Banking

Banking

Romanian budget gap widens on spending for EU entry

Romania's state budget deficit widened to 1.7% of GDP last year from 0.8% in 2005 as spending increased before the...

Banking

Hungarian companies and workers agree on 2007 wage increases – extended

Hungarian trade unions and corporate leaders today reached an agreement on this year's wage increases, one day before the deadline...

Banking

No more spending cuts in 2007, says FinMin

There is no need for any further austerity measures in 2007 and the government has no plans to introduce further...

Banking

Germany will raise 2007 growth forecast to 1.7%

The German government will raise its forecast for economic growth this year to 1.7% on expectations that employment will increase,...

Banking

Hungarian companies and workers fail to reach wage agreement

Hungarian trade unions and corporate leaders failed today to reach an agreement on this year's wage increases, leaving just five...

Banking

Switzerland, foreign millionaires’ „paradise,” may raise taxes

Switzerland, which has attracted millionaires from Ikea founder Ingvar Kamprad to ex-Formula One champion Michael Schumacher, may raise taxes on...

Banking

Off-shore companies are leaving

Off-shore companies are gradually leaving the country, tax experts say....

Banking

IPA concerns go official

The Budapest Court (FB)’s report on the ‘‘local business tax’’ (IPA) procedure was published on the EU’s official website....

Banking

Employers, unions, gov’t closer to reaching wage rise agreement

Employers, unions and the government came closer to an agreement on wage rises in 2007 at a Friday meeting of...

Banking

Romania to resume foreign debt sales, Finance Minister says

Romania may resume international debt sales in 2007 for the first time in almost four years to fund health care...

Banking

Irish workers pay least tax as portion of salary

Irish workers pay the lowest income tax as a percentage of their total income among European Union countries, according to...

Banking

Hungary says November budget deficit narrower than expected

Hungary, which has the European Union's widest budget deficit, said the shortfall in November was narrower than expected as fiscal...

Banking

Joint Venture Association urges business unions to back changes to tax system

The Joint Venture Association (JVSZ) issued a statement on Thursday urging all of Hungary's business associations to back changes to...

Banking

Constitution Court gives go-ahead for banking tax

The Constitution Court ruled on Tuesday to uphold the government's planned introduction of a banking tax, rejecting banks' claims that...

Banking

EU carbon tax would help climate, and create jobs

Taxing carbon dioxide emissions instead of labor would help the environment and create jobs, European Union Taxation Commissioner László Kovács...

Banking

Green Lending Surges Past HUF 1.1 tln as Energy‑Storage Projects Accelerate

Hungary’s green‑loan portfolio grew from HUF 994.9 billion to HUF 1.105 trillion in Q1 2026, driven by more than HUF...

Banking

OTP Bank Q2 Earnings Fall 7% as Interest Rate Cap Weighs on Profit

Second-quarter after-tax profit at OTP Bank, Hungary’s biggest commercial lender, fell 7% year-on-year to HUF 305.8 bln, an earnings report...

Banking

Hungary Leasing Market Grows 8.7% in H1 2026

The value of new leases in Hungary rose 8.7% year-on-year to HUF 520 billion in the first half of 2026,...

Banking

“We Aim to Play the Same Role in CEE as We Do at Home”

OTP Fund Management is continuing its growth across the region. According to CEO György Éder, international expansion is not a...

Banking

OTP Group Named Best Retail Bank in CEE at Euromoney Awards

OTP Group received 13 awards at the 2026 Euromoney Awards for Excellence, including the title of Best Retail Bank in...

Net-zero Transition Becoming a Core Banking Issue

Banks have a central role to play in financing Hungary’s transition to a lower-carbon economy, not by withdrawing from carbon-intensive...

Cash Flow Under Pressure: How Factoring Supports Business Resilience

In an increasingly uncertain economic environment, companies are placing greater emphasis on liquidity, as well as operational resilience....

OTP Accounts for 53% of Hungarian Banking Groups’ Total Assets

OTP Bank’s consolidated total assets accounted for 53% of the combined balance sheet of banking groups in Hungary at the...

Hungarian Banking Sector Profit Declines 22% in H1 2026

Hungarian banks’ combined after-tax profit fell 22% year-on-year to HUF 685 billion in the first half, data released by the...

MBH Bank Posts HUF 88 bln Adjusted Comprehensive Income in H1

MBH Bank reported adjusted total comprehensive income of over HUF 88 bln in H1 2026, HUF 780 mln above the...

Green Lending Surges Past HUF 1.1 tln as Energy‑Storage Projects Accelerate

Hungary’s green‑loan portfolio grew from HUF 994.9 billion to HUF 1.105 trillion in Q1 2026, driven by more than HUF...

OTP Bank Q2 Earnings Fall 7% as Interest Rate Cap Weighs on Profit

Second-quarter after-tax profit at OTP Bank, Hungary’s biggest commercial lender, fell 7% year-on-year to HUF 305.8 bln, an earnings report...

Hungary Leasing Market Grows 8.7% in H1 2026

The value of new leases in Hungary rose 8.7% year-on-year to HUF 520 billion in the first half of 2026,...

Household Lending Hits Historic High in June

Hungary recorded an unprecedented jump in household lending in June 2026, with monthly new loans surpassing HUF 500 billion for...

“We Aim to Play the Same Role in CEE as We Do at Home”

OTP Fund Management is continuing its growth across the region. According to CEO György Éder, international expansion is not a...

OTP Group Named Best Retail Bank in CEE at Euromoney Awards

OTP Group received 13 awards at the 2026 Euromoney Awards for Excellence, including the title of Best Retail Bank in...

Banking Association Presses for Predictable Economic Policy

Hungarian Banking Association leaders congratulated the new government and said lenders were ready to play an active role in supporting...

Strong International Demand for MBH Bank’s Bonds

MBH Bank has completed another international bond issuance under its international program, placing EUR 500 mln of MREL-eligible bonds amid...

MBH Mortgage Bank Issues EUR 500 mln Covered Bond

MBH Mortgage Bank has issued a EUR 500 mln benchmark-sized covered bond on the international capital market, attracting total demand...

Banks Draft Proposals for Retail Borrowers Rate Freeze

The Hungarian Banking Association is drafting proposals in the framework of a social consultation on changes to a rate freeze...