Vienna International Banking Industry News

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

Moderate Profit Increase at Erste Bank

The Austrian subsidiary of the Vienna-based Erste Group could record a 12.1% profit increase. Lending was up by 33%.

April 24, 2012

Dexia Fights Austrian KA Finanz Capital Cut

Franco-Belgian bank Dexia is contesting an equity capital cut at Austrian state-owned "bad bank" KA Finanz.

April 24, 2012

1.0 Million People in Poverty

More than 150,000 people in Austria do not have a bank account. A lack in financial education causes a loss of 1.0% of GDP.

April 23, 2012

Former GDR Funds: Bank Austria Has to Pay € 245m

Bank Austria lost a Zurich retrial over German demands for repayment of more than € 245m linked to the former East German Communist Party.

April 21, 2012

Bank Burgenland Records Profits in spite of Hungarian Crisis

The Austrian regional bank´s results were impressed by the coerced conversion of foreign currency loans in Hungary.

April 21, 2012

Bank Austria: Bond Issue Significantly Oversubscribed

This week, Bank Austria issued a 7-year covered bond with a volume of € 500m.

April 21, 2012

Drastic Cut in Profit at RLB Lower Austria-Vienna

After net income of € 308.6m in 2010, the figure went down by 64.5% last year. Write-offs in Hungary, bank taxes and the lower result at RZB are the main reasons.

April 20, 2012

RZB to Increase Capital

In order to cover its capital shortfall, RZB (Raiffeisen Zentralbank plans a capital increase of € 840m. Participation capital will turn into core Tier 1 capital as per EBA definition.

April 20, 2012

Big Exposure in Spain and Portugal

In total, Austrian banks have an exposure of € 4.3bn in the financially stricken EU-countries Spain and Portugal.

April 19, 2012

Former Bawag CEO Criticizes Cerberus Sharply

Helmut Elsner, former CEO of Bawag, accuses the new owner Cerberus to abuse the bank as “garbage dump” for toxic assets.

April 18, 2012

RBI: Takeover of Polbank Approved

The Polish Competition Authority allowed Austrian RBI (Raiffeisen Bank International) to purchase Polbank. Conversely, RBI has to list as Warsaw Stock Exchange.

April 18, 2012

OeNB: “Nationalizations Are Clean Up”

Austria’s central bank (OeNB) said that the nationalization of three of the nation’s lenders helped clean up the structure of the domestic banking industry.

April 17, 2012

RZB Group: Profits Fell by 38%

The Austrian banking group posts an operating income of € 5,416m (minus 1.5 per cent). Profit before tax reached € 1,144m (minus 11.5 per cent).

April 17, 2012

Hypo Tirol: NPL Quota at 37%

The Tyrolean regional bank recorded losses of € 125m last year. The owner, the province of Tyrol has to inject further capital.

April 16, 2012

Goldman Sachs: Too Small Margins at Austrian Banks in CEE

The U.S. investment bank is optimistic that the CEE region recovers in 2013. The write-offs made by Austrian banks were “correct”.

April 16, 2012

Erste to Improve Equity Base

Austrian Erste Group will ask shareholders for permission to sell bonds that automatically convert into shares to cover potential capital shortfalls.

April 16, 2012

Fekter Nominates Koren as VBAG´s Chief Executive

Maria Fekter, the Austrian Minister of Finance said that Stephan Koren already agreed to become CEO of the partly nationalized bank VBAG.

April 14, 2012

Erste Group Sells Property

The Austrian banking group shifts its headquarters to the new Vienna main station in three years. The property sales are essential due to equity restrictions by EBA.

April 13, 2012

Strong Growth at UniCredit Leasing Austria

Volume of new business rises by 23.6 per cent to about € 943m. In 2011, UniCredit Leasing Austria expanded its market lead in Austria to a market share of 14.9 per cent

April 12, 2012

Raiffeisen Fixes Change in Leadership

The supervisory board of Raiffeisenlandesbank Lower Austria - Vienna approves the changes in leadership. Hameseder succeeds Konrad.

April 11, 2012

S&P: Austrian Banks Still Weakly Capitalized

The U.S. rating agency S&P regards Austrian banks to record high capital shortfalls.

April 11, 2012

Major Loan to Immofinanz by Russian Sberbank

The Austrian real estate company Immofinanz Group and the Russian Sberbank have concluded a long-term financing agreement with a volume of up to $ 715m.

April 11, 2012

„Bank Aids Are Lost“

The economist Franz Hahn (WIFO, Austrian Institute of Economic Research) argues that the nationalized banks are not interesting for potential buyers.

April 10, 2012

Oberbank Aims For „Organic Growth“

The Upper-Austrian regional bank continues its growth course and underlines its financial stability and independence.

April 6, 2012

Higher Earnings at RLB Tyrol

In 2011, Raiffeisenlandesbank Tyrol (RLB) could raise earnings by 37 %to € 24.2m.

April 6, 2012

Raiffeisen: Downsizing in Hungary Completed

The Hungarian subsidiary of the Austrian lender Raiffeisen Bank International has no plans for further business downsizing.

