Vienna International Banking Industry News

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

Bawag: Losses for Cerberus Running into Billions

There are persistent rumors that the U.S. investor may leave the Austrian bank. For Cerberus, Bawag is a disaster.

February 11, 2014

Austria: Bank Participation for Hypo Off

A participation model with Austrian banks can be ruled out for ailing Hypo Group. Instead, a more expensive version will be applied.

February 10, 2014

FMA: Hypo Group Bankruptcy Incalculable Risk

The government does not dismiss the idea of a bankruptcy of ailing Hypo Alpe Adria. However, the Financial Market Authority (FMA) has expressly warned of this form of downsizing of the state bank.

February 10, 2014

Ukraine: RBI Examines Offers

Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) has received a total of twelve offers for its Ukranian affiliate.

February 10, 2014

Serbia: Inflation Requires New IMF Agreement

In the light of a devaluation of the Dinar Serbia needs a new agreement with the IMF to improve funding and accelerate the realization of reforms.

February 10, 2014

Poland: Slight Drop in 2013 Banks’ Profits

Polish banks displayed a total net profit of PLN 15.43 billion in the financial year 2013, which is a slight decrease of 0.3 percent on an annual comparison basis.

February 10, 2014

Spindelegger Insists on Austrian Bank Secret

On Friday the Finance Ministry confirmed to the Austrian Press Agency (APA) that there is “momentum in the field” in regard to disclosure of information about bank accounts of foreigners.

February 10, 2014

Hypo Group Alpe Adria: The War of Nerves Has Begun

The Austrian government puts enormous pressure on the Austrian banking sector and does not exclude Hypo Group´s orderly bankruptcy anymore. The Austrian banking sector insistently warns of this option.

February 9, 2014 · Updated: February 9, 2014; 23:41

Hypo Group Alpe Adria: Sevelda Rejects „Joint Bad Bank“

Karl Sevelda, CEO of Vienna-listed RBI (Raiffeisen Bank International), does not want to become shareholder of the common bad bank for the nationalized lender Hypo Group Alpe Adria.

February 9, 2014

ECB Wants to Supervise All Banks

For the European Central Bank, the current authority does not go far enough. The ECB wants to control all 6,600 banks in the Eurozone.

February 8, 2014

Sale of Bad Assets: UniCredit Under Pressure

The parent company of Bank Austria, the Italian lender UniCredit, wants to sell its risky assets as soon as possible. Insiders report that UniCredit wants to sell its “bad bank”.

February 8, 2014 · Updated: February 8, 2014; 14:12

Hypo Group Alpe Adria: Extreme Burden for Austrian State Budget Ahead

The bad news about the nationalized Balkan lender do not break up. In 2014, the Austrian problem bank may cause costs in the amount of € 9bn.

February 7, 2014

Hungary: Why Orban Faces Another Victory

At the beginning of April, Hungary will hold elections. Despite a high level of dissatisfaction and political frustration, there will be no government change.

February 7, 2014 · Updated: February 7, 2014; 17:59

FHB Bank Acquires Stake in Takarek Bank

The largest Hungarian mortgage bank becomes a core shareholder of the Hungarian savings bank Takarek Bank. Takarekbank is an umbrella bank for the Hungarian savings bank sector.

February 7, 2014

Hyp Group Alpe Adria: “No Unnecessary Bankruptcy”

Klaus Liebscher, president of Hypo Group´s supervisory board, points out that Hypo Group´s bankruptcy would involve enormous risks. The Austrian government remains conspicuously calm.

February 7, 2014

Austrian Bad Bank Received Further State Aid

The Austrian Ministry of Finance injected € 150m into KA Finanz, the bad bank of the publicly held Kommunalkredit.

February 6, 2014

Hypo Group Alpe Adria: Harsh Criticism on Austrian Government

The Austrian opposition blames the government for concealing the biggest financial disaster in Austria´s history. Governor of the Austrian National Bank Ewald Nowotny is under fire too.

February 6, 2014

Fitch Criticizes European Stress Tests

The rating agency argues that there is still a lack in technical details. Regarding the robustness of the stress tests, Fitch demonstrates skepticism.

February 6, 2014

Hypo Group Alpe Adria: Bankruptcy Would Affect Foreign Investors

In case of an unorderly insolvency of the Austrian nationalized lender, not only Austrian creditors would have to absorb losses. The majority of the bondholders are German and Swiss investors.

February 6, 2014

Austrian National Bank: Hypo Bankruptcy Would Cost € 24bn

The nationalized Balkan lender Hypo Group Alpe Adria causes major difficulties. Although the bankruptcy would be the cheapest option for Austrian taxpayers, the Austrian National Bank tries to prevent this scenario by all means.

February 5, 2014

Hypo Group Alpe Adria: Fitch Recommends “Joint Bad Bank”

According to the rating agency, the best alternative is a joint solution between the Austrian state and privately held banks. In return, the bank levy should be reduced, Fitch says.

February 5, 2014

Raiffeisen Bank International: Moody´s Downgrades Ukrainian Subsidiary

Due to the political instability, the U.S. rating agency lowers the rating of Aval Bank, the Ukrainian affiliate of Austrian RBI (Raiffeisen Bank International).

