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Banking Industry


Sergey Monin Appointed as CEO of Raiffeisenbank in Russia

He succeeds Pavel Gurin who passed away at the start of September. The appointment is subject to approval of the Russian Central Bank.
September 30, 2011


Hypo Alpe Adria Needs More Time to Build Up Capital

The Carinthian nationalized bank will not be able to meet the prescribed capital ratios by March 2012. Management and authorities are negotiating an extension of the deadline.
September 29, 2011


VBAG: No Repayment of State Aid in 2011

The Austrian bank’s low equity capital base does not allow repayment of the first € 300m tranche of state capital.
September 28, 2011


Level of General Financial Education in Austria “Not Satisfactory”

Latest survey shows: 4 in 10 Austrians don’t even know where to start when defining term “interest”.
September 27, 2011


Austria´s Triple A „Not Endangered“

From a global view, 18 countries have a “AAA-status”. The current debt crisis makes market observers nervous.
September 26, 2011


RBI Defies Hungary’s Banking Tax

The Austrian bank is not planning to pull out of Hungary. Losses from the conversion of foreign currency loans cannot be estimated yet.
September 22, 2011


IMF: „NPL in Eastern Europe Decreasing“

After the announcement of the Hungarian government to convert foreign currency loans at the expense of banks, the IMF has good news for Austrian banks.
September 21, 2011


No Dividends at Austrian Volksbanken AG

Österreichische Volksbanken Aktiengesellschaft – no payments on profit-related instruments for the 2011 business year.
September 21, 2011


S&P: „Austrian Banks Undercapitalized“

The rating agency Standard & Poor´s (S&P) sees a substantial undercapitalization for Austrian banks. The recommended rist-adjusted capital quota is 8%, Austrian banks are below.
September 19, 2011


Erste Group: BCR Needs Capital Boost

The Austrian bank’s Romanian subsidiary may need additional capital due to high risk costs and the overall economic situation.
September 16, 2011


Decline in Savings Deposits Continues

Business development of Austrian banks in the first half of 2011: Balance sheet total grows; volume of demand and fixed-term deposits increases.
September 14, 2011


Erste Group Increases Stake in Romanian BCR

The Austrian bank enters into agreement with four regional investment funds to acquire a further 24.12% in its Romanian subsidiary.
September 14, 2011


Austria Considers Lawsuit Against Hungary

The Austrian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Michael Spindelegger (ÖVP) threatens Hungary to file a lawsuit at the European Court of Justice. Hungary plans to stress banks massively.
September 12, 2011


CEO of Raiffeisenbank Russia Dead

Pavel Gurin, CEO of Raiffeisenbank in Russia, passed away, the Austrian Bank stated.
September 5, 2011


Fekter: No Nationalization of VBAG

The Austrian Finance Minister has the right to nationalize the bank if it does not pay a dividend on the state’s € 1bn of participation capital.
September 2, 2011


Raiffeisen Centrobank Reports Increase in Profit

Net interest income declined, while trading profit and net fee and commission income increased substantially. Turbulences on financial markets might burden the bank’s business development.
September 2, 2011


Hypo Alpe Adria: FMA Sees Capital Requirement of € 1.5bn

The Austrian nationalized bank has to fill the capital gap by 31 March 2012. Management wants to continue the downsizing program.
September 2, 2011


Strong Growth in Lending to Private Households

Loan development in the second quarter: Total lending volume grows; opposing trends are registered for new loans to enterprises and private households.
September 1, 2011


RZB Reports Significant Increase in Profit

Profit before tax for the period up 60.5% to € 877m, with consolidated profit increasing 21.5% to € 488m. Net allocations to impairment loss provisioning were reduced by 32%.
August 30, 2011


Decline in Profit for Hypo Lower Austria

The Austrian regional bank achieved net profit of € 16.4m in the first six months of 2011. Net interest income increased to € 75.8m
August 29, 2011


New Structure and Management for Raiffeisen Leasing

The Austrian banking group is reorganizing its leasing business. Three new subsidiaries will deal with business in Austria, large customers and in-house projects.
August 26, 2011


Sberbank Reduces Offer for VBI after Drop of Share Prices

Sberbank wants to pay less for the purchase of Volksbank International after European bank shares have dropped more than 20%. Executives are going to meet on 28 August to negotiate the deal.
August 26, 2011


VBAG: Reduced Consolidated Net Income in First Half of Year

The Austrian bank recorded net income of € 1m. The result was negatively impacted by write-downs of Greek bonds.
August 25, 2011


RBI – Capital Increase May Be an Option

The Austrian bank posted strong results for the first six months of the year. Consolidated profit increased by almost one third year-on-year.
August 25, 2011


Significant Decline in Profits for Bawag

Net profit of the Austrian bank dropped 18.5% to € 78.5m in the first six months of the year. The bank levy totaled € 10.2m.
August 24, 2011


