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        Vienna International Banking Industry News
Read the latest headlines about developments in the international banking industry in Vienna and Austria
          
    
        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                                        
    
    
        „CESEE No Driver Yet“
      
      Birgit Kuras, CEO of Vienna Stock Exchange, thinks that the Vienna Stock Exchange is highly influenced by the CESEE operations of listed companies.
                                  December 23, 2013                                        
    
      
    