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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