Erste Group Bank AG continued its expansion course in the first nine months of 2026. Solid organic growth alongside the consolidation of Polish subsidiary Erste Bank Polska resulted in a 23.9 per cent increase in total loan volume to EUR 287.4 billion. In December 2025, this figure stood at EUR 232.0 billion. In light of this development, the institution raised its full-year target for customer loans to more than EUR 290 billion.
On a comparable basis, adjusted for activities in Poland, loan volume grew by 5.8 per cent since the start of the year. The bank recorded gains in particular in Austria, the Czech Republic and Hungary. In retail banking, lending excluding Poland rose by 5.1 per cent, driven largely by around 85,000 newly issued residential mortgages. Corporate business expanded by 6.5 per cent, with investment financing accounting for the largest share of new business with more than 28,500 loans granted.
Growth in customer business and expansion of market presence
Peter Bosek, Chief Executive Officer of Erste Group, emphasised in this context that European sovereignty requires financially strong companies that invest across national borders. Central Europe possesses the potential to remain a significant growth engine for the continent. The raised loan volume target reflects the institution's confidence in the region's economic strength.
The integration of Erste Bank Polska is proceeding according to plan. Operational milestones include the launch of the local back-office unit Erste Operations as well as the integration of asset manager Erste TFI into Erste Asset Management. In addition, regulatory approval has been granted for a voluntary takeover offer through which Erste Group aims to increase its stake in the Polish entity to over 50 per cent. The offer commences on 2 November 2026, with the acceptance period starting the following day.
Earnings performance and revenue indicators for the first nine months
- —Customer deposits: increase of 28.1 per cent to EUR 324.1 billion including EUR 59.9 billion from Poland
- —Net interest income: growth of 43.4 per cent to EUR 8.3 billion including the Polish subsidiary
- —Net fee and commission income: increase of 24.0 per cent to EUR 2.9 billion, supported by securities business
- —Assets under management: expansion to EUR 120.3 billion compared to EUR 103.9 billion at the end of 2025
The group's operating income rose by 40.1 per cent to EUR 12.0 billion including Erste Bank Polska. Operating expenses increased concurrently by 30.1 per cent to EUR 5.3 billion, leading to a 49.1 per cent improvement in the operating result to EUR 6.7 billion. As a result, the cost-income ratio fell to 44.0 per cent. Risk costs in the first nine months amounted to EUR 451 million, or 21 basis points of the average gross customer loan portfolio.
