Press Releases 2011

22.12.2011 - Erste Bank supports mobile Caritas medical care

Nowhere to live, no job, no regular medical practitioner, no e-card – the Caritas Louisebus is the rolling doctor’s office for people who live on the street and that often have no insurance.

19.12.2011 - In connection with the implementation of agreements with the Romanian SIFs, Erste Group has acquired a further approx. 6% stake in BCR against cash and issuance of new shares – Trading in the new shares starts on 19 Dec. 2011

In connection with the announcement published by Erste Group on 14 September 2011 as well as
on 30 November 2011 regarding the transaction with the Romanian investment funds SIFs (Societatea de Investitii Financiare) to acquire up to 30% stake in BCR, upon the completion of the third tranche of agreement with SIF Moldova a total of 4,025,566 Erste Group shares were issued. As a result, the total number of Erste Group shares rose from 386,741,696 to 390,767,262.

15.12.2011 - Erste Group: Supervisory Board approves changes to the Management Board and prolongs contracts

The Supervisory Board of Erste Group Bank AG took several personnel decisions at its meeting yesterday that concern the holding company as well as the subsidiaries in Hungary and Romania.

13.12.2011 - Outlook 2012: Equity Markets and Vienna Stock Exchange

Stocks perform poorly at low trading volumes YTD; ATX performance expected to be moderately positive in 2012

13.13.2011 - IT industry growth to propel 2012 economic development in Central and Eastern Europe

IT market expectations for 2011 and 2012 have been somewhat rebalanced lately due to growing fears of a spillover of debt issues from Western Europe.

12.12.2011 - In connection with the implementation of agreements with the Romanian SIFs, Erste Group has acquired a further approx. 7% stake in BCR against cash and issuance of new shares – Trading in the new shares starts on 12 Dec. 2011

In connection with the announcement published by Erste Group on 14 September 2011 as well as
on 30 November 2011 regarding the transaction with the Romanian investment funds SIFs (Societatea de Investii Financiare) to acquire up to 30% stake in BCR, upon the completion of the second tranche of agreement with SIF Transilvania a total of 4,025,566 Erste Group shares were issued on 12 December 2011.

09.12.2011 - Erste Group emphasizes its commitment to Central and Eastern Europe on Capital Markets Day

At today’s Capital Markets Day in Vienna, Erste Group Bank AG stressed its commitment to Central and Eastern Europe, as one of the leading financial service providers in Austria and in the CEE region.

07.12.2011 - Erste Bank’s forecast on savings and loans:

12-month trend: EUR 81,800 average financing amount in Austria

05.12.2011 - Austrians spend around 2.4 billion Euros on Christmas presents

86% of Austrians want to give presents to their loved ones, and are this year spending around 2.4 bil-lion Euros to do so.

02.12.2011 - Erste Bank and Sparkassen expand smart phone banking

Erste Bank and Sparkassen set to launch first banking app for the Windows Phone operating system.

01.12.2011 - Erste Group acts as Mandated Lead Arranger in Drogerie Natura acquisition by Interchem

Erste Group Bank AG („Erste Group”) acted as Mandated Lead Arranger for the approx. EUR 50 million acquisition financing of Polbita Sp. z o.o. and its flagship brand „Drogerie Natura”, the leading personal care retail chain in Poland, by Interchem, the leading Polish distributor of household products and personal care goods.

30.11.2011 - Erste Bank: One euro donated for every savings passbook account

As of 1 December, every new savings account opened with Erste Bank means financial support for Caritas.

30.11.2011 - Erste Group signs a binding transaction agreement with SIF Moldova to acquire a 6% stake in BCR

Erste Group Bank AG (Erste Group) announces it has entered into a binding transaction agreement with SIF Moldova to acquire its 6% stake in BCR.

28.11.2011 - Erste Group has completed the first agreements with two SIFs by acquiring 6.23% in BCR against cash and issuance of new shares

In connection with the announcement published by Erste Group on 14 September 2011 regarding the transaction with the Romanian investment funds SIFs (Societatea de Investii Financiare) to acquire their stake in BCR, upon the completion of the first tranche of agreements with SIF Muntenia and SIF Banat-Crisana a total of 4,249,746 Erste Group shares were issued on 23 November 2011.

22.11.2011 - Erste Bank now hiring apprentices

Erste Bank is looking for 30 new apprentices. The branches in Vienna and Lower Austria are looking for young people who would like to start a banking career in 2012

18.11.2011 - Erste Bank raises interest rates on “Combi” savings product

Today, Erste Bank raised interest rates on the combination product “s Kapital Sparen Select” by 0.5% to 3.5%.