BKS Bank Continues Expansion Course

The Carinthian/Styrian regional bank recorded an increase in profit of 11.7%. Step-by-step expansion in international markets will be continued.
August 19, 2011


Hypo Alpe Adria with First Profit since 2007

The Austrian bank returned to black figures after four years. A half-year profit of € 90.8m was achieved despite risk provisions of € 134.9m.
August 17, 2011


Forecast on Savings and Loans Trends: Austrians Invest € 5,670 on Average

Savings passbooks remained the most popular form of saving in Austria. The average loan volume dropped from € 70,200 to € 62,000.
August 17, 2011


Erste Group not Interested in Polish Bank Millenium

The Austrian bank continues looking for opportunities to expand into Poland after it has ruled out an acquisition of Bank Millenium.
August 16, 2011


Hypo: New Charges against Former CEO Kulterer

The Carinthian bank’s former CEO and three other persons are accused of having caused a damage of € 5.5m.
August 12, 2011


BayernLB Demands Rescission of Hypo-Deal

The German bank has taken action against the employee fund which is accused of having misled the management about Hypo’s equity base.
August 10, 2011


Hypo Upper Austria Expects Stable Results

The Austrian regional bank achieved profit before taxes of € 16.6m in the first half of the year, up 1.2% year-on-year.
August 8, 2011


Greek Bonds Burden Kommunalkredit’s Results

The state-owned Austrian bank reported a significant decline in profits due to a write-off of Greek government bonds.
August 8, 2011


Erste Group Strives for Full Control over Romanian BCR

The Austrian bank does not want its Romanian subsidiary to be listed at the stock exchange although it was a condition for the privatization.
August 4, 2011


Significant Increase in Profit for Bank Austria

The Austrian subsidiary of UniCredit achieved a plus in net profit of 52% despite a negative one-off effect of € 100m from Greek government bonds.
August 4, 2011


Hypo Alpe Adria Sells Stake in Hypo Insurance

All of the Austrian bank’s 20% stake will be taken over by majority owner Grawe insurance.
August 4, 2011


Trend towards More Bonds in Corporate Financing

Companies will increasingly rely on the capital market as bank loans are becoming more expensive due to Basel III and stricter liquidity requirements.
August 3, 2011


Erste Group Planning New Branch Concept for Czech Republic

The Austrian bank’s Czech subsidiary is working on a modern concept which will be targeted at new customer groups.
August 3, 2011


Bank Austria Finances Portfolio of Apartment Houses in Vienna

The Austrian bank generates a stimulus for Vienna’s real estate market and finances 53 apartment houses with € 110m.
August 2, 2011


Hypo Alpe Adria Sells Off German Biogas Plants

The Austrian nationalized bank pulls out of the biogas sector. Sale of its plants in Austria is planned for the second half of 2011.
August 2, 2011


AutoBank with Improved Half-Year Results

The Austrian specialist bank increased new business volume by 4.2%. Stable growth was achieved in all areas.
August 1, 2011


Martin Schwedler Appointed CEO of Raiffeisen Investment in Moscow

The previous board member of RIAG will focus on expanding the Austrian bank’s presence in Russia’s growing M&A and ECM business.
August 1, 2011


Hypo Alpe Adria Sells Schlosshotel Velden

The Austrian bank signed a purchase agreement with Amisola Immobilien AG. Falkensteiner Michaeler Tourism Group will take over management of the hotel.
July 29, 2011


Erste Group Increased Net Profit from January to June

The Austrian bank’s results were burdened by bank taxes in Austria and Hungary. Net profit was up 5.2%, based on a solid operating result and lower risk costs.
July 29, 2011


Banks Expect Tightening of Credit Guidelines in 2012

Austrian banks’ lending policies did not change in the second quarter of 2011. For two years already, no tightening of lending conditions has been observed.
July 28, 2011


Erste Bank Fixed the Takeover of Intermarket Bank

Erste Bank took over 56% in Austria’s largest factoring bank from the Polish subsidiary of Commerzbank and will acquire another 10% from Coface.
July 28, 2011


Kärntner Sparkasse Starts Withdrawal from Italy

The Carinthian regional bank is closing down two branches as a consequence of the economic crisis and new capital requirements.
July 26, 2011


Strong Growth for Car Leasing Companies

Booming car sales are boosting the leasing business in Austria. All major leasing banks recorded growth in the first half of 2011. The trend is expected to continue.
July 25, 2011


Fitch Confirms Austria’s Triple-A Rating

The U.S. rating agency confirmed the Republic of Austria’s AAA credit rating. The outlook remains “stable”.
July 25, 2011


Credit Costs to Rise in the Wake of Basel III

The new regulatory requirements are expected to increase the cost of credits and to reduce the Austrian banks’ profitability.
July 20, 2011