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        Vienna International Banking Industry News
Read the latest headlines about developments in the international banking industry in Vienna and Austria
          
    
        Capital Requirement of Austria's Banks: € 19bn
      
      According to the Austrian National Bank, domestic banks needed at least € 19bn in equity capital by 2010 to meet capital requirements.
                                  April 21, 2011                                        
    
    
        Strong Profit Growth for Raiffeisen Landesbank Niederösterreich-Vienna
      
      The annual income of the regional bank rose by 80.5% to € 308.6m. The operating profit grew by 57.8%.
                                  April 20, 2011                                        
    
    
        Decrease in Profit at Hypo Lower Austria
      
      Despite improvements in operating profits, net profit of the company drops from € 19.8m to € 7.1m.
                                  April 19, 2011                                        
    
    
        Erste Group Manages € 1.00bn increase of Slovak sovereign bonds
      
      Total orders at approximately € 1.4bn from almost 80 investors . Approx. 80% have been subscribed internationally, mostly from Czech, Germany, Austrian, Benelux and Asian investors
                                  April 18, 2011                                        
    
    
        ÖVAG Group Achieved Turnaround in 2010
      
      Operating results rose by 34% against 2009, profit after taxes was € 55m. The government participation capital will be refunded this year.
                                  April 18, 2011                                        
    
    
        ÖVAG to be Split
      
      Resolution to transfer the banking business of Österreichische Volksbanken-Aktiengesellschaft (ÖVAG) to Investkredit Bank AG by way of de-merger planned for 19 May 2011.
                                  April 16, 2011                                        
    
    
        Raiffeisen Zentralbank Posts 57% Increase in Profits
      
      Profit before tax: € 1,292 million (+56.8 per cent) - Return on equity before tax 12.5 per cent (+3.7 PP).
                                  April 15, 2011                                        
    
    
        Kommunalkredit within the Profit Sector
      
      After the split of the former Kommunalkredit in November 2009, the KA has exceeded profit targets with a provisional net profit of € 24.7m.
                                  April 14, 2011                                        
    
    
        AutoBank‘s Figures Slightly Negative
      
      The Austrian specialist bank could improve its results and market position slightly. The forecasts were exceeded, according to AutoBank.
                                  April 13, 2011                                        
    
    
        Erste Bank takes over Intermarket Bank
      
      With the acquisition of the Polish subsidiary of Commerzbank, Erste plans to significantly expand its corporate business and invests in factoring.
                                  April 11, 2011                                        
    
    
        ÖVAG Participates in the Stress Test
      
      Unlike last year, the Austrian Volksbanken group (ÖVAG) is to participate in the EU-wide stress testing of banks. 5% equity is assumed as lower limit.
                                  April 9, 2011                                        
    
    
        Raiffeisen Bank International Posts Consolidated Profit of € 1.1bn in 2010
      
      Consolidated profit rises 141.5 per cent year-on-year to € 1,087 m (pro forma 2009: € 450 m)
                                  April 9, 2011                                        
    
    
        Corporate Banking: Bank Austria still dominant
      
      Corporate banking is an important pillar of business for Bank Austria, generating € 899 m or one fourth of the total operating result. The market share is 89%.
                                  April 9, 2011                                        
    
    
        Austria’s Exposure to Portugal: € 433m
      
      France is clearly the larges creditor of the troubled country. Portugal owes Austria € 433m.
                                  April 8, 2011                                        
    
    
        Koren Leaves Bawag
      
      Bawag P.S.K. announces that the Deputy Chief Executive Officer Stephan Koren will not be available for an extension of his term of office as of 1 May.
                                  April 5, 2011                                        
    
    
        Volume of Bank Austria Wohnbaubank Bonds Remained Stable
      
      Bank Austria could hold its dominant position in the Austrian residential construction bonds market in 2010.
                                  April 5, 2011                                        
    
    
        Bank Schelhammer & Schattera with Stable Results
      
      The operating results of the Austrian bank are at the same level as in the previous year. Lending volume and customer deposits increased slightly.
                                  April 5, 2011                                        
    
    
        Increase of Profits at RLB Tirol
      
      Raiffeisenlandesbank Tirol registered a higher yearly net profit despite falling income. Risk provisions were greatly reduced.
                                  April 5, 2011                                        
    
    
        Slight Rise in Results for Sparkasse Oberösterreich
      
      The regional bank could achieve an operating profit of € 96m in 2010. This enabled the pre-crisis levels to be reached again.
                                  April 2, 2011                                        
    
    
        Hypo-Group Restructuring to be Completed by 2012
      
      The bank that was emergency nationalized in 2009 suffered a loss of about € 1.06bn in 2010. The current year should end up balanced.
                                  March 31, 2011                                        
    
    
        Weinviertler Sparkasse and Erste Bank to merge
      
      The Merger is planned for September 2011, which is seen as "Logical next move" after the acquisition in 2009.
                                  March 31, 2011                                        
    
    
        OeNB: "Positive Signals from the Banking System"
      
      The expected consolidated net income of Austrian banks rose to € 4.58bn, generated in large part on foreign markets.
                                  March 30, 2011                                        
    
    
        Austrian SME as New Target for Bank Austria
      
      In total, € 13.2bn of new loans could be granted at Bank Austria in Austria in 2010 (corresponding to an increase of 19.3 percent as compared to 2009)
                                  March 29, 2011                                        
    
    
        BTV with Record Figures in 2010
      
      The regional bank for Tyrol and Vorarlberg was able to increase its net income from 20.4% to 61.8%.
                                  March 26, 2011           · Updated: March 26, 2011; 13:03                              
    
