Vienna International Banking Industry News
Read the latest headlines about developments in the international banking industry in Vienna and Austria
OeNB and People’s Bank of China Sign Investment Agreement
The agreement enables the Austrian National Bank to Invest via PBC in Renminbi-denominated assets.
November 10, 2011
Raiffeisen Cuts Staff in Czech Republic
The Austrian banks local unit has reacted to increasing costs and the poor economic outlook.
November 9, 2011
Massive Layoffs at Volksbanken Group
Hundreds of employees of the Austrian bank will lose their job in the next years, according to media reports.
November 9, 2011
Bawag Sues Linz For € 418m
The U.S.-owned bank now sues the Upper-Austrian capital. Linz has terminated a swap contract based on Swiss Francs.
November 8, 2011
Growth Potential in CEE Banking Sector
The Austrian Raiffeisen Bank International has a very favourable growth outlook for six CEE banking markets representing 80 per cent of the region's total banking assets
November 8, 2011
Hungary Rejects Further Bank Charges
Contrary to its initial plans, Hungary will not resolve further aid measures for domestic loan takers. The government is seeking for cooperation with concerned banks.
November 5, 2011
Moody´s Considers Downgrade of Erste Group
The rating agency says that a downgrade of the long-term rating of Erste Group from “Baa1” to “Baa2”is probable.
November 5, 2011
Moody’s: Downgrade of Erste Group Likely
The Austrian bank will likely be downgraded from “Baa1” to “Baa2”, the rating agency says.
November 4, 2011
Capital Needs of Austrian Banks Total € 4bn
The increase is mainly a result of Erste Group’s third quarter loss, according to OeNB’s Executive Director Andreas Ittner.
November 3, 2011
Erich Hampel New Chairman of Bank Austria’s Supervisory Board
The Austrian succeeds Paolo Fiorentino who will remain on the board as deputy chairman.
November 3, 2011
Linz Believes in Victory Over BAWAG
The capital of the province of Upper Austria filed a lawsuit against Bawag, which is held by the U.S. investment funds Cerberus.
November 2, 2011
No Nationalization of Austrian Banks
The head of the Austrian bank holding company Fimbag, Klaus Liebscher, believes that Austrian major banks do not need further capital provided by the state.
November 2, 2011
Losses for Kommunalkredit Probable
The nationalized Austrian Bank has to build major provisions. Write-offs up to € 500m are possible.
November 1, 2011
Raiffeisen: „Do Not Need State Capital“
Walter Rothensteiner, CEO of the Austrian RZB, intends not to sell shares in order to raise the equity base.
November 1, 2011
Erste Group´s CEO Wants to Avoid Further State Aid
Andreas Treichl, CEO of the Austrian major bank Erste Group, wants to prevent a further influence of the Austrian state.
October 29, 2011
Orban Attacks Austrian Banks
The Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban wants to release his country from the “debt slavery” and criticizes Austria´s reactions.
October 29, 2011
OeNB Dismisses Management of Money Printing Subsidiary
Three persons were fired for suspicion of unlawful actions. € 14m have allegedly been paid as bribe to secure a deal with Syria.
October 28, 2011
Erste Group Reports Loss of € 1.49bn for the Third Quarter
The Austrian bank took extraordinary charges leading to a net loss of € 973.0m in the first nine months of 2011 and significantly reduced CDS exposure.
October 28, 2011
Reactions of Austrian Banks to Capital Buffer Requirements
Raiffeisen Zentralbank (RZB) needs € 1.9bn, Volksbank Group (VBAG) € 972m and Erste Group € 59m in order to comply with the EBA’s new requirements.
October 27, 2011
European Banking Authority: Austrian Banks Need € 2.9bn
Banks are required to establish a buffer such that the Core Tier 1 capital ratio reaches 9%. A major part of the capital needs is attributable to Volksbank Group.
October 27, 2011
Hypo Group Plans to Sell Austrian and Italian Subsidiary
The nationalized bank continues its downsizing program. Major parts shall be privatized again now.
October 25, 2011
Ingrid Krenn-Ditz Becomes the New Head of RBI’s PR Department
According to Raiffeisen Bank International AG’s, in November 2011 Ingrid Krenn-Ditz will take over the management of the Public Relations department.
October 24, 2011
Schaller New CEO of RLB Upper Austria
Heinrich Schaller will succeed Ludwig Scharinger as CEO of the regional Raiffeisenlandesbank. Scharinger retires, but becomes consultant for RLB.
October 24, 2011
Volksbanken Group Wants to Sell its 25% Stake in Insurer Victoria
According to Wirtschaftsblatt, which is citing well informed sources, ÖVAG Österreichische Volksbanken-AG want to separate completely from Victoria Insurance by selling its shares to the Victoria’s majority owner Ergo, the unit of German Munich Re.
October 21, 2011
Raiffeisen as Success Guarantee for the Polish State Railways Bond
Polskie Koleje Panstwowe Spólka Akcyjna (“PKP”), the Polish State Railways, rated BBB by Fitch, successfully issued its debut international transaction in the form of a Eurobond amounting to EUR 180 million, reported the Raiffeisen Bank International.
