Erste Bank Will Not Sell Eastern European Assets, Treichl Says

“Our strategy is to be the main financial services provider in eastern Europe and the (global economic) crisis has not changed our view at all. Actually, the crisis confirmed our view that over the next 25 years, the European Union will depend to a larger extent on growth generated in the eastern part of the EU,” Treichl told Mediafax in a phone interview.

“We have zero intentions to leave the region or to sell assets there,” he replied to a question on whether Erste plans to sell some of its assets in the CEE region to increase its Tier 1 capital ratio.

Under no circumstance the CEE markets are a threat to Austrian banks, Treichl said.