Vienna International Banking Industry News

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

Slovenia: Growth Forecast Cut Again

The World Bank predicts a longer recession in Slovenia. The Slovenian economy will not leave the recession behind before 2015.

December 19, 2013

Hypo Group´s Bankruptcy: Major Threat for Raiffeisen Sector

In case of Hypo Group Alpe Adria´s bankruptcy, the Austrian banking sector would have to absorb enormous write-offs. Above all, mortgage institutions in the Raiffeisen sector would be endangered.

December 19, 2013

World Bank Increases Economic Growth Forecast for Poland

The World Bank has increased economic growth in 2013 from 1.0 percent to 1.5 percent.

December 19, 2013

Stable Outlook for CESEE Banking Industry

According to the U.S. rating agency fitch, the sector outlook remains stable in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe. However, the well-known risks and weaknesses will persist.

December 19, 2013

Macedonian Banks Should Support Private Sector

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Stavreski calls upon Macedonian banks to support the private sector.

December 18, 2013

Serbia: National Bank Cuts Key Policy Rate

The NBS decided to cut key interest rate by half a percentage point as inflation remains on the lower target tolerance band.

December 18, 2013

Slovenia: Three Arrestments at NLB

According to Slovenian authorities, three persons in the bank’s environment were arrested because of alleged malpractice.

December 18, 2013

RBI CEO under Suspicion of Prosecution against Corruption

Karl Sevelda, CEO of Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI), is suspected of having sold company’s shares of a commodity trader below their value. The prosecution in Vienna is now searching Sevelda’s office.

December 18, 2013

Hypo Group: Take-Over Almost Completed

British-Indian Anadi Financial Holding had to wait for months until the take-over of Austrian Hypo Group Alpe Adria was approved.

December 18, 2013

Czech Republic: Rusnok to become CNB Board Member

Outgoing Prime Minister Jiri Rusnok will be appointed new board member of the Czech National Bank (CNB) by President Milos Zeman.

December 18, 2013

Hypo Group Insolvency: Total Damage of € 26bn

Ewald Nowotny, governor of the Austrian National Bank (OeNB), warns of follow-up costs in case of a bankruptcy of the Austrian nationalized lender.

December 17, 2013

Austrian Banks: “Less than No Interest” in Bad Bank Participation

According to Felderer, Austrian major banks have “less than no interest” in a participation of a Hypo Group’s bad bank.

December 17, 2013

Austria: Major Banks Exhibit Significant Shortages in Core Capital Quota

Both Erste Group’s and RBI’s core capital quota is below the European average.

December 17, 2013

Banking Union: Bank Resolution as Hot Topic

The Finance Ministers of the Eurogroup countries are discussing the future of the banking union in Brussels today.

December 17, 2013

PKO: Capital Base Improves

According to the European Banking Authority (EBA), the largest Polish bank could strengthen the capital position.

December 17, 2013

Erste Group to Reduce Goodwill

Erste Group reduces goodwill by about EUR 350 million.

December 17, 2013

Czech Republic: Lowest Increase in Public Debts in 17 Years

According to the government’s Funding and Debt Management Strategy, public debt should exceed CZK 2,000bn by the end of 2016.

December 17, 2013

Austria: Fate of Hypo Group Still Unclear

Only next year the fate of ailing bank Hypo Group Alpe Adria will be determined.

December 16, 2013

Hungary: Good News for Banks in Forex Proceedings

Banks operating in Hungary can feel relieved by the Supreme Court’s judgement.

December 16, 2013

Slovenia: Bad Bank to Operate Longer than Expected

According to executive director Mannson, the collecting and selling of non-performing loans would take at least ten to fifteen years.

December 16, 2013

Austria: Opening Balance Reveals Massive Mountain of Debt

Public debts exceed the federal assets by more than double the amount, as revealed by the opening balance published by outgoing Finance Minister Maria Fekter last weekend.

December 16, 2013

NBS: Moderate Rise in Inflation

Moderate rise of inflation expected by the National Bank of Serbia (NBS).

December 16, 2013

Bulgaria: S&P Downgrade Criticized Sharply

Bulgarian Minister of Economy Dragomir Stynev does not agree with S&P´s view on Bulgaria´s creditworthiness.

December 16, 2013

MNB Replaces Hungarian Banking Industry

In order to push economic growth rates, Hungary´s National Bank continues to support the subsidized loan program. The support should help to boost the construction of real estate.

December 14, 2013

Bank Austria`s Headquarter Sold

The Austrian investor Ronny Pecik has bought the headquarter building of the largest Austrian bank.

December 14, 2013

Austrian Banking Industry Has to Fear Bank Tax Increase

At the end of this week, the Austrian social democrats and the conservatives agreed on continuing their coalition. Although the fiscal strategy is not fully known yet, a bank tax increase is likely.

