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Vienna International Banking Industry News
Read the latest headlines about developments in the international banking industry in Vienna and Austria


Hypo Group: Time Pressure Grows Dramatically

Future bank aids for the nationalized Austrian lender are limited. Haircuts for creditors and bondholders are not unlikely.
April 17, 2014


Republic of Austria Liable for Domestic Banks in Ukraine and Russia

The Austrian Clearing Bank (OeKB) has assumed liabilities in the amount of € 4.0n in Russia and Ukraine. Besides the political risks, banks operating in Russia have to fear economic risks too.
April 17, 2014


Hypo Group: Italian Branch Turns Out a Huge Problem

According to CEO Picker there were more “skeletons in the closet than expected” which led to huge losses for the ailing bank. The Italian network may have to be downsized.
April 17, 2014


Slovenia: “Worst Thing if Nobody Dare Do Anything”

Finance Minister Cufer stressed that financial institutes needed stable guidance and confidence to continue their restructuring paths.
April 17, 2014


Hypo Group: Privatization of Balkan Business Until 2015

The nationalized problem bank intends to sell its Balkan business within 2014.
April 17, 2014


Austria: RLB OÖ Still Threatening to Leave

According to managing director of Raiffeisenlandesbank Oberösterreich (RLB OÖ) Heinrich Schaller, the tax burden is too high in Austria. The bank is still threatening to leave for Germany if the bank levy will not be changed.
April 17, 2014


Horrible Loss at Hypo Group Alpe Adria

The former Balkan lender shocks with new figures. The Austrian nationalized bank had to write off wide parts of its risky assets. Further losses are likely as well as further capital injections.
April 16, 2014


Bank Austria Ends Business on Crimea

One day after Ukrainian affiliate of Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI), Bank Aval, has terminated business on the peninsula Crimea, UniCredit’s Bank Austria announced closing down its affiliates permanently.
April 16, 2014


Industrial Location Austria Losing Attractiveness

Among other things, labor costs and energy prices are too high, according to the Austrian Federation of Industries.
April 16, 2014


Austria: RLB OÖ Rows Bank on Threat to Leave

Last year regional lender RLB OÖ (Raiffeisen Landesbank Oberösterreich), part of Raiffeisen group, saw a decline of six percent in its balance sheet totals while the operating results increased by almost three percent.
April 16, 2014


S&P Upgrades Polish Banking Sector

Rating agency Standard & Poor’s has upgraded the Polish banking sector from “negative” to “stable”.
April 16, 2014


Slovakia as a Role Model?

In an interview with Austrian daily “Wirtschaftsblatt”, Tomas Malatinsky, Economy Minister of Slovakia, talked about budget discipline, investments and tax policy.
April 16, 2014

Erste Group Bank AG: Full Year 2013 Company Report has been Published by FriedlResearch
Published in April 2014, this report contains in depth information and data about Erste Group and its operations and markets. It contains a company overview, business and strategy description, financial ratios, valuation & forecasts, plus a SWOT analysis.
April 15, 2014


RBI Terminates Business on Crimea

The Ukrainian affiliate of Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI), Bank Aval, has terminated its business activity on Crimea.
April 15, 2014


Fricke: “Man Needs Relatively Little Bank”

Fricke, chief economist at the European Climate Foundation and author of “Wie viel Bank braucht der Mensch?" (How much bank does man need?)
April 15, 2014


“Bank Rescue is a Crime”

Martin Ehrenhauser, leading candidate of the Austrian electorial alliance “Europa Anders”, which is running for the EU elections, has voiced harsh criticism about the saving of financial institutes.
April 14, 2014


Slovenia: Head of NLB Throws in Towel

On Friday France Ahar, President of the supervisory board of the biggest lender of Slovenia, state-controlled NLB, handed in his resignation.
April 14, 2014


Uncertainty in Eastern Europe Makes RBI Nervous

In the last few months, the frame conditions in Russia become more and more unpredictable for foreign investors. For RBI, Russia is the most important market.
April 12, 2014


Hypo Group Alpe Adria: Massive Losses in Italy

Last year, the distressed Austrian lender recorded losses in the amount of € 2.7bn. In Italy, losses were highest.
April 11, 2014


Raiffeisen Zentralbank Posts Better Results

The Viennese lender RZB, top institute of the Austrian Raiffeisen sector, posts a significant increase in net income. Nevertheless, the core tier 1 capital quota was down slightly.
April 11, 2014


Slovenia: Banka Celje Trying to Fend Off Bailout

The Slovenian lender is considering a capital increase to avoid national bailout.
April 11, 2014


Raiffeisen Zentralbank Österreich AG - Yearly Report

Annual Report of the Group of Raiffeisen Zentralbank Österreich AG (in German) and an extract in English
April 11, 2014


Raiffeisen Branch to Leave Austria?