April 5, 2012

VBAG Records Losses of € 1.35bn

Due to high write-offs in Hungary and Romania, the Austrian nationalized bank registered major losses in 2011. Thus, the capital injection covers these losses only partially.

April 5, 2012

Austria Rejects Bank Bonds of Southern Euro-Members

The Austrian Central Bank will join Germany’s Bundesbank in rejecting as collateral bank bonds guaranteed by member states receiving aid from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund.

April 4, 2012

Raiffeisen: Buchleitner Succeeds Hameseder

The series of staffing changes at the Raiffeisen sector goes on. General attorney Konrad leaves, Hameseder succeeds. RWA´s CEO Klaus Buchleitner replaces Hameseder.

April 4, 2012

Oberbank: High Earnings, Low Expectations

The Upper-Austrian regional bank achieved strong results in 2011. Nevertheless, expectations for 2012 are decent.

April 3, 2012

Steiermärkische Interested in Hypo Group´s Subdidiary

The head of Austrian regional bank Steiermärkische Sparkasse said he was interested in buying some Balkan assets from nationalized lender Hypo Group Alpe Adria, a newspaper reported.

April 3, 2012

Konrad to Leave RZB

Christian Konrad, general attorney of the Raiffeisen sector and chairman of RZB supervisory board, will step down in June. Successors are already designated.

April 2, 2012

RBI Strengthens Commitment to CEE Region

Austrian Raiffeisen Bank International underlines its function as major lender in Central and Eastern Europe. Hungary is still the most uncertain market.

April 2, 2012

3.5% Salary Increase in Austrian Banking Industry

After six negotiation rounds, the collective agreement at Austrian banks has been resolved. By April 1, salaries will increase.

March 31, 2012

RBI Is Optimistic to Reach Solution in Hungary

On the occasion of a investor conference in London, Austrian Raiffeisen Bank International talked about risks in Hungary and capital requirements by EBA.

March 31, 2012

Total Assets of Austrian Banks Beyond € 1.0tn

At the end of 2011, the level of unconsolidated assets exceeded the € 1.0tn threshold again.

March 30, 2012

Pröll Declines Konrad´s Succession

Josef Pröll, former Austrian Minister of Finance, excludes rumors about the succession of RZB´s chairman Christian Konrad.

March 30, 2012

RBI Is Optimistic to Reach Equity Requirements Without Capital Increase

The Austrian Raiffeisen Bank International sees no need to raise capital. The 9.0% Tier 1 quota should be reached by June.

March 30, 2012

Bank Austria Considers Leaving East European Markets

UniCredit´s subsidiary may leave Baltic countries as well as Kazakhstan. CEO Cernko is optimistic to achieve more than € 1.0bn in profits this year.

March 30, 2012

RBI Posts Pre-Tax Profit of € 1.4bn

As only Austrian bank, Raiffeisen Bank International pays divididends. The tier 1 ratio raises by 0.2 percentage points.

March 29, 2012

VBAG to Cut Capital by 70%

The financially stricken Austrian VBAG will cut its equity capital by around 70 and then top it up again with state aid next month as part of a previously announced bailout.

March 28, 2012

Bank Austria: Higher Profits than Expected

Bank Austria posts net profit of € 209m despite burdens of € 1.2bn resulting from Greece, goodwill impairment and bank levies.

March 28, 2012

Koren to Become VBAG´s New CEO?

Finance Minister Maria Fekter aims to nominate the former Vice-CEO of Bawag as board director of VBAG.

March 24, 2012

Rothensteiner Against Bank Insolvencies

Raiffeisen Zentralbank´s CEO Walter Rothensteiner is against the discussion about bank insolvencies.

March 24, 2012

Bank Austria: Cernko Confirmed as CEO

Bank Austria’s Supervisory Board renews the term of office of Willibald Cernko and Rainer Hauser for another three years.

March 23, 2012

Raiffeisen, 3-Banken Reject Comment on Hypo Interest

Raiffeisenlandesbank Carinthia and BKS aren’t interested in Hypo Alpe-Adria-Bank International AG’s Austrian subsidiary.

March 23, 2012

RBI: Günther Gall Appointed Vice-Chairman of EPC

The Austrian national Günther Gall of Raiffeisen Bank International AG (RBI) was elected vice president of the European Payments Council (EPC).

March 23, 2012

RBI: No Capital Increase

Christian Konrad, general attorney of the Raiffeisen sector, is against a capital increase at RBI (Raiffeisen Bank International). The 9.0% tier-1 quota will be reached without that measure, Konrad is convinced.

March 23, 2012

Hypo Alpe Adria Bank to be Sold this Year

The Austrian subsidiary of the nationalized Hypo Group Alpe Adria will be sold this year. “All potential risk factors are eliminated.” the supervisory board chairman says.

March 22, 2012

New Executives for VBAG

The banking group VBAG, in which the Austrian state is about to take a stake of up to 49 percent, will get new management after losing nearly € 1.4bn ($1.85bn) last year.

March 22, 2012