December 14, 2013

BayernLB to Keep Hungarian MKB Unit

BayernLB’s plans to seperate from loss-making Hungarian affiliate MKB were not put on hold. Instead, the German bank wants to continue to push forward with austerity measures and cut jobs.

December 14, 2013

Croatia: Privatization of HPB Fails

The privatization of the Croat Postal Bank (HPB) has failed for the time being. For the potential buyers, HPB is too risky.

December 13, 2013

Positive Respond to Slovenian Bank Recapitalization Plans

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development responds positively to the results of the asset quality review of Slovenian banks and the corresponding plans of the government.

December 13, 2013

Capital Injection for Hypo Group Approved

In the general assembley of Hypo Group the path was cleared for a further capital injection in the amount of € 800m.

December 13, 2013

Slovenia Pushes Forward with Privatizations

In spite of the capital shortfall of € 4.78bn of the banks in Slovenia, the bank stress test was passed by the financial institutes.

December 13, 2013

Croatia: Erste Offer Rejected

Austrian Erste Group intended to aquire Croatian HPB. However, the offer was rejected by the Finance Ministry as the purchase price was considered too low.

December 13, 2013

Austrians Hold More Cash Reserves

According to the Austrian National Bank, Austrian savers have reduced their deposits at Austrian banks. In return, cash reserves have risen.

December 12, 2013

Hungary: Stable Outlook Yet Still Junk Status

In spite of Matolcsy, governor of the Hungarian National Bank (MNB), demanding a better rating for the country’s credibility, the major rating agencies have not raised them.

December 12, 2013

Serbia: NBS FX Reserves Amounted to More than € 10,362m at End-November

FX Reserves and IFEM movements in November.

December 12, 2013

Austria: Hypo Group Insolvency Best Solution for Taxpayers

According to consulting agency Oliver Wyman, an insolvency of ailing bank Hypo Group would be the most favorable option for taxpayers as instead of domestic banks foreign banking institutes will be burdened.

December 12, 2013

Slovenian Banks Exhibit Capital Gap of Almost € 5bn

The capital gap of Slovenian banks comes at a total of 4.78bn, according to the stress test published today.

December 12, 2013

Czech Republic: Banking Sector Proves Stable

According to the latest results of the bank stress test by the Czech National Bank (CNB), the domestic financial institutes remain resistant to a potential negative development.

December 12, 2013

Austrian Banking Industry Depends on Russia and Czech Republic

For the Austrian banking sector, the CESEE region is highly heterogeneous. In the first six months of 2013, net earnings totaled € 1.4bn in the region.

December 12, 2013

Austria: Nowotny Reiterates Statement

Ewald Nowotny, governor of the Austrian National Bank (OeNB), reiterated his view on Hypo Group.

December 11, 2013

No Major Progresses in Banking Union

Tuesday night the Finance Ministers of the European Union have gradually approached on the outstanding issues in the handling with banks threatened by bankruptcy.

December 11, 2013

Czech Republic: New Government Confirmed

Seven weeks after the national elections, the Czech Social Democrats (CSSD) have agreed to form a coalition with ANO and the Christian Democrats (KDU-CSL).

December 11, 2013

Ten Capital Market Themes for 2014 by Raiffeisenbank

Leading indicators show a recovery of global growth.

December 11, 2013

OeNB Calls on Austrian Banks to Strengthen Their Capital Base Further

Presentation of the Financial Stability Report 26 of the Oesterreichische Nationalbank (OeNB).

December 11, 2013

Hypo Group Alpe Adria to Receive Next Capital Injection

On Friday the ailing bank is expected to receive fresh money again in association with the extraordinary general meeting.

December 11, 2013

Slovenia: Bank Bailout Plan Is Completed

Tomorrow, December 12, the results of the bank asset review will be published. The next steps have been determined already in advance.

December 11, 2013

Hypo Group Alpe Adria: Liebscher Against Haircut

Klaus Liebscher, chairman of Hypo Group’s supervisory board, is strictly against a debt cut at the nationalized bank. He expects a decision about a bad bank only in the first quarter next year.

December 10, 2013

Serbia: World Bank Attaches Loan to New Laws

The World Bank has attached the loan in the amount of US-$ 250m (€ 183m) for Serbia to the implementation of three important laws within this year still.

December 10, 2013

Improving Situation for Banks in CEE

Raiffeisen analysis getting a notch more optimistic on CEE banks.

December 10, 2013

Slovenia Still Wants to Solve Problems on Its Own

According to head of Eurogroup Jeroen Dijsselbloem, the highly indebted country intends to get a grip on the problems of its banking sector.

December 10, 2013