16.11.2011 - Study: Inhabitants of Burgenland save EUR 189 per month

Inhabitants of Burgenland are still the savings champions: On average, every person puts aside EUR 189 per month. The principal motivation for this enormous savings effort is to attain financial security.

11.11.2011 - Erste Bank der oesterreichischen Sparkassen provides financing for the largest photovoltaic power plant in Austria

The photovoltaic plant financed by Erste Bank der oesterreichischen Sparkassen of the ImWind Group went live at the end of October after a record construction period of only two months

11.11.2011 - Ceska Sporitelna is Bank of the Decade and Most Trusted Bank of the Year in the Czech Republic

Ceska Sporitelna, the Czech subsidiary of Erste Group Bank AG, was awarded Bank of the Decade in the tenth annual edition of the Fincentrum “Bank of the Year 2011” competition, and for the eighth time in a row was recognized as the Most Trusted Bank of the Year.

09.11.2011 - Austrian Sparkassen have granted EUR 8.1 billion in new loans in 2011

Erste Bank and Sparkassen (Austrian savings banks) extended a total of EUR 8.1 billion in loans in the first three quarters of 2011 and therefore, 22.1% more than in the same period of the previous year and even more than for the full year 2010

09.11.2011 - Erste Group and BCR sign EUR 50 million loan with Mechel Group in Romania

Erste Group Bank AG (Erste Group)and its Romanian subsidiary Banca Comerciala Romana (BCR) are granting a EUR 50 million loan to four Romanian steel production facilities, part of the Mechel holding.

02.11.2011 - Erste Bank reports record savings deposits on World Savings Day

Nearly EUR 10 million (EUR 9.9 million) were deposited into accounts held with Erste Bank (excluding Sparkassen) on World Savings Day the day before yesterday (31 October).

02.11.2011 - Erste Bank: 100% capital guarantee for Ethna Aktiv E Fund

The Ethna Aktiv E Fund is one of the most well-known mixed funds in the German-speaking market.

28.10.2011 - Erste Group takes extraordinary charges leading to a net loss of EUR 973.0 million in the first nine months of 2011 and significantly reduces CDS exposure

Following our pre-announcement for the third quarter on 10 October concerns were raised in relation to our CDS exposure.

27.10.2011 - Stress test: Erste Group has capital shortfall of EUR 59 million at mid-year 2011

In connection with the sovereign debt crisis, the European Banking Authority (EBA) conducted a preliminary assessment of European banks' capital requirements.

27.10.2011 - CEE Savings Study: How much money do people squirrel away for a rainy day?

The savings behaviour across Central and Eastern Europe is rather inconsistent.

24.10.2011 - Study: Inhabitants of lower Austria save EUR 159 per month

Austrians are still the savings champions: On average, every person puts aside EUR 159 per month. The principal motivation for this enormous savings effort is to attain financial security.

18.10.2011 - Study: 1.5 million Austrians will visit their banks on World Savings Day

The day on which the banks hand out small canapés, champagne and small presents has become popular again. These are the findings of the latest IMAS study conducted on behalf of Erste Bank and Sparkassen.

17.10.2011 - Is CEE better prepared to weather the storm than in 2008?

Three years after the Lehman collapse, the financial market is troubled by a new storm.

14.10.2011 - Monetary transactions to become audible for the blind and visually impaired

Erste Bank und Sparkassen are starting to equip self-service machines with audio instructions for the blind and visually impaired.

14.10.2011 - Erste Group Bank AG is further supporting Ukraine's largest energy holding DTEK

Major leading indicators and consumer confidence have both deteriorated considerably. Therefore, global growth is expected to slow further.

13.10.2011 - Focus of financial markets stays on sovereign debt

Major leading indicators and consumer confidence have both deteriorated considerably. Therefore, global growth is expected to slow further.

12.10.2011 - Study: Austrians save EUR 168 per month

Austrians are still the savings champions: On average, every person puts aside EUR 168 per month.

10.10.2011 - Erste Group takes extraordinary charges with limited impact on core capital; substantially reduces euro zone peripheral exposure

Our hopes that we will see a solution to the sovereign debt crisis in Europe in the near future have decreased considerably over the last couple of weeks.

07.10.2011 - Erste Bank raises interest rates on savings

Erste Bank is raising interest rates on s Kapital Sparen savings accounts (one-time deposit) for a second time.

04.10.2011 - Monika Traub - New Member of the Board of Intermarket

Monika Traub (44) is a new member of the Management Board of Intermarket Bank,

03.10.2011 - CEE Real Estate stocks with upside potential of 15%, profitability lags behind

The recent fall in highly-rated government bond yields makes investment in real estate look more attractive in terms of relative pricing between asset classes.