Vienna International Banking Industry News

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

Volksbanken Group Announces Q3 Results

Österreichische Volksbanken-AG Group (VBAG) returns on a positive growth path. The turnaround has been successfully completed.

November 22, 2010

BKS and BTV Show Profit Growth

The two sister banks report strong profits. Expectations are cautiously optimistic.

November 22, 2010

UniCredit: Expansion to the Czech Republic, Poland and Turkey

UniCredit’s subsidiary Bank Austria functions as an Eastern Europe Holding. 40% of the net income of the group comes from the region by now.

November 19, 2010

Oberbank Announces Results for Third Quarter 2010

Due to the expansion of interest and commission income and a stable cost structure, Oberbank has achieved an excellent result.

November 16, 2010

Merger Between Volksbanken and Investkredit

The merger between the Österreichischen Volksbanken AG (ÖVAG) and Investkredit, the subsidiary acquired in 2005, shall be in effect by July.

November 16, 2010

Hypo Tirol Regroups

The Tyrolean Hypo Bank AG is planning a new market direction, staff restructuring and financial consolidation.

November 16, 2010

Austria's Exposure in Ireland: 3.4 Billion Euro

Since September 2009, Austrian banks have halved their exposure in Ireland. The most affected countries are the United Kingdom and Germany.

November 15, 2010

AE&E: New Details on Negotiations

Negotiations over the troubled A-Tec's subsidiary AE&E continue, but they get an unexpected sideshow.

November 12, 2010

S&T Denies Bankruptcy Petition

The Vienna Stock Exchange listed IT company provides S&T is facing widespread allegations. It has been rumored that the company is faced with a bankruptcy petition.

November 12, 2010

Erste Group: Job Reduction in Hungary

The Austrian bank plans to cut 250 jobs in Hungary. Reasons are the bad loans and the introduction of the bank tax.

November 11, 2010

Basel III: Banks Expect Lower Profits

Private banks will have to adjust to lower profits because of Basel III regulations..

November 11, 2010

UniCredit CEO Ghizzoni: Counting on eastern growth

The eastern business should be expanded, says Ghizzoni, CEO of the parent company of Bank Austria.

November 10, 2010

Bank Austria: Results for the First Nine Months of 2010

Bank Austria experienced a significant drop in profits as well as operating results. However, the third quarter of 2010 showed an outstanding performance.

November 10, 2010

A-Tec: No Agreement Yet

According to the boss of the Kreditorenschutzverbandes (KSV, Creditor Protection Association), Hans-Georg Kantner, there will still be no solution on today Monday. Negotiations are still underway.

November 8, 2010

Raiffeisen CEO Stepic: CEE Continues Being Europe’s Growth Driver

The boss of Raiffeisen Bank International Bank (RBI), Herbert Stepic, sees the CEE region continuing as long-term growth driver for Europe.

November 8, 2010

Bank Boss Confirms: Bank Tax will be Passed on to Customers

Massive criticism of the federal government is also coming now from the boss of Raiffeisen Zentralbank (RZB). Bank customers will have to bear both the bank tax and the securities tax.

November 8, 2010

Bank Tax: Constitutional Concerns

Banks are to contribute a fixed tax amount based on the values given for 2010 for three years. Constitutional jurists consider this modus operandi as "highly questionable".

November 8, 2010

Strabag: Time is Running Out for Deripaska

The re-entry of Deripaska into the largest Austrian construction group is to be fixed still this weekend. His comeback has been expected for several weeks.

November 5, 2010

A-Tec: Compromise Between Banks and Creditors

The creditors of the ailing industrial group A-Tec have been able to reach a compromise with the banks to provide further financing for the Group.

November 5, 2010

Trichet Succession: The Austrian Nowotny Has Chances As Outsider

The European Central Bank (ECB) will appoint a new president in November 2011. The favorites are the German Axel Weber and the Italian Mario Draghi. But Nowotny has outsider chances.

November 5, 2010

Polytec: Withdrawal of RLB Oberösterreich?

According to market information, the Raiffeisen Landesbank Oberösterreich (Upper Austria) will separate from the auto supplier, who was badly hit by the crisis, but is writing black figures again.

November 4, 2010

Bawag and Post Seal Cooperation

BAWAG and the Post want to enter into a symbiosis and create their own nationwide network of branches throughout Austria by 2012.

November 4, 2010

Raiffeisen Participates in Bid for Polbank

Raiffeisen International Bank (RBI) tries to get into the act concerning the sale of Polbank. The eighth largest bank in Poland is currently owned by EFG Euro Bank, which is offering its Polish interest for sale.

November 3, 2010

Hypo-Group Changes Board of Austrian Subsidiary

Hypo Alpe Adria makes new appointments to the Executive Board of the Austrian banking subsidiary Hypo Alpe-Adria-Bank AG.

November 2, 2010

Hypo Proceedings: New Revelations

Both sensitive data and risk and control instruments were handled negligently.