    
        “GemeindeMilliarde” Initiative of Bank Austria Extended
      
      In view of strong demand from municipalities Bank Austria expands GemeindeMilliarde initiative by a further € 500 m
                                  March 26, 2011                                        
    
    
        ÖVAG Bundles Real Estate Activities
      
      Austrian Volksbanken-AG (ÖVAG) bundles its real estate activities in the competence center "VB Real Estate Services”.
                                  March 24, 2011           · Updated: March 24, 2011; 01:17                              
    
    
        Bawag Announces Being Back in Black
      
      Despite the continued difficult economic environment and the increasing regulatory burden, BAWAG P.S.K. realised good results in 2010, with an annual overall net profit recorded for the first time in four years.
                                  March 24, 2011                                        
    
    
        Bank Austria: Operating Performance Improved, Net Profits Decline
      
      The Austrian subsidiary of UniCredit announces net consolidated profits of € 747m (-32%). Profits before taxes are down by 14%.
                                  March 24, 2011                                        
    
    
        RLB Upper Austria Records Massive Increase in Earnings
      
      Raiffeisenlandesbank Upper Austria (RLB) shows an increase in operating profits by 66.1%.
                                  March 21, 2011                                        
    
    
        Ikrath: "Bank Tax Should Fall in 2012"
      
      Once the proposed bank rescue fund is set up, there should be no more national bank tax, says Michael Ikrath from the Sparkassenverband (Savings Banks Association).
                                  March 19, 2011                                        
    
    
        Hypo Group Starts Sales
      
      The emergency-nationalized Carinthian Hypo Group is to sell its Austrian and Italian subsidiary in the coming weeks.
                                  March 19, 2011                                        
    
    
        Steiermärkische Sparkasse Doubled Profits
      
      The general recovery in the Austrian banking sector in 2010 was also felt by the regional banks. Yearly net income increased from € 41m to € 79m.
                                  March 17, 2011                                        
    
    
        Bawag: Successful Return to Profitability
      
      The Austrian bank, which is held by the American Cerberus fund, achieved a profit of € 125m in 2010.
                                  March 17, 2011                                        
    
    
        Good Prospects for Kärntner Sparkasse
      
      The regional bank was able to improve its operational result significantly last year. But Slovenian results still hinder profits.
                                  March 16, 2011                                        
    
    
        VBI: Romania Remains a Weak Point
      
      The foreign holding of the Austrian Volksbanken group has to cope with credit risk provisions for € 160m from its Romanian subsidiary.
                                  March 16, 2011                                        
    
    
        Bank Employees’ Salaries Increase at an Average of 2.3%
      
      The union is satisfied with the salary increase of collective agreements for bank employees.
                                  March 15, 2011                                        
    
    
        RLB Upper Austria Intends to Grow in Russia
      
      The regional bank Raiffeisenlandesbank Upper Austria (RLB) purchased a 2.95% share in the South Russian Krayinvestbank in Krasnodar.
                                  March 14, 2011                                        
    
    
        Upward Trend for Erste Group and Raiffeisen
      
      The two Austrian players rise slightly in the ranking of the world's biggest banks. Erste Group is among the top 100.
                                  March 12, 2011                                        
    
    
        Banks: No Agreement on Salary Negotiations
      
      No agreement has been reached either in the fourth round of collective negotiations for bank employees. The situation is worsening.
                                  March 9, 2011                                        
    
    
        Austrian Clearingbank Concludes Activities
      
      The activities of the Oesterreichische Clearingbank, founded in 2008 to handle liquidity shortages at commercial banks end presently.
                                  March 5, 2011                                        
    
    
        Increasing Profits for BKS
      
      The Carinthian/Styrian regional bank could increase net earnings after taxes by 14.8%.
                                  March 4, 2011                                        
    
    
        High Losses for ÖVAG-subsidiary
      
      VBI, the subsidiary of foreign equity holding company of the Austrian Volksbanken-Group, realized losses in 2010 amounting to € 21.8m.
                                  March 4, 2011                                        
    
    
        The Madoff Affair: Austria Gets Into the Focus of U.S. Authorities
      
      In the course of the Madoff fraud case, an American legal assistance request has now been filed before the Austrian justice system. Austrian banking circles are involved.
                                  March 1, 2011                                        
    
    
        Erste Group: State Aid to be Refunded
      
      The CEO of Erste Group, Andreas Treichl, is considering paying back the state money for the amount of € 1.2bn.
                                  February 26, 2011                                        
    
    
        Profit Record for Erste Group
      
      Austrian Erste Group increases 2010 net profit by 12.4% to € 1,015.4 m on strong operating result and lower risk costs.
                                  February 26, 2011                                        
    
    
        VBI: Purchase by Sberbank is Looming
      
      The sale of the Eastern European holding company of the Austrian ÖVAG is taking shape. Even Chinese investors are interested.
                                  February 25, 2011                                        
    
    
        Erste Group: Strong Increase in Lending
      
      The Austrian Erste Group granted € 7.8bn loans in 2010 and expects demand for credit to rise in 2011 and 2012.
                                  February 25, 2011                                        
    
    
        Saving in Austria Still Popular
      
      Erste Bank’s forecast on savings and credit trends: Austrians plan to set aside approximately € 5,460 in 2011.
                                  February 22, 2011                                        
    
    
        Record for Austrian Savings & Loan Associations
      
      Savings & loan associations exceeded the one million mark for the second time in 2010. Cash disbursements amounted to € 3.1bn.
                                  February 19, 2011                                        
    
    
        Hypo Group: Losses up to € 1.3bn
      
      The emergency-nationalized Hypo Group is deep in the red zone as the result of high provisions and value adjustments.
                                  February 19, 2011                                        
    
      
    