Erste Group Bank

Erste Group plans to raise its holdings in the Polish bank to be acquired in 2026 (Erste Bank Polska), CEO Peter Bosek announced. In 2025 the group bought 49 percent of the former Santander unit for around €6.8 billion; a further purchase will be made at the right time and with appropriate capital. IT integration is likely to take another 1.5 to 2 years; the Polish unit has about six million customers. Bosek stressed that hostile takeovers in the banking sector are very difficult. » Altro su handelsblatt.com

The Arbeiterkammer and Erste Bank, along with 31 savings banks, have reached a settlement to reimburse unlawful processing fees charged on consumer and home loans over the past 30 years. Affected customers can register claims online immediately until July 31, 2027; 90 percent of the fee will be reimbursed for consumer loans, and for home loans refunds will range from 35–80 percent depending on the amount. The fee must have been at least 0.5 percent; contracts that ended before January 1, 2019, require proof, which the banks will provide free of charge. » Altro su kurier.at

Erste Group reported a strong operating performance in the first half of 2026, driven by organic growth and the initial consolidation of Erste Bank Polska. Customer loans rose to €282.7bn, and the annual target was increased to around €290bn; deposits grew to €323.7bn. Operating income and net interest income rose markedly, CET1 stood at 15.2%, and net profit reached €2.0bn. Integration in Poland is proceeding as planned; the group has upgraded its 2026 outlook and aims to double earnings per share to over €15 by 2030. » Altro su finanzen.net