Vienna International Banking Industry News
Read the latest headlines about developments in the international banking industry in Vienna and Austria
Kommunalkredit Sale: „There are potential buyers“
Yesterday, the nationalized Kommunalkredit was put up for sale. According to Fimbag´s board chairman Klaus Liebscher, there are some interested parties.
July 27, 2012
Austria is Liable for Hypo Group´s Major Loan
At the sale of Hypo Group by BayernLB in late 2009, BayernLB granted a loan of € 2.64bn. The Austrian state has issued a guarantee for this loan.
July 27, 2012
Slovenian Banking Crisis Aggravates
This week, the rating agency Moody´s downgrades the three biggest banks of Slovenia. Slovenia is threatened of becoming a bail-out candidate.
July 27, 2012
Decrease in Building Saving May Increase Rents
In Austria, the popularity of building saving declined in the first half year of 2012. In a few years, funds for the residential building market may be insufficient.
July 27, 2012
Austrian Banking Industry Records Higher Profits
In the first quarter of 2012, Austria´s bank achieved a consolidated net income after taxes and minorities of € 2.12bn.
July 27, 2012
Government Puts Kommunalkredit for Sale
The nationalized Austrian lender Kommunalkredit should be sold until 2013. Offers must be to submit to Morgan Stanley until August 16.
July 26, 2012
Slight Tightening of Austrian Lending Guidelines
The Austrian Central Bank (OeNB) reports that domestic banks have tightened lending guidelines for both company and household loans in the second quarter of 2012.
July 25, 2012
Insolvencies in CESEE on the Rise
In 2011, the number of business insolvencies rose by 25% in the CESEE region. Hungary ranks first.
July 25, 2012
Bawag and Generali Extend Cooperation
The Austrian bank, which is owned by the U.S. investment funds Cerberus and Generali agreed on extending the cooperation until 2023.
July 23, 2012
Bank Insolvency Law: No Austrian Solo Run
Austria´s government changed its mind. There will be no national bank insolvency law. Austria will wait for a European solution instead.
July 23, 2012
Austrian Bank Aids: Losses Total € 3.4bn
The nationalized banks are a substantial risk factor for Austria´s budget. Losses may increase further.
July 23, 2012
Slovakia: Bank Tax Should Reach € 1.0bn
The Slovakian government raised the bank tax up to 0.4% on deposits. Once the tax intake totals € 1.0bn, the tax should be abolished.
July 21, 2012
RBI: Bad Development in Hungary
Herbert Stepic, CEO of Raiffeisen Bank International expects that the development of non-performing loans is stable this year.
July 21, 2012
Slovenia in Financial Distress
In order to prevent becoming a bail-out candidate, the Slovenian government aims to resolve a „debt brake“. It turns out that this goal is highly uncertain.
July 21, 2012
Hypo Group: „As Little Bank Aids as Possible“
Hypo Group Alpe Adria´s CEO Gottwald is unhappy with reports that the state-owned bank may need further bank aids.
July 20, 2012
Austerity Program at RBI
Raiffeisen Bank International´s CEO Herbert Stepic is against a capital increase. The market conditions would be unfavorable.
July 20, 2012
Fear of Capital Shortfall at Austrian Banks
The Austrian problem banks Hypo Group and KA Finanz may need further capital injections.
July 19, 2012
Takeover of Croatian Aluflex Failed
The Austrian Hypo Group Alpe Adria will not sell the Croatian aluminum group to the Swiss MTC (Montana Tech Components).
July 19, 2012
Slight Growth in Ukrainian Financial Industry, Uncertainty Remains
According to Austrian RCB (Raiffeisen Centrobank), the lending activity remains subdued amid looming economic uncertainty. Deposit growth resumed in June both in corporate and retail segments.
July 19, 2012
Slovenian Banking Industry „One of the most Burdened in CEE Region“
About 11.5% of total loans are non-performing. Slovenia is one of the few countries suffering a crunch, RCB states.
July 18, 2012
Erste Group Enters Bulgarian Property Market
Todor Alexandrov Offices in Sofia developed by Erste Group Immorent AG are ready for occupation.
July 18, 2012
Koren will be new CEO of VBAG
Starting from 1 september 2012, Koren becomes the new head of VBAG´s management board. New member of the board Rainer Borns should represent a „strong connecting link to regional Volksbanks“.
July 17, 2012
VBAG Buys Back € 236m Hybrid Bonds
The Buyback program generates book profits of € 130m.
July 17, 2012
Further Increase in Austrian National Debt
Due to the European debt crisis, Austria´s public debt level will increase from 72.2% to 74.7% of the country´s GDP.
July 16, 2012
Hungary: IMF Talks Begin Next Week
The financially stricken country seeks a second bailout by IMF. Hungary negotiates over a loan sized € 15bn.
