Erste Bank der oesterreichischen Sparkassen AG

Erste Bank is one of the largest bank groups in Austria, but also maintains a long tradition. Founded as the “Erste Oesterreichische Spar-Casse” in 1819, today it plays a major role in the development of financial management in Austria and Central Europe.

Erste Bank forms a strong bank group together with the (joint liability) Savings banks, which all operate under the slogan, “In jeder Beziehung zählen die Menschen.”

Erste Bank and the Sparkasse banks combine the advantages of the locally-anchored Savings banks with the security and strength of a major international bank. This mutual joint liability provides more security to Savings bank-group clients because the members mutually share responsibility for account deposits.

With around 16,400 employees, Erste Bank and the Savings banks serve more than 2.8 million customers at almost 1000 branches in Austria. As measured by private account deposits totalling 46 billion euros, Erste Bank and the Savings banks have a market share of around 19% in Austria, and together they are striving to become the market leader in private and commercial business. The group wishes to differentiate itself from the competition primarily by ensuring excellent quality in both consulting and services. Erste Bank focuses on private and business clients as well as the state and can offer all financial products from a single source due its numerous and outstanding subsidiaries. Its strengths lie in bonds, construction and leasing. Erste Bank is Number 1 in Austria for private banking with 27 billion euros in managed assets.

Number of branches: 993
Customers: 2.8 million