Italian banks are struggling to manage their non-performing loans. Can government measures such as reforms to the financial sector, a revamp of bankruptcy laws and a new fund that invests in NPLs help? Stefanie Linhardt investigates.
Latest articles from Stefanie Linhardt
Top 1000 World Banks – Western Europe's global standing diminishes again
June 29, 2016A patchy economic performance in western Europe in 2015 saw its lenders slide further down the global rankings. HSBC is clinging on to its global top 10 position, however, while there is some good news for Greek and Italian lenders.
Top 1000 World Banks – Russia survives rouble depreciation to retain CEE lead
June 29, 2016Russian banks have suffered through the stormy financial conditions of the past two years, but its lenders remain the largest in the central and eastern Europe region. However, Romania, and Banca Transilvania in particular, provide the region's good news story.
Top 1000 World Banks – North America and western Europe close profits gap on Asia-Pacific
June 29, 2016Its share of global return on capital may have fallen, but Asia-Pacific still leads in profits. On the rise are western Europe, North America and the Middle East, while Latin America and the caribbean, central and eastern Europe and Africa all recorded smaller shares.
The rehabilitation of Austria’s Volksbanken
June 1, 2016After 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
Austrian province of Carinthia becomes a BRRD test case
June 1, 2016Hypo 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’s banking overhaul
June 1, 2016Austria 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.
How Russia’s VTB Capital has grown domestically and internationally
May 2, 2016Riccardo Orcel, the head of global banking at VTB Capital, speaks to Stefanie Linhardt about cultivating the bank’s domestic Russian operation and taking an idiosyncratic approach to growing business in global markets.
Privatisation comes of age in central and eastern Europe
May 2, 2016The south-eastern European states formerly associated with the Soviet Union have been slow to privatise state-owned assets when compared with their western European neighbours, but political reforms and softening attitudes mean fresh momentum is spurring a wave of long-delayed sell-offs in the region, particularly in Serbia and Slovenia.
EBRD president celebrates 25 years of development
May 2, 2016As the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development celebrates its silver anniversary, president Suma Chakrabarti tells Stefanie Linhardt why the bank is looking south to the Mediterranean and beyond in search of new opportunities.