Austrian banks were early movers into central, eastern and south-eastern Europe. But the traditional Austrian-based parent companies with regional subsidiaries have transformed into modern, integrated entities that bring together staff and technology from across the region, to the benefit of all, says Österreichische Nationalbank governor Ewald Nowotny.

Much has been written about Austria's Heta, the ‘bad bank’ which took on the toxic assets of Hypo Alpe Adria. But what of Addiko, which was created from the good parts of its south-eastern European network? Stefanie Linhardt investigates.

After a scare from the European Central Bank, Austria’s Volksbanken banking consortium has pursued an ambitious strategy of streamlining and consolidation with the aim of returning to profitability and repaying €300m in state aid 

Hypo Alpe Adria – now known as Heta – is a 'bad bank' from the Austrian region of Carinthia that is the first to be wound down according to the EU's Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive. Stefanie Linhardt assesses the situation and looks at who the winners and losers will be.

Austria is dealing with the same digitalisation and profitability issues as the rest of the eurozone, but insiders are confident the enforced upheaval in the country’s banking sector will have positive long-term benefits.

Having shed two of its assets – the exchanges of Budapest and Ljubljana – the CEE Stock Exchange Group, with owner Vienna Stock Exchange at the helm, is steering a new strategic course. Its aim, as Stefanie Linhardt reports, is to become a leading service provider for central and eastern Europe's exchanges. 

As the Swiss National Bank removed its cap against the euro, the risk of borrowing in foreign currencies was made clear, as countries that had been busily borrowing in the Swiss franc reeled at the impact of its sudden appreciation. 

The European Central Bank has helped assuage fears of an imminent eurozone breakup, but sovereign, supranational and agency debt management officials must still contend with ratings downgrades and difficult political and fiscal situations in a number of countries. The Banker hears from a range of EU issuers both inside and outside the eurozone.