Erste Group Bank, the Vienna-based financial services group