October 21, 2011
Slovak Bank Tax Is Going to Hurt Austrian Banks
On Thursday the Slovak parliament has officially approved a bank levy. The tax is one of the measures taken by the government to strengthen the Slovak budget.
October 21, 2011
Hypo Group: „Need Time, not Cash“
Gottwald Kranebitter, CEO of the Austrian nationalized Hypo Group emphasizes the independence from further state capital.
October 18, 2011
FMA Investigates Against Treichl
The Austrian Financial Market Authority has severe suspicions against Erste Group´s CEO Andreas Treichl.
October 18, 2011
Greek Haircut Would Cost Another € 350m
Austrian banks still have a substantial exposure in Greece. A haircut up to 60% seems possible. Then, another € 350m would have to be written off.
October 18, 2011
€ 4.0bn Capital Requirement for Austrian Banks
After the industrialist Hannes Androsch, also the Vice-President of the Austrian Central Bank (OeNB), Wolfgang Duchatczek, sees a need to support domestic banks.
October 17, 2011
VIG Upgraded by Raiffeisen
Current talks of bank recapitalization can in the view of Raiffeisen Research be a positive trigger for the insurance sector.
October 17, 2011
Erste Bank Hungary Opens Home Savings Bank
According to Imre Szatno. the deputy head of retail division of Erste Bank in Hungary, quoted by Budapest Business Journal, the Erste Group has launched its own home saving bank.
October 17, 2011
Do Austrian Banks Need More Capital?
Recently, the prominent Austrian industrialist Hannes Androsch expressed his concerns about the equity situation of Austrian banks. Androsch sees many challenges for the domestic bank sector.
October 15, 2011
Erste Group Increases Stake in BCR
The Austrian Erste Group further expands in the difficult Romanian market. Erste Group will hold 94% in BCR then.
October 15, 2011
Erste Group Signs Facility Agreement with Ukrainian Energy Holding
The Austrian bank extends an existing credit facility for DTEK from € 50 to € 100m with a maturity of three years.
October 14, 2011
VBAG Expects Massive Loss
The Austrian bank has to write off € 700m on the book value of its participations in Investkredit and Volksbank Romania. The state’s participation capital will not be repaid this year.
October 14, 2011
Slovakia Approved EFSF
After unsuccessful voting on Tuesday, Slovak lawmakers supported today the enlargement of the European Financial Stability Fund.
October 13, 2011
Vienna Insurance Group Has Its Own Funds to Buy the Polish Insurer Warta
Guenter Geyer, the head of the Austrian insurance company quoted by the Polish daily Gazeta Prawna confirmed the interest in an auction of the Warta Insurance and Reinsurance Company.
October 13, 2011
OeEB Grants Credit to Azerbaijani Bank
DemirBank receives $ 25m from the Austrian Development Bank, RBI and other lenders to support entrepreneurs in Azerbaijan.
October 12, 2011
Bank Austria Rethinks Expansion in Hungary
The subsidiary of Italian UniCredit reviews its activities in the country. A withdrawal is not ruled out.
October 12, 2011
„Austrian Banks Are Robust“
Ewald Nowotny, the head of the Austrian Central Bank (OeNB) as well as the Minister of Finance, Maria Fekter, appreciate the announcement of Erste Group.
October 11, 2011
Bank Austria Optimizing its Activities in Russia
Sergey Sidorov to remain CEO until year end and to support the organizational and strategic Changes. Alexander Cheporov to become Head of Equity Brokerage Operations.
October 11, 2011
Santander Close to Become a Leading Player in Poland
According to the Polish daily Rzeczpospolita, Santander, the Euro zone’s top lender, made a binding offer for Polish Kredyt Bank.
October 11, 2011
UniCredit is Optimistic For ATX
Despite several uncertainties, UniCredit sees the potential of a positive long-term development for the Austrian main index ATX. The new ATX target is 2700 points for the next 12 months.
October 11, 2011
RBI: „There Is No Reason to Write Off“
After Erste Group has published its highly negative forecast for 2011, Raiffeisen Bank International came under pressure. RBI underlines that its risk is not comparable to that of Erste Group.
October 10, 2011
Surprising Write-Offs at Erste Group
Due to write-offs in Hungary and Romania, Austrian Erste Group reports a net loss of about € 920 - 970m in the first three quarters of 2011.
October 10, 2011
UniCredit: Sale of Bank Austria?
According to market rumors, the Italian bank considers to sell its Austrian subsidiary in order to strengthen its own position. Bank Austria´s CEO Cernko denies fiercely.
October 8, 2011
Kärntner Sparkasse Finalized Withdrawal from Italy
The Carinthian bank will close its operating business in Italy. The branches have been overtaken by the South Tyrolean “Südtiroler Sparkasse”.
October 8, 2011
Erste Bank to Keep State Capital Into 2012
According to Bloomberg, Erste Group Bank, Austria’s biggest lender, may not repay € 1.2bn in state aid until 2012.
October 8, 2011
RBI: Capital Injection for Hungarian Subsidiary Likely
The Austrian bank’s losses from the conversion of foreign currency loans will amount to approximately € 100m.
October 7, 2011
Fast News Search
This category only