One of the provincial units of Raiffeisen Group, regional lender Raiffeisen Landesbank Oberösterreich (RLB OÖ), is considering relocating its headquarters to Germany.
April 11, 2014


Austria: VBAG Sells Malta Affiliate

Partly nationalized VBAG (Österreichische Volksbanken AG) has sold its banking affiliate VB Malta to Maltese Mediterranean Bank (MedBank).
April 11, 2014


Poland: Number of Consumer Loans Increases

According to Polish credit bureau BIK, the number of granted consumer loans has reached a new record.
April 11, 2014


Hypo Group: Disastrous Losses Revealed

Huge write-offs and value adjustments have sent losses of nationalized problem Hypo Group Alpe Adria soaring. Losses running into the billions are expected.
April 10, 2014


Poland: Key Rate Kept on Hold

The Monetary Policy Council of Poland has kept the key interest rate on hold since it ended easening in July last year.
April 10, 2014


Austria: Hypo Group’s Investigation Committee Ready for Action

The group of foreign experts at the investigation commission for Hypo Group Alpe Adria is supposed to guarantee the required objectivity. The first results are expected to be published at the end of the year.
April 10, 2014


Poland: NBP Posts No Profits

In 2013 the Polish National Bank (NBP) posted no profit.
April 10, 2014


Austria: Hypo Group Capitalized Again

The Austrian state has filled the capital hole of the ailing bank again.
April 9, 2014


Erste Group to be Relocated to the Czech Republic?

CEO of Erste Group, Andreas Treichl, has informed Czech President Milos Zeman about the bank’s intention to move to Prague in the coming years.
April 9, 2014


Hypo Group: Former CEO Sentenced to Prison

Former CEO of Hypo and investor Tilo Berlin was sentenced to more than two years in prison.
April 9, 2014


Poland: BZ WBK to Take Over Santander Consumer Bank

Bank BZ WBK was given the go-ahead by the Financial Market Regulator KNF to acquire a 60 percent stake in retail bank Santander Consumer Bank (SCB) from their joint parent bank Banco Santander.
April 9, 2014


IMF Upgrades Growth for Slovenia

In its latest report the International Monetary Fund has raised its projection for GDP growth in Slovenia.
April 9, 2014


Austria: Government Wants “Restrictive Budget Performance”

Today the Austrian government has decided upon a “restrictive budget performance.
April 8, 2014


Fitch: Polish Rating Foundations Very Solid

As reported by news portal “Warsaw Voice”, rating agency Fitch considers the Polish credit rating foundations to be very solid.
April 8, 2014


Poland: Banks to Enhance Bond Issues

The Polish banks are expected to increase the value of bond issues in the next years.
April 8, 2014


Hypo Group too Expensive for BayernLB

According to an official expert, regional German lender BayernLB’s fatal decision to take over Hypo Group Alpe Adria was based on questionable company evaluations.
April 7, 2014


RBI Awarded Best Bank in CEE Once Again

Global Finance Awards: RBI again “Best Bank in CEE”.
April 7, 2014


Hypo Group: Heavy Burden for Austrian Fiscal Position

The Austrian National Bank, however, expects the structural medium-term budgetary objectives to be achievable.
April 7, 2014


RBI to Shut Down Affiliates on Crimea

The Ukrainian affiliate of Raffeisen Bank International (RBI) is closing all its affiliate on Crimea until mid-April.
April 7, 2014


Poland: No Danger of Deflation

According to Marek Belka, governor of the National Bank of Poland (NBP), there is not threat of deflation.
April 7, 2014


ECB Puts Pressure on Hypo Group

The distressed Austrian nationalized lender has no access to the Eurosystem monetary policy credit instruments. About ten potential buyers might be interested in the Balkan lender.
April 5, 2014


Hypo Group: „We Are not the Only One Who Must Pay“

Austrian Minister of Finance Michael Spindelegger underlines that the Austrian taxpayers are not the only ones who must bear the losses of the nationalized lender Hypo Group Alpe Adria.
April 5, 2014


Treichl: „The U.S. Have Solved the Crisis Better“

Andreas Treichl, CEO of the Vienna-listed lender Erste Group, thinks that everything takes too long in Europe. The communication between banks and the government is insufficient, Treichl says.
April 5, 2014


Serbia: Vucic New Prime Minister

The chief of the Serbian Progressiv Party (SNS) Aleksandar Vucic will be nominated by the Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic as the new Prime Minister.
April 4, 2014


Austria: Carinthia Reluctant to Pay for Hypo Group

The Austrian province of Carinthia rejects contributing to the downsizing costs of nationalized Hypo Group. Finance Minister Spindelegger insists on € 500m and threatens with sanctions.
April 4, 2014


Bosnian Billionaire to Acquire Hypo Group?

The Finance Ministry confirmed the announcement and is now examining the offer.
April 4, 2014


Poland: PKO BP to Help Finance Ukrainian Enterprises?

The biggest financial institute in Poland could get involved in a project financing Ukrainian businesses.
April 4, 2014


Austria: Capital Increase for Hypo Group Decided

The Austrian problem bank Hypo Group Alpe Adria will receive € 750m in fresh capital.
April 4, 2014