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Banking Industry


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


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


Slovenia: Haircut for Junior Bondholders

Subordinated bond holders of the state-owned Slovenian banks will lose their investments completely. This is part of the recapitalization scheme.
December 14, 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


Austria: Spindelegger Replaces Fekter

The designated cabinet members were presented to the public today. Maria Fekter will not be a cabinet member anymore.
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


Former Kazakh Embassador Facing Trial in Austria

Rachat Alijew is facing prosecution in Austria because of alleged money laundering. Moreover, a former Austrian Chancellor is suspected of spying.
December 10, 2013


NKBM´s CEO Demonstrates Optimism

In an interview with the Slovenian STA, Ales Hauc stressed that the second-largest Slovenian lender has a positive future.
December 10, 2013


Bulgaria: Prime Minister Stresses Positive Development

Plamen Oresharski stressed that Bulgaria has performed better than expected in 2013.
December 10, 2013


EU Demands € 55bn for Banking Union

The Finance Ministers of the European Union are still negotiating about a mechanism aimed at preventing states from having to take over financial difficulties from banks, the banking union.
December 9, 2013


Wifo: Austrian Economic Growth Still Sluggish

Seasonally adjusted and corrected for working day effects, GDP increased by 0.2 percent compared to the second quarter. The upturn becomes evident only in a very moderate pace.
December 9, 2013


OTP Interested in MKB

Sandor Csanyi, CEO of the largest Hungrian lender OTP, considers taking over the rival MKB.
December 9, 2013


Austrian Banking Sector: € 35bn NPL

Due to the gloomy economic situation in CESEE and the stagnating domestic economy, Austrian banks suffer from growing non-performing loans.
December 9, 2013