Vienna International Banking Industry News

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

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

Erste Group manages € 1.25bn increase of Slovak Bonds

Strong interest for the Slovak sovereign bonds offering: total orders amounted to € 1.9bn from over 100 investors.

February 19, 2011

Bizarre Allegations of Meinl against Atrium

The ongoing conflict between the Austrian bank and the US-Israeli real estate fund shows new and unusual facets.

February 16, 2011

Vienna Stock Exchange: Winners & Losers (2011-02-15)

Daily News-Flash from the Vienna Stock Exchange: Upgrades & Downgrades, Winners & Losers.

February 16, 2011

Erste Bank Hungary CEO to resign

Edit Papp, the CEO of Erste Bank Hungary, has decided to pursue other professional opportunities and therefore announced her resignation.

February 16, 2011

Accusations against Hypo Group in Slovenia

The Austrian bank is under investigation because of suspicious real estate and financial transactions.

February 15, 2011

Stepic: Austria is Destroying its Business Location

The CEO of Raiffeisen International Bank (RBI), Herbert Stepic, considers the domestic business location to be in grave danger.

February 12, 2011

Hypo Group Changes Leadership in Slovenia

Both the Slovenian subsidiary bank and the leasing company will receive a new leadership for "restructuring reasons".

February 10, 2011

150 New Bank Austria Branches in Eastern Europe

The new board of the CEE Division of Bank Austria presented the group's expansion plans for Eastern Europe. By 2015, 900 branches are to be added.

February 9, 2011

Bank Tax is "untimely" for ÖVAG

The Austrian Volksbank Group's CEO, Gerald Wenzel, expects expenditure of € 40m due to the bank tax.

February 8, 2011

RBI Faces an Increase in Equity

The Austrian Raiffeisen Bank International will strengthen its equity, announces Attorney General Konrad.

February 8, 2011

RLB Burgenland’s Profits Increase

Burgenland's regional bank recorded an operating profit of € 49m for 2010, which represents a slight improvement compared with 2009.

February 4, 2011

Raiffeisen Bank International Acquires 70% of Polbank

The Austrian RBI purchases Polbank for € 490m in cash. Polbank is seen as ideal complement to existing Raiffeisen Bank Polska .

February 4, 2011

Atrium Terminates Trust Agreements with Meinl

The US-American/Israeli fund Atrium terminates trust agreements with the Austrian Meinl Bank AG under the 2003 and 2005 bonds due to “important reasons”.

February 3, 2011

Austria's Credit Industry Appeals to the Constitutional Court

The price gains tax introduced as of January 1, 2011 encounters legal resistance. The Banking Division of the Chamber of Commerce announced a complaint of unconstitutionality.

February 2, 2011

AvW Trial: Eight Years in Prison

An 8 years imprisonment sentence was imposed on the founder and CEO of AvW Group, Wolfgang Auer-Welsbach,

February 1, 2011

Hypo Upper Austria Reports stable Profits

According to the management, the regional bank could exceed its own expectations. Annual profit was € 27m.

February 1, 2011

Atrium: "Meinl Exploited its Position as a Trustee”

After the repayment of the convertible bond to the Austrian Meinl Bank, the real estate funds considers the calling as "blatant unlawfulness."

February 1, 2011

Member of the Board of the Stock Exchange to be Scharinger's Successor?

Heinrich Schaller, Member of the Board of the Vienna Stock Exchange is considered as favorite to succeed the longtime CEO of Raiffeisen Landesbank OÖ.

February 1, 2011