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Vienna International Banking Industry News
Read the latest headlines about developments in the international banking industry in Vienna and Austria
Europe/CESEE: Heavy Trade in Distressed Assets
Until 2018, European lenders will offload about 300bn of bad debts, according to PwC. Above all, U.S. private equity firms are taking the opportunity.
January 11, 2014
Bulgaria: Fitch Confirms Rating at “BBB-“
According to Fitch, the outlooks are stable. In case of an increase in political and social tensions, Bulgaria´s current rating would be in danger, however. Bulgaria´s financial situation is satisfying, though.
January 11, 2014
RBI: Capital Increase Because of Unsuccessful Partner Search
For Raiffeisen Bank International, the capital increase is nothing else but an emergency solution. The main loser is RBI´s core shareholder, the Austrian Raiffeisen Zentralbank.
January 10, 2014
Austria: Significant Increase in Bank Levy
In 2014, the bank levy is expected to increase substantially. Austrian banks regard the levy as massive competitive disadvantage.
January 10, 2014
Poland: Finance Minister Optimistic About Growth
According to Finance Minister Mateusz Szczurek, economic growth in Poland could exceed three percent year-on-year in 2015.
January 10, 2014
Austria: Hypo Group Looking for New CRO
Deputy CEO and chief risk officer of Hypo Group Wolfgang Edelmüller will resign as of the end of February.
January 10, 2014
RBI: Change in Shareholdings Expected
The announcement to increase capital by Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) did not come as a surprise. However, experts and investors did not expect such a high volume (up to € 2.5bn) and fear a dilution in shareholdings.
January 10, 2014
Slovenia: 2014 Credit Line of € 7.7bn
On Thursday the Slovenian government adopted a budget financing plan which includes this year’s credit line of up to € 7.7bn.
January 10, 2014
Poland: Key Interest Rate to Remain Unchanged
As expected, the key interest rate will not be changed. According to Marek Belka, governor of the Polish National Bank (NBP), there was no need in monetary interventions.
January 9, 2014
Eurozone: Further Capital Injections at Banks Expected
The Council of the European Central Bank (ECB) is holding a summit today. The low inflation rate in the Eurozone is still a dilemma for the monetary authorities.
January 9, 2014
RBI Expects Growth to Accelerate in 2014
2014 marked by growth recovery, according to RBI Research.
January 9, 2014
Slovenia: Growth through Diplomatic Network
Slovenian Finance Minister Karl Erjavec assured that throught diplomatic network the country’s economy will still be supported.
January 9, 2014
Raiffeisen Bank International to Raise Capital
Austrian RBI will increase capital be € 2.25bn in summer 2014. This step was already long-awaited. The shareholder structure will change substantially.
January 8, 2014
RBI: No Withdrawal from Hungary
Due to massive losses, the second-largest lender in CESEE was said to leave the difficult Hungarian market. RBI denies such reports.
January 8, 2014
Hungary: SZKB to Take over Hungarian RBI?
Hungarian Economy Minister Mihaly Varga considers it unlikely for Szecheny Commercial Bank (SZKB) to take over the Hungarian affiliate of Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI).
January 8, 2014
Hungary Amending Figures of Budget Deficit
Hungarian Finance and Economy Minister Mihaly Varga announced that the budget deficit of 2013 will be below the target after it was lowered dramatically.
January 8, 2014
Meinl Bank: Plans of Growth in Czech Republic and UK
Meinl Bank has opened a new subsidiary in Prague. Growth plans for the core business in Central and Eastern Europe is well on its way, according to the bank’s officials.
January 7, 2014
Czech Republic: Alarming Increase of Private Bankruptcies
The number of private insolvencies increased by 13 percent and stood at a new record in 2013.
January 7, 2014
Growing Evidence for RBI’s Withdrawal from Hungary
According to media reports, Hungarian partly nationalized Szechenyi Commercial Bank has placed an offer for the take-over of RBI’s Hungarian affiliate.
January 7, 2014
Romania: Slight Increase in FX Reserves
In December 2013 FX reserves increased slightly compared to the previous month.
January 7, 2014
European Union: Private Trading of Banks to be Restricted
The European Union intends to severly restrict risky private trading of banks.
January 7, 2014
Hungary: Erste Group Confident
The third-largest lender in CESEE underlined that the Hungarian subsidiary will not be sold. The Austrian bank is confident to reach the turnaround soon.
January 6, 2014
First Offer for RBI´s Hungarian Subsidiary
The partly nationalized Hungarian lender Szechenyi Bank is interested in the Hungarian subsidiaries of the Austrian banks Erste Group and Raiffeisen Bank International.
January 6, 2014
Erste Group Bank AG - SWOT Analysis & Company Report
This new report contains in depth information and data about Erste Group and its operations and markets. It contains an overview, business and strategy description, financial ratios, valuation & forecast data, SWOT analysis, plus data on key events.
January 6, 2014
Raiffeisen Bank International AG - SWOT Analysis & Company Report 2014
This new report contains in depth information and data about Raiffeisen Bank International AG and its operations and markets. It contains an overview, business and strategy description, financial ratios, valuation & forecast data and a SWOT analysis.
