Raiffeisen Zentralbank

BELGRADE - Raiffeisen bank Belgrade has announced it had successfully completed a legal and operational merger of RBA bank, which began with an acquisition of a 100 pct stake in the bank - the former Credit Agricole Serbia - in April last year.

KBC Bank (KBC) and Austria's Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) have announced that they have reached an agreement with a Belgian-based banking group to acquire 100% of the shares of Raiffeisen (Bulgaria) EAD, which conducts banking operations on the side of RBI.

The National Authority for Consumer Protection (ANPC) has issued a fine to Raiffeisen Bank worth 100,000 RON (rd 20,280 euro) for incorrect commercial practices and decided to suspend the bank's activity regarding this behaviour, the first time such a measure was applied n Romania, as well as ordered it to return the illegally cashed commissions from customers, the ANPC informs.

A few days ago, however, another purchase was announced, so when the merger of Raiffeisen and Credit Agricole Bank is completed, there will be one bank less.
Considering the announcements, there will be more such transactions in the coming months, Novosti writes.

Six Bulgarian banks rank in the Top 100 of the largest financial institutions in Central and Eastern Europe. DSK, First Investment Bank and UBB are making significant progress in the ranking compared to last year. It is composed by RIA Rating Agency on the order of Russia's leading financial site Prime.

The European Investment Fund (EIF) and Raiffeisenbank Bulgaria, a subsidiary of Raiffeisen Bank International signed a guarantee agreement to increase lending to innovative SMEs and small mid-caps in Bulgaria.

The transaction benefits from the support of the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), which constitutes the heart of the Investment Plan for Europe.

A consortium of international banks, involving the major part of Croatia's banking system, on Thursday announced a lawsuit against the Croatian government's over its decision to solve the problem of loans in Swiss francs by converting them into euro.

Research by Raiffeisen Bank Austria, RBA, on economies in Central and Southeas Europe suggests that Croatia and Serbia had negative GDP growth in 2014 and will not grow much in 2015, either.

...

Jeff Black & Boris Groendahl

European Central Bank Vice President Vitor Constancio said lenders in the region are reducing the risk of failing a balance-sheet review by taking pre-emptive steps to increase capital ratios.

A subsidiary of Austrian Raiffeisen Bank International has said it will close all offices in Crimea by mid-April.

According to a statement of the bank, as cited by international news agencies and Sega daily, the last 6 of the total of 32 offices of the bank in Crimea will be closed by April 15.