November 2, 2010

A-Tec: Financing Only Secured Until January

The plan of the creditors' committee was rejected. The Banks are consulting with each other for the financing of the ailing A-Tec group, after which the creditors’ committee will present a new proposal to the credit institutions.

November 2, 2010

Identification Required for Savings Account Withdrawals

Since November 1, the implementation of the EU directive on anti-money laundering is in force. Customers therefore need not only a password, but also identification for a savings account withdrawal.

November 2, 2010

A-Tec: Banks Working on Counter-Proposal

After the fruitless negotiations, the banks plan to draw up a counterproposal. In addition, a British investor is showing interest in joining.

October 30, 2010

Volksbank: Greater Efficiency by Downsizing

The Austrian Volksbank AG (ÖVAG) has not been able to reach a cooperation with other domestic banks. The deal with the BAWAG failed. Now, the Volksbank is looking for alternatives.

October 30, 2010

Erste Group Posts Net Profit of EUR 737 Million

Net profit rose by 2.3% to EUR 736.8 million in the first nine months of 2010. The cost/income ratio improved to 48.7%, from 50.9% in the first three quarters of 2009.

October 29, 2010

Hypo Group: Serious Allegations Against Kulterer

The former airline “Styrian Spirit" is said to have been financed without collateral, according to expert opinion. Kulterer defends himself and points to guarantee commitments by Jörg Haider.

October 29, 2010

Kovats in Distress: Rescue Package Must Stand Firm by Monday

The coming days are of utmost relevance for Mirko Kovats’s insolvent A-Tec Group. The rescue package must be ready by Monday.

October 29, 2010

Bank Tax: Only 185 Million Remain for the Federation

In negotiations with the provinces, the federal government surprisingly yields to pressures: proceeds from the bank tax will be divided.

October 29, 2010

Tax on Securities’ Profits: Financial Industry in a Rage

The tax is targeted at the middle class, but it means especially an administrative burden and creates competitive disadvantages, according to the industry.

October 28, 2010

A-Tec Restructuring: Kovats Hands Over 25.1%

The banks inject new money into the insolvent company; Kovats has no longer the majority. If restructuring fails, the banks have realization authority.

October 28, 2010

Lending Policy of Banks is Stabilized

Results for Austria of the October 2010 credit business survey in the euro area

October 28, 2010

Hypo Group: Dramatic Losses Expected for 2010

The bank has to downsize, and will therefore have to part with many assets, according to the chairman of the board. For 2012, prrofits are expected again.

October 27, 2010

A-Tec: Will 100 Million be Given Up by the Creditors?

The creditors' committee deliberates today on how the company will continue existing. Mirko Kovats, founder and CEO of the company, wants to make a "substantial contribution" to the issue.

October 27, 2010

HYPO Group: Further Liabilities Necessary?

The Carinthian HYPO Group would suffer massive losses should it sell its real estate in the Balkans. Due to the write-offs, new liabilities of the Republic might be required.

October 25, 2010

New Budget: Details and Reactions

The entire tax package will bring additional revenues for around 1.2 billion euro. There are further saving measures for 1.6 billion euro. Reactions from the economic actors are ambivalent.

October 25, 2010

New Budget, New Taxes

The budget includes a new austerity package, which consists essentially of taxes on mineral oil, tobacco and banks.

October 25, 2010

Bank Austria CEO Cernko: No More Bank Tax Soon

Due to Basel III, location reasons and to safeguard jobs, the bank tax will only be effective temporarily, according to Cernko

October 22, 2010

Raiffeisen CEO Stepic: The Crisis in Eastern Europe is Not Over Yet

The RBI boss explains why recovery is taking longer, why his institute does not want to pay back the state capital yet, and why he considers that Raiffeisen is being treated unfairly.

October 22, 2010

A-Tec Offers a 30% Quota

CEO Kovats is trying to rehabilitate his insolvent company with the help of creditors.

October 21, 2010

IMF Considers Recovery as "Moderate and Uneasy"

Growth in Europe seems to be normalizing slowly. Dynamism is missing though, and many vulnerabilities are as yet unresolved.

October 20, 2010

Tax Evaders Targeted by the Ministers of Finance

Budget problems plague the majority of EU countries. In addition to budget discipline, the prosecution of tax evaders is to be addressed.

October 18, 2010

Hypo-Group: Bavarian Lawsuit Against Carinthia

The balance sheet of the Hypo Group -nationalized in 2009- was artificially inflated, according to the accusation from Bavaria.

October 18, 2010

Supervision of Banks: Austria and Russia Intensify Cooperation

A Memorandum of Understanding just signed facilitates cooperation in banking supervision between the two countries.

October 18, 2010

OeNB Governor Nowotny Contradicts the Deutsche Bundesbank

"The ECB should not give up purchasing bonds". Although the bond purchase program of the ECB was not needed in recent weeks, Nowotny wants to go on having it "in reserve”. The German Bundesbank warns of a too late withdrawal.

October 13, 2010

Post and Bawag Join Branches

BAWAG PSK and the Post have agreed to work together more closely. BAWAG branches and larger post offices will offer in future both postal and banking services.

October 13, 2010