 111m in Romanian BCR.

November 7, 2012

Slovenia: Creation of Bad Bank Should Solve Credit Crunch

At the moment, the Slovenian banking sector does not fulfill its main task. The real industry suffers from a credit crunch.

November 6, 2012

Poland: Lending Criteria to Tighten

According to the Polish National Bank (NBP), banks will tighten lending conditions further. NBP wants to support economic growth, but has to prevent a credit bubble.

November 6, 2012

Hypo Group Starts Selling Business in SEE

The nationalized Austrian banking group has to downsize drastically. Today, Hypo Group started to put the subsidiaries in Southeastern Europe for sale.

November 6, 2012

Hungary: New Threats for Banks

The Hungarian government plans to take over debts from small municipalities. Banks fear that the Hungarian state demands a debt relief.

November 5, 2012

Hybrid Bond for Hypo Group

In order to cover the capital shortfall of Hypo Group, the Austrian state may inject € 500m into the nationalized bank. Furthermore, the bank plans to issue bonds worth € 1.0bn.

November 3, 2012

Moody´s Downgrades Austrian VBAG

The U.S. rating agency underlines that the Austrian state will help the financially stricken bank further.

November 3, 2012

Austria: Lending Continues to Contract

Austrian banks tend to remain rather cautious. The restrictions of company loans sharpen.

October 31, 2012

Erste Group Surprises With High Net Income

The Austrian bank posts a net profit of € 597.3m and stable operating result in the first nine months of 2012.

October 30, 2012

Erste Group´s Earnings Expected to Increase

The Austrian banking group will present its figures for the third quarter tomorrow. Net income is forecasted to improve.

October 29, 2012

Foreign Banks Withdraw Funds from Croatia

Due to the difficult economic situation in Croatia, foreign banks reduce their exposure in Croatia.

October 24, 2012

Jürgen Kullnigg Becomes the New Chief Risk Officer of Bank Austria

Jürgen Kullnigg will join the Management Board of Bank Austria to succeed Massimiliano Fossati, who will move to UniCredit in Milan to become Chief Risk Officer Italy

October 24, 2012

Slovenia: Foundation of Bad Bank Proves Difficult

After the approval of the Slovenian Parliament, the government faces a public vote on the creation of a bad bank and an industrial holding group.

October 24, 2012

FMA: „Austria is Open to Blackmail by Banks”

Kurt Pribil, director of the Austrian Financial Market Authority, thinks that the nationalization of banks has shown that the Austrian state is still under pressure.

October 23, 2012

Bawag: Hungarian Exposure Shrinks

The Austrian bank gradually withdraws from Hungary. The stake in MKB Bank becomes smaller.

October 23, 2012

Austrian Banking Industry to Downsize Radically

According to Bank Austria´s CEO Willibald Cernko, the Austrian banking industry must cut its number of branches radically.

October 23, 2012

Tusk: Joining Banking Union Only if it Does not Weaken Poland

The Polish Prime Minister does not exclude to enter the banking union. However, this measure must not weaken Poland´s position.

October 22, 2012

Banking Package: Austria to Lose Billions

Hannes Androsch, member of the publicly owned bank holding company Fimbag, fears that Austria´s losses will be substantial.

October 22, 2012

Austrian Tax Quota to Increase

Austria´s Finance Minister Maria Fekter expects a higher tax intake in 2013. Next year, the tax quota will grow slightly to 43%. In order to prevent further expenses, Fekter rejects creating bad banks.

October 20, 2012

Poland Favors Banking Union, Czech Republic is Skeptical

The governor of the Polish National Bank Marek Belka calls for joining the banking union. The Czech Republic may use the right to give a veto.

October 20, 2012

Hungary Does not Exclude to Increase Bank Tax

Prime Minister Orban refers to the pressure coming from Brussels. Hungary must reduce the budget deficit below 3.0% of GDP.

October 20, 2012

Bawag Gets New Owner

In return for a capital increase of € 200m, the U.S. investment fund Cerberus cedes a 33% stake in the Austrian bank.

October 19, 2012

Fekter Interested in Hungary´s Bank Taxation Plans

The Austrian Minister of Finance wants to analyse the taxation plans of the Hungarian government thoroughly. The bank taxes would be “highly interesting”, Fekter says.

October 19, 2012

RBI: We Will Not Leave Hungary

Herbert Stepic, CEO of Austrian RBI (Raiffeisen Bank International) is highly dissatisfied with Hungary´s decision not to reduce bank taxes. However, RBI will stay, he says.