January 6, 2014
VBAG: Complete Write-Off Possible
The Austrian state may has to write down its interest completely. Further capital injections are very likely. Also VBAG´s other shareholders will be obliged to provide fresh funds for the ailing bank.
January 4, 2014
Hypo Group Alpe Adria: „Bad Bank Will Come“
Klaus Liebscher, chairman of Hypo Group´s supervisory board, underlines that a bad bank will be established for the nationalized lender. Nevertheless, the bank remains the biggest financial disaster in Austria´s history.
January 4, 2014
Austria: „El Dorado for Borrowers“
According to Bank Austria´s management board member Dieter Hengl, Austria is an oasis for borrowers. Interest rates have reached an all-time low.
January 4, 2014
European Savers in Danger
Already this year, savers in the Eurozone may fear a compulsory tax on deposits, the Danish Saxo Bank says.
January 4, 2014
Czech Governor Awarded Banker of the Year 2014
Miroslav Singer, governor of the Czech National Bank (CNB) was given the Central Banker of the Year 2014 award for Europe by The Banker.
January 3, 2014
Eurozone: Number of Bank Credits Keeps Declining
The financial institutes in the Eurozone have been cutting back on granting credits. The lending for both business corporations and private persons has dropped by 2.3 percent.
January 3, 2014
Hungary: MKB Bank Sells Romanian Subsidiary
As announced in a statement Hungarian MKB Bank has sold its entire stake of its Romanian subsidiary.
January 3, 2014
Slovenia: Banking Sector Still in Turmoil
Small banks in Slovenia are reasons for concern in regard to their capital shortfalls.
January 3, 2014
Austria: FMA to Activate Whistleblower Hotline
At the beginning of this year the Financial Market Authority (FMA) in Austria has activated a “whistleblower hotline” for bank insiders to report about potential abuses.
January 3, 2014
Massive Change in Banking Landscape
The business model of banks comes more and more under pressure. In the next years, about the half of the bank shops will be closed, banking expert Hans-Gert Penzel predicts.
January 2, 2014
Erste Group and Bank Austria Face Lawsuits
Two Austrian lending banks are involved both as plaintiffs and as defendants in bankrupt construction company Alpine’s court trials.
January 2, 2014
Slovenia: FDI to Remain Low in 2014
No improvement in increasing foreign direct investments in Slovenia is expected this year. The country has one of the smallest shares in inward FDI among EU member countries.
January 2, 2014
Czech Republic: Household Debts Increasing
Debts to banks and other financial institutes by Czech households keep on increasing, according to a report by the Czech National Bank (CNB).
January 2, 2014
Austria: Hard Times for Regional Banks
Not only large banks are under pressure. In 2014, Austrian regional banks expect enormous challenges to deal with.
December 31, 2013
Bank Austria Considers Establishing Sub-Brand
In the next years, the Austrian subsidiary of Italian UniCredit wants to put more effort into the development of the mobile and online banking segment.
December 31, 2013
Hypo Group: Fatal Errors of Austrian National Bank
Before Hypo Group Alpe Adria was nationalized in late 2009, the Austrian National Bank (OeNB) has misjudged the situation of the problem bank completely. The Austrian government demonstrates its incompetence once again.
December 30, 2013
Hypo Group: „The Wrong Decisions were Made“
Johannes Ditz, former chairman of the Austrian nationalized Hypo Group Alpe Adria, thinks that the Austrian government could have avoided a massive burden for the taxpayers.
December 28, 2013
Austria: „Lending Becomes More Expensive”
In an interview with the Austrian daily “Presse”, CEO of Hypo Vorarlberg Michael Grahammer talks about the future lending conditions. The corporate sector faces a drastic increase in borrowing costs.
December 27, 2013
Hypo Group: Austrian Government Seems Aimless
Although the restructuring of the nationalized Austrian lender is one of the most pressing issues, the Austrian government could not present a sound concept yet.
December 27, 2013
UniCredit Sells Bad Assets to Cerberus
The majority shareholder of Austrian Bawag acquires a portfolio worth €950m.
December 27, 2013
Slovenia: Fresh Money for Major Banks
Bonds of BAMC (Bank Asset Management Company), Slovenia’s bad bank, will be traded on Friday for the first time. The bonds will be forwarded to the country’s biggest banks in return for their bad loans.
December 27, 2013
VBAG: Further State Aids Questionable
The governing Austrian social democrats (SPÖ) are against providing further funds to the partly nationalized banking group.
December 26, 2013
Austria Bought Time for Examining Hypo Deal
Austria was granted more time for a possible appeal of the purchase of problem bank Hypo Group Alpe Adria from former parent company BayernLB.
December 23, 2013
Austrian and Germans Offered Most for Bulgarian Schuldschein
Average interest rates for Bulgarian Schuldschein loan range between 3.4 to 4.6 percent. Austrian and German investors offered most of the € 290m loan.
December 23, 2013
„No Debt-Backed Tax Reform“
Austrian Finance Minister Michael Spindelegger underlines that Austria has to put more effort into fiscal consolidation measures.
December 23, 2013
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