July 14, 2012
Bank Austria: Major Investment at Russian Subsidiary
UniCredit Group increases the equity base of the Russian subsidiary.
July 14, 2012
Consolidation in CESEE Banking Industry Ahead
The Austrian Central Bank (OeNB) expects a wave of takeovers in the banking industry in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe. Many banking groups will withdraw from there, OeNB says.
July 13, 2012
Sberbank to Provide € 300m for VBI
The Russian Sberbank intends to inject € 300m into the Austrian VBI (Volksbank International). Growth into the CEE region should be promoted.
July 13, 2012
VBAG-Restructuring Proves Problematic
In March, the Austrian VBAG Banking Group became partly nationalized. A new CEO has not been found yet.
July 12, 2012
Slovenia Remains in Recession
According to estimations, the recession in Slovenia will sharpen this year. A turnaround is expected in 2013. The banking sector is an enormous burden for the Souteastern European country.
July 12, 2012
Austrian Banks Fulfilled EBA Requirements
The European Banking Authority published today an overview report on the implementation of the capital exercise. The vast majority of the banks in the sample meet the required ratio of 9% Core Tier 1 (CT1).
July 11, 2012
Big Exposure in Foreign Currency Loans
In Austria, domestic banks have outstanding foreign currency loans of € 51bn. In CESEE countries, the exposure comes at € 130bn.
July 10, 2012
Performance of Austrian Banks Remarkably Down
Austria seems to be significantly „overbanked“: Austrian banks only achieve a 0.1% yield on the capital employed.
July 9, 2012
OeNB Calls Austrian Banks to Improve Equity Base
Presentation of the 23rd Financial Stability Report of OeNB (Austrian Central Bank): Austrian Financial System Influenced by Tensions in the International Financial Markets.
July 9, 2012
Southeastern Europe Faces Recession
According to the Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies (WIIW), Southeastern Europe is the weak point among European emerging countries.
July 7, 2012
Bank Austria named Best Bank in Austria
The distinguished international financial magazine EUROMONEY has named Bank Austria the Best Bank in Austria in its Awards for Excellence 2012.
July 7, 2012
Euromoney Awards RBI as Best Regional Bank in CEE
Austrian Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) receives award for the seventh time. For RBI, it is already the third award for RBI as "Best Bank" in CEE in 2012.
July 6, 2012
Reorganization at UniCredit
The Italian banking group plans to dezentralize its structure. Bank Austria as CESEE hub is affected.
July 5, 2012
CESEE: Poland and Turkey are Hot Spots
Erste Economic Sentiment Indicator CEE: stock market expectations weaker, but still ahead of Eurozone. Turkey and Poland remain the preferred investment regions.
July 4, 2012
Austrian Banks in CESEE „Too Ambitious“
For the IMF, Austria´s economy is „well situated“. The austerity package is „adequate“.
July 2, 2012
Massive Austerity Cuts at Porr
The third-biggest Austrian construction company examines its cost structure. First effects should be visible still in 2012.
July 2, 2012
Volksbanken Sector to Become Merged
After months of negotiations, the merger between VBAG and the 52 Volksbanken is resolved. The merger was the prerequisite for getting bank aids.
June 30, 2012
Real Estate Crisis in the Balkans Has Deepened
Due to the economic crisis in Southeastern Europe, real estate prices are still falling. Since 2008, prices fell by up to 50%.
June 28, 2012
WIFO Wants Unlimited Firewall
According to the Austrian Institute of Economic Research, the firewall must be big enough in order to make speculation against the euro unattractive.
June 28, 2012
VIG Completed Polisa Life Acquisition in Poland
The Vienna Insurance Group AG is the new owner of the Polish life insurance company Towarzystwo Ubezpieczeń na Życie "POLISA-ŻYCIE" S.A. With this transaction, the VIG has acquired about 92 percent of the life insurer.
June 28, 2012
Erste Group Lays Cornerstore for New Headquarters
In 2016, Austrian Erste Group will get a new headquarters. 20 different offices will move to the new central headquarters at the Viennese Central Station.
June 27, 2012
Stable Corporate Lending at RBI
Raiffeisen Bank International : „No bottleneck supplying the domestic economy with liquidity.“
June 27, 2012
Credit Crunch in CESEE?
Anglo-Saxon banks and funds are most aggressive in deleveraging; Austrian bank are not relying on funding from countries in hotspots of deleveraging.
June 27, 2012
Bank Austria Wohnbaubank: Decrease in Profit
The operating performance of Bank Austria Wohnbaubank went up in the 2011 financial year. Due to the bank tax, net income decreased.
June 27, 2012
CESEE: „Nothing Has Changed“
Walter Rothensteiner, CEO of Austrian Raiffeisen Zentralbank, is convinced of the success of the expansion into the CESEE region.
June 26, 2012
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