October 18, 2012 · Updated: October 18, 2012; 17:08

Hungarian Tax Plans: Austrian Banks Annoyed

Because of the pressing need to reduce the budget deficit, Hungary´s government decided not to lower the bank tax. Moreover, the financial transaction tax will be doubled.

October 18, 2012

Debt Crisis Weighing Down on Euro Zone more than on US

According to Austrian Erste Group Research, the economic development in the Eurozone remains subdued.

October 17, 2012

RBI Cuts Slovenian Subsidiary Radically

The Austrian Raiffeisen Bank International plans to lay off the half of its workforce in Slovania.

October 16, 2012

Austrian Audit Court Criticizes Nationalization of Kommunalkredit

According to the Austrian Audit Court, the former owner of Kommunalkredit VBAG would have survived without the nationalization.

October 15, 2012

Czech Banking Association Pessimistic

CBA has lowred its forecast on the Czech economy. The decreasing household consumption would be the main reason.

October 12, 2012

Austria: Saving Popular Despite Negative Real Interest Rate

Trend clearly points to short-term investments: People feel it is important to have their money available in case of a change in the investment situation. 54 per cent save less than € 100 per month, 7 per cent more than € 500.

October 12, 2012

Stepic: “Must Reduce Lending in CESEE”

The CEO of Austrian RBI (Raiffeisen Bank International) Herbert Stepic explains that new lending in Eastern Europe must be reduced substantially.

October 11, 2012

S&P: Eastern Subsidiaries of Austrian Banks Most Become More Independent

The U.S. rating agency criticizes that Austrian banks are still weakly capitalized. The economic crisis caused a massive withdrawal of funds in Eastern Europe, S&P says.

October 11, 2012

Alpine Needs Help from Banks

The Austrian construction company faces liquidity constraints. Talks with banks were started already.

October 11, 2012

Austrians save € 170 per month

For 82% of Austrians the savings passbook accounts are the top choice, but their appeal is gradually waning. Satisfaction with one’s savings performance is growing

October 11, 2012

Austrian Banking Industry: Slight Increase in Operating Profits

In the first half year of 2012, special effects caused an increase in net income. The net interest results were down, however.

October 10, 2012

Hypo Group: Difficult Negotiations with Austrian State

The nationalized banking group urgently needs a capital injection. This year, the capital shortfall will be reduced by € 1.5bn.

October 9, 2012

Erste Group to Sell Ukrainian Subsidiary

This year, the Austrian bank plans to sell its Ukrainian business segment. Erste Group entered the Ukraine in 2006.

October 8, 2012

Immofinanz Announces Dividend of € 0.15 Per Share

The annual general meeting of the Austrian real estate company resolved to increase the dividend from € 0.10 to € 0.15 per share.

October 5, 2012

Fekter Appeals on Banks to Prevent Credit Crunch

Banks should be more creative in financing the real economy instead of creating new financial products, she says.

October 5, 2012

Fekter Rejects Deposit Protection in EU

At the Alpbach Financial Symposium, Austria´s Minister of Finance Maria Fekter underlined to reject the European deposit protection.

October 4, 2012

Erste Group Achieves 9.9% Capital Ratio

Erste Group comfortably meets the EBA capital requirement:capital ratio reached 9.9% as of June 2012 (excluding retained earnings).

October 4, 2012

RZB Group Exceeds EBA Capital requirements

EBA Core Tier 1 capital ratio of 10.0 per cent (excluding retained earnings) as of 30 June 2012. The Bank is thus one percentage point above the requirement

October 3, 2012

Austrian Banks Meet Substantially Increased Capital Requirements

EBA exercise to strengthen capital positions of large European banks concluded: Erste Group Bank AG and Raiffeisen Zentralbank AG meet the increased Capital Requirements, Austrian National Bank announces.

October 3, 2012

Bulgaria: Bank Secret Wobbles

The Bulgarian National Bank warns of an easing of the bank secret. The Bulgarian Parliament argues that the bank secret protects money laundering activities.

October 3, 2012

Erste Group´s Core Shareholder Sells 14 million Shares+

Erste Stiftung, the core shareholder of Austrian Erste Group, remains the biggest shareholder, though.

October 2, 2012

Immofinanz Builds Next Shopping Center in Poland

The Austrain real estate group starts retail development project in Poland. Investments total € 115m.

October 2, 2012

Raiffeisen Brand to be Introduced in Slovakia

The Austrian bank will open its first branches in November.

October 2, 2012

Austrian Budget Targets Will Not Hold

In August, Finance Minister Maria Fekter underlined that the budget deficit will not exceed 2.9% of GDP. Due to the banking package, the budget deficit will be higher, though.

October 1, 2012