February 5, 2014

“Hypo Group Bankruptcy Would Affect RBI Adversely“

According to the Vienna-based Raiffeisen Bank International, both a joint bad bank and Hypo Group´s insolvency have negative consequences on RBI´s share.

February 5, 2014

Poland: Sixteen Banks to be Examined by EBA

In total, sixteen Polish banks will participate in the stress tests carried out by the European Banking Authority.

February 4, 2014

Austrian Government Does Not Rule Out Hypo Group´s Bankruptcy Anymore (2/2)

In the past few weeks, the Austrian government and the Austrian National Bank excluded this alternative categorically. Now, the bankruptcy scenario seems to be an option again.

February 4, 2014

Austrian Government Does Not Rule Out Hypo Group´s Bankruptcy Anymore (1/2)

In the past few weeks, the Austrian government and the Austrian National Bank excluded this alternative categorically. Now, the bankruptcy scenario seems to be an option again.

February 4, 2014

Santander on Circulated Sales Talks: „No Comment“

As reported by Vindobona, Spanish Banco Santander is said to be interest in taking over the fifth largest Austrian lender Bawag. Bawag´s management remains silent on this matter.

February 4, 2014

„Hungary and Austria Must not Become Enemies“

Ewald Nowotny, governor of the Austrian National Bank (OeNB) wants a solution between the Hungarian government and the Austrian banking sector.

February 4, 2014

Hypo Group: Calls for Bankruptcy Become Louder

The Austrian government wants to prevent the bankruptcy of the nationalized lender Hypo Group Alpe Adria. However, there are better arguments for an orderly insolvency.

February 3, 2014

Serbia: First License Withdrawal of Private Bank

For the first time in the Serbian history, a privately held bank loses its license.

February 3, 2014

Santander Interested in Bawag?

The Spanish Banco Santander is said to be interested in Bawag, the German daily “Handelsblatt” reports.

February 3, 2014

„We Must Watch CESEE Very Carefully“

In an interview with the Austrian daily „Standard“, board member of Österreichische Kontrollbank AG Angelika Sommer-Hemetsberger said that the economic crisis in CESEE is not over yet.

February 3, 2014

Austria: First Signs of a Credit Crunch

According to the CFO barometer, large enterprises fear that the access to bank loans will continue to worsen. Austrian SME want to become more independent of banks.

February 3, 2014

Suspicious Secrecy in the Cause of Hypo Group Alpe Adria

In the matter of Hypo Group Alpe Adria, the Austrian government acts disconcertingly. Details on the situation of the nationalized banks are still kept as a secret.

February 1, 2014

Hungary: Next Currency Crisis Ahead

The extremely loose monetary policy begins to become a problem for Hungary. The forint exchange rate is going up considerably.

February 1, 2014

Stress Tests Become Harder

Experts expect that not all banks participating in the examination will pass the stress test.

February 1, 2014

KBC Does Not Leave Hungary

The Belgian lender rejected rumors saying that the Hungarian unit may be sold. Not only KBC faces enormous difficulties in Hungary.

February 1, 2014

Croatia: Monetary Interventions to Stabilize Kuna

On Friday the Croatian national bank sold € 240.2m to commercial banks.

January 31, 2014

OTP: Takeover of Croatian Banco Popolare Fixed

On Friday Hungarian OTP signed a deal to take over Croatian affiliate of Italian Banco Popolare.

January 31, 2014

Upgrades for Slovenian Banks

The long-term ratings of three banks were upgraded by Moody’s.

January 31, 2014

Austrian Government Skirting around Decision over Hypo

A paper reporting about the four options for downsizing Hypo Group has not been published by the government yet.

January 31, 2014

Bawag to Be Sold?

According to rumours, the fifth largest Austrian lender may be sold.

January 31, 2014

Poland: PKO BP Plans Keeping High Level of Loans

Poland’s biggest bank PKO BP plans selling consumer loans in the amount of PLN 2bn in every quarter from now on.

January 30, 2014

Austrian Industrial Sector only Sees Weak Recovery

The Federation of Austrian Industries (IV) warns about a fragile economic recovery.

January 30, 2014

Poland: NBP Sees No Reason for Weakening Zloty

According to Eugeniusz Gatnar, board manager of the National Bank of Poland (NBP), there was no fundamental reason for monetary intervention.

January 30, 2014

WKO Rejects Further Financial Burdens for Banks

According to the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO), the financial burdens of banking institutes in Austria are significantly higher than those of their competitors in other EU member states.

January 29, 2014

Euro-Introduction: Cutting Debts Precondition for Poland

Finance Minister Mateusz Szczurek stressed that cutting debts was a key condition for Poland before it could be admitted to the single currency union.

January 29, 2014

Slovenia: Dispute with Croatia Just Begun

Slovenian Foreign Minister Erjavec announced to continue dispute against Croatia.

January 29, 2014

Austria: Government Makes € 1bn for Hypo Group Available in Budget

Nationalized problem bank Hypo Group Alpe Adria has listed a need for state subsidies in the amount between € 400m and € 900m in this year’s downsizing plan.

January 29, 2014

Austria: IHS Against Bank Levy

Christian Keuschnigg, director of the Austrian economic research institute IHS stresses that the bank resolution funds would replace the bank levy.

January 28, 2014