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Vienna International Banking Industry News
Read the latest headlines about developments in the international banking industry in Vienna and Austria
Sberbank Upgrades VBI´s Headquarter in Vienna
After the acquisition of the Austrian VBI, the Russian bank wants to expand massively in Europe.
February 20, 2012
German Justice Puts Pressure on Former Hypo Group Executives
In order to get damage compensation, the German justice opens legal proceedings against the former CEO´s of Austrian Hypo Group, Tilo Berlin and Wolfgang Kulterer.
February 18, 2012
„Bank Austria´s Brand Will Remain“
Last year, it was said that Bank Austria´s brand will be abandoned. According to Helmut Bernkopf, board member at UniCredit, Bank Austria´s private banking business will be strengthened.
February 18, 2012
VBAG´s CEO: „Bank Aid Only Last Exit“
Gerald Wenzel, chairman of VBAG´s executive board, continues the downsizing strategy. A new bank aid would be the “ultima ratio”.
February 17, 2012
Cernko Against „Talking Down Austrian Banks“
Bank Austria´s CEO is strictly against an undifferentiated view on CEE-countries. Austrian banks with an exposure in the CEE region shall not be talked down.
February 17, 2012
Moody's Considers to Downgrade Wienerberger
The U.S. rating agency placed all ratings of Wienerberger under review for possible downgrade.
February 17, 2012
Erste Group to Strenghten its Capital Structure
The Austrian banking group offers to buy back Tier1 and Tier2 securities .
February 17, 2012
Siegfried Wolf Enters Sberbank
The Austrian national and executive at Magna in Russia becomes President of VBI´s supervisory board.
February 16, 2012
Cernko: „Triple A Only in the Medium Term“
Bank Austria´s CEO Willibald Cernko does not think that Austria re-gains its “AAA” status within the next three years.
February 16, 2012
VBI Sale to Sberbank Finalized
With the sale of the CEE segment of the Austrian VBAG, Russian Sberbank enters Eastern Europe.
February 15, 2012
Moody's Put Austria on Warning
The Austrian “AAA” rating has been confirmed by the U.S. rating agency. However, credit-watch is put on “negative”.
February 14, 2012
State Aid: VBAG Redeems € 1.0bn
The Austrian VBAG repays a third of the state aid granted in 2009.
February 13, 2012
Substantial Growth for ING DiBa
The Dutch Bank Group achieved a 12% growth in customers in Austria. Deposits were up by 9.5%.
February 13, 2012
Bank Austria Writes Off Greek Bonds
The Austrian subsidiary of the Italian UniCredit Group has to write off Greek sovereign bonds by € 100m.
February 13, 2012
Austrian Central Bank Lets Eligibility Criteria Ease
OeNB: ECB governing council endorses expansion of eligibility criteria for nonmarketable assets.
February 10, 2012
Raiffeisen Builds Shopping Center in Bukarest
Raiffeisen Evolution develops “Floreasca City”, a shopping center project in the Romanian capital. Construction works began in January.
February 10, 2012
BTV: Moderate Increase in Profits
The Austrian regional bank for Tyrol and Vorarlberg reached growth in profits, total assets and lending.
February 10, 2012
Kommunalkredit: More Costly than Hypo Group
The Austrian state had to made expenses of € 4.65bn for the nationalized Kommunalkredit. In total, the bank package´s volume reaches € 11bn.
February 9, 2012
Erste Group Plans Complete Takeover of BCR
The Austrian bank wants to become the sole owner of Banca Commerciala Romana.
February 9, 2012
RBI: „Capital Increase is Pure Speculation“
The Austrian Raiffeisen Bank International, which is said to plan a capital increase, points out that this information is a “pure rumor”.
February 9, 2012
Capital Increase at RBI?
According to market rumors, Raiffeisen Bank International is said to revisit € 1.00bn sale as shares rise.
February 8, 2012
Hungary: 160,000 Loan Takes Convert Foreign Currency Debt
According to the Hungarian Financial market authority, 142,000 Hungarian households repaid foreign currency debt. Further 19,000 are expected.
February 7, 2012
Still Capital Requirement at Kommunalkredit
The „bad bank“ of the nationalized Austrian bank, KA Finanz, receives € 190m by the Austrian state. Moreover, another € 600m are needed in the first half of 2012.
February 7, 2012
VBI Sale: Closing Expected for Mid-February
The Russian Sberbank buys VBI from Austrian VBAG. The price totals € 505m.
February 6, 2012
Privatization of Kommunalkredit Starts
The sale of the nationalized bank will start in the second half of 2012. For 2011, losses could reach up to € 150m.
February 4, 2012
AMAG to Become New Owners?
