Vienna International Banking Industry News

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

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

Global Financial Market System: Norbert Walter Urges for Regulation of Financial Markets

Economist Norbert Walter discussed world financial markets with Lower Austria Deputy Governor Sobotka and Hypo Lower Austria Chairman of the Board Harold at the HYPO Invest Club.

October 12, 2010

RZB Group Tatra banka among Lead Managers for Slovak Republic EUR 2 Billion Benchmark Bond

Tatra Banka (RZB Group), HSBC, SG CIB and UniCredit Bank Slovakia placed a Slovak Republic issue with a maturity of fifteen years.

October 11, 2010

Raiffeisen Bank International: Official Start of Business

The merger was concluded successfully and effectively with the company's entry into the commercial register. RZB remains unchanged as the central institution of the Raiffeisen Bank Group in Austria and corporate headquarters for the whole RZB Group.

October 11, 2010

Macquarie to take over Innovest from Siemens

The Macquarie Group acquires Siemens' Innovest KAG. Innovest's activities are an important platform for Macquarie Funds Group in Central Europe and fit into the strategy of Macquarie to build a global asset management company.

October 7, 2010

Hypo Alpe-Adria: 25% of the Slovenian Merkur DIY Chain Put Up for Sale

Hypo Alpe-Adria-Bank International has put up for sale a 25% share of Merkur, the insolvent Slovenian DIY and home improvement products chain, in the daily newspaper "Delo”

October 5, 2010

Brokerjet intends to expand into Poland

The Austrian online broker Brokerjet, a subsidiary of ecetra Central European e-finance AG (ecetra means Erste Bank Central European Trading), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Erste Bank Group, is already active in the Czech Republic and Slovenia.

October 1, 2010

UniCredit SpA has appointed Federico Ghizzoni as its new chief executive

Italy's biggest bank UniCredit SpA named central and eastern European head Federico Ghizzoni its chief executive as expected on Thursday and underscored its commitment to an international role.

October 1, 2010

Vienna now has its own Expat Center

In Vienna, the first Expat Center in Austria was opened. The project was handled by the Vienna Business Agency (former WWFF).

September 30, 2010

Supreme Court: Investors Misled by Meinl European Land Promotional Brochure

The Supreme Court ruled in favor of an investor who was led astray by a MEL-shares promotional brochure. The Meinl Bank describes the ruling as "contradictory," and as "not a good sign for the Austrian capital market."

September 30, 2010

Raiffeisen Invests in New Branches in the Czech Republic

Raiffeisenbank a.s., the fifth largest bank in the Czech Republic, expands its network of branches in the neighboring country.

September 29, 2010

BayernLB has to Wait 7 Years for 3.9 Billion from Carinthia

After the debacle of the Hypo Group Alpe Adria (HGAA), the Bayerische Landesbank will have to wait up to 7 years for the repayment of the 3.9 billion euro. The repayment plan provides for this period.

September 28, 2010

Meinl Bank Pays 6 Million Euro: Airport Intl. and Power Intl. Reach a Partial Agreement

Meinl Bank and International Power pull back all the claims against each other, except those in the arbitration court.

September 27, 2010

Bank Austria: Primeo-investor Wins in First Instance

An investor asked Bank Austria to sell her Primeo participation two months before the Madoff fraud was busted, but Bank Austria has not paid up yet.

September 27, 2010

Austrian Financial Services Discover Immigrants as Customers

Around 1.47 million people living in Austria have a migration background. Therefore, immigrants are an important target group for business. Domestic banks have also been getting into the so-called ethnic banking recently.

September 24, 2010

UniCredit: Andrea Orcel is Possible Successor to Profumo

Andrea Orcel, chief executive of the Global Banking and Markets division of Bank of America Merrill Lynch is rumored to be the favorite in the race to succeed the retiring UniCredit CEO Alessandro Profumo.

September 24, 2010

Elsner Provides Help in Finding Missing Bawag Funds

Former BAWAG CEO wants to clarify the fate of 1.7 billion euro of failed investments allegedly made by the speculator Wolfgang Flöttl to the detriment of BAWAG.

September 24, 2010

Uniqa: Boss Klien Will Leave Mid-2011

The Supervisory Board of Uniqa has decided that CEO Konstantin Klien (59) will retire prematurely in mid 2011.

September 22, 2010

Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) Declined by 80%

Participation in companies and real estate are attractive, but Austrian firms are reluctant to make acquisitions in Eastern Europe.

September 22, 2010

Madoff Fund Report: Enormous Fees Without Any Value Added

After 9.5 years, 50,000 euro would have been eaten up by the "Primeo Select Fund" because of the high fees, is the opinion of an investors’ lawyer about the monies invested by Bank Austria with Bernie Madoff.

September 22, 2010

Profumo Resigns: Bank Austria’s Parent Group UniCredit Under Pressure

The surprise departure of UniCredit CEO Alessandro Profumo is the talk of the town in the financial industry, also in Austria.

September 22, 2010