Finance

Debt

ÁKK sells HUF 50 bln of 3-month T-bills at auction, as planned

The Government Debt Management Agency (ÁKK) sold HUF 50 billion of discount three-month T-bills at auction on Tuesday, in line...

Debt

Romania’s public deficit shrinks in Jan-Feb

The public deficit has narrowed to RON 9.5 billion (EUR 1.9 billion) in January-February, 25% less compared to the same...

MNB

MNB extends EUR 4 bln ECB repo line 

The National Bank of Hungary (MNB) said the maturity of a EUR 4 bln repo line it has with the...

Banking

Albania hikes key interest rate 

The Bank of Albania raised its key policy rate by 50 basis points to 1% during its March meeting, as...

Banking

CIB group profits double in 2021

After-tax profit of CIB group, the Hungarian lender of Intesa Sanpaolo, climbed 114% to HUF 15.8 billion last year, an...

Banking

HUF 77.7 bln 2021 profit for MKB Bank 

MKB Bank had an after-tax profit of HUF 77.7 billion in 2021, adjusted for one-offs such as integration costs, up...

Banking

Sberbank Hungary Falls With Austrian Parent on Sanctions Against Russia

Sanctions against Russia pushed the regional unit of Sberbank into failure, making the entity one of the first victims of...

Banking

Non-Performing Loans: Basics and Recent Developments

Both companies and individuals may, for various reasons, default on their bank loans. If this continues for a more extended...

Banking

Bank Sector Grows in 2021, Still Lags Pre-pandemic Levels

Hungarian banks started this year with increased stability. In fact, the most recent figures from the National Bank of Hungary...

Debt

Czech Republic’s foreign debt grew in 2021

The Czech Republic's foreign debt rose year-on-year by CZK 150,3 billion to nearly CZK 4,472 trillion (EUR 181.28 billion) in...

MNB

MNB raises 1-week deposit rate 30 bp to 6.15%

The National Bank of Hungary (MNB) raised the rate for its one-week deposit facility by 30 bp to 6.15% ahead...

Debt

Serbia current account switches to deficit in Jan

Serbia's current account swung to a deficit of USD 164 million in January compared to a surplus of USD 304...

Debt

Hungary Q4 C/A deficit reaches EUR 2.452 bln, preliminary data show

Hungary's current account had a EUR 2.452 billion deficit in the fourth quarter of 2021, quarterly data released by the...

Trade

Bosnia’s trade gap widens in Jan-Feb

Bosnia's trade deficit rose 52% year-on-year to BAM 1.088 billion (EUR 557 million) in the first two months of this...

Banking

Sberbank in talks to sell stake in Croatia’s Fortenova to Indotek

Russian lender Sberbank is in talks to sell its 44% stake in Croatia's largest privately-owned company Fortenova, the successor to...

Banking

OTP Says Exposure Limited as Paraguay’s Ueno Bank Enters Insolvency

OTP Bank said its USD 47 million investment in Paraguay’s Ueno Bank represents a small exposure for the Hungarian lender...

Ratings

Fitch Sees Hungary’s Deficit Narrowing but Debt Burden Rising

Hungary’s budget deficit is expected to narrow and growth to accelerate in 2027, but rising debt and fiscal vulnerabilities continue...

MNB

MNB Cites Global Uncertainty Behind September Rate Hold

Global economic uncertainty constrained Hungary’s monetary policy room for maneuver, the National Bank of Hungary’s (MNB) Monetary Council agreed at...

OTP Says Exposure Limited as Paraguay’s Ueno Bank Enters Insolvency

OTP Bank said its USD 47 million investment in Paraguay’s Ueno Bank represents a small exposure for the Hungarian lender...

What Happens Next to What We’ve Built? New Challenges in Family Wealth Planning

Building a successful family business takes decades of work, but its future also depends on how carefully the transfer of...

Hungarian Banks Seek Gradual Reduction in 45% Effective Tax Burden

Hungarian banks hope for a “slow but certain” reduction in their tax burden, Hungarian Banking Association President Radovan Jelasity said...

MNB Probe Widens as International Arrest Warrant Issued for Ádám Matolcsy

International arrest warrants have been issued for Ádám Matolcsy, son of former Hungarian central bank Governor György Matolcsy, and businessman...

MNB Holds Base Rate at 5.5%, Maintains Symmetric Interest Rate Corridor

The Monetary Council of the National Bank of Hungary (MNB) left the base rate unchanged at 5.5% at its monthly...

Gránit Bank Hit by Largest Loan Loss Provision in Its History

Gránit Bank reported an additional approximately HUF 9.4 billion loan loss provision in the third quarter of 2026, the largest...

Fitch Sees Hungary’s Deficit Narrowing but Debt Burden Rising

Hungary’s budget deficit is expected to narrow and growth to accelerate in 2027, but rising debt and fiscal vulnerabilities continue...

MNB Cites Global Uncertainty Behind September Rate Hold

Global economic uncertainty constrained Hungary’s monetary policy room for maneuver, the National Bank of Hungary’s (MNB) Monetary Council agreed at...

MNB International Reserves Fall to EUR 62.1 bln in September

The National Bank of Hungary’s (MNB) international reserves stood at EUR 62.061 bln at the end of September, down EUR...

K&H Bank and Mastercard Extend Strategic Partnership Through 2030

K&H Bank and Mastercard have extended their exclusive strategic partnership through 2030, with plans to expand personalized digital financial services...

OTP Forecasts Hungary’s GDP Growth at 1.7% in 2026, 2.5% in 2027

Hungary’s economy could expand by 1.7% this year and 2.5% in 2027, with household consumption driving growth in 2026, according...

Hungary Posts EUR 481 mln Trade Deficit as Import Volumes Jump 13%

Hungary recorded a EUR 481 million goods trade deficit in August as import volumes rose 13% year-on-year while export volumes...

Bayer Construct Gets Default Ratings After Bankruptcy Protection Filing

Scope Ratings has assigned default ratings to Bayer Construct following its bankruptcy protection filing, citing financial pressure linked partly to...

Former Central Bank Governor Matolcsy Questioned as Suspect in Erste Case

Police have questioned seven suspects, including former National Bank of Hungary Governor György Matolcsy, in an investigation into alleged abuse...

MNB to Lower Inflation Target to 2.5% From 2028, Holds Base Rate at 5.5%

The National Bank of Hungary (MNB) will lower its inflation target to 2.5% from Jan. 1, 2028, while retaining its...