About one third of Austrian aluminum producer´s shares are for sale. Raiffeisen and B&C are potential buyers.
February 4, 2012
Constitutional Court: Bank Taxes in Line with Constitution
A complaint over bank taxes by Austrian banks was disapproved. According to the court, banks were primarily responsible for the economic crisis.
February 3, 2012
Kommunalkredit Downgraded by Moody´s
The U.S. rating agency downgraded Kommunalkredit Austria to Baa3.
February 2, 2012
Lending Conditions of Austrian Banks Worsened
According to the Austrian Central Bank (OeNB), stricter lending conditions at Austrian banks were due to the decline in economic growth and detrimental refunding conditions.
February 2, 2012
RLB Burgenland Records Rise in Profits
The regional bank´s operating profit was up by 9.8% to € 53m. RLB Burgenland´s total assets grew by 5.3% to € 6.3bn.
February 2, 2012
Losses in Hungary Keep Within a Limit
The deadline for the conversion of Hungarian foreign currency loans expired. Austrian banks think that their provisions are sufficient.
February 1, 2012
RBI Structures Credit Facility for Chinese Company
Austrian Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) finances delivery of the plant by Andritz-Group for Chinese Ganzhou.
February 1, 2012
Hypo Group to Cut Jobs
The Austrian Hypo Group Alpe Adria continues its downsizing program. 800 employees will be laid-off.
February 1, 2012
Erste Group Reduces Bondholdings
The Austrian major bank is said to plan sale of covered bonds.
January 31, 2012
Austrians Reduce Savings
At present, Austrians are planning to save € 5,460 (-4.5%). Around 10% of the population plans to finance their purchases by taking out loans and will borrow an average of € 68,800 (-16%).
January 31, 2012
New Management Board Member at RBI
Raiffeisen Bank International: Klemens Breuer starts in mid-April. Patrick Butler chooses to resign his mandate.
January 30, 2012
Hypo Group´s Result „Close to Zero“
CEO Gottwald Kranebitter announced that Hypo Group Alpe Adria could reduce its losses significantly in 2011.
January 30, 2012
VKB Records Rise in Results
The regional bank VKB´s operating result improved by 9.0%.
January 28, 2012
Romanian President Appreciates Erste Group´s Decision
Traian Basescu, President of Romania, is pleased with Erste Group´s announcement to continue its business in Romania.
January 28, 2012
Stepic: „Reaching AAA Again Is Possible“
RBI´s CEO Herbert Stepic thinks that due to the strength of Austria´s real economy, re-gaining the triple A is possible within the next years.
January 28, 2012
New Management Board at BCR
The Supervisory Board of Erste Group´s loss-making subsidiary, Banca Comerciala Romana (BCR), took several decisions regarding the structure of BCR’s Management Board (Executive Committee).
January 27, 2012
Sberbank: € 500m for Austrian VBI
The Russian Sberbank officially bids € 500m for VBI, the subsidiary of Austrian VBAG.
January 26, 2012
RBI´s CEO Expects € 60m Losses in Hungary
Herbert Stepic, CEO of Austrian Raiffeisen Bank International, emphasizes to stay in Hungary. The foreign currency debt conversion causes severe losses.
January 26, 2012
S&P Keeps Rating for Erste Group and RZB
After the downgrade of Austrian sovereign bonds two weeks ago, the U.S. rating agency remains its ratings for the two largest domestic banks.
January 25, 2012
Treichl: „S&P Errs Sometimes“
Erste Bank is ‘not guilty’ of Austria’s downgrade, CEO Andreas Treichl says.
January 25, 2012
Scharinger: „Rating Agencies Are Instruments of Torture“
The leaving CEO of RLB Upper Austria, Ludwig Scharinger, is convinced that Europe needs must make itself more competitive against the U.S. financial industry.
January 24, 2012
Capital Shortfall at Austrian Banks Could Decrease
Possibly Erste Group and Raiffeisen can lower their capital shortfall. The Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA) is currently talking to EBA.
January 24, 2012
Central Bank Act: Orban Gives In
Hungary waives the planned merger of the Central Bank and the Financial Market Authority. Yesterday, Austria´s Minister of Foreign Affairs visited Orban in Budapest.
January 21, 2012
VBAG No Systemic Bank Anymore
After the sale of VBAG´s subsidiary VBI to Russian Sberbank, the bank will not be systemic anymore, the Austrian Financial Market Authority announced.
January 21, 2012
Erste Group to Support Austrian Bonds
Erste Group considers putting effort in distributing Austrian sovereign bonds to its customers. Attractiveness should be increased, Erste Group says.
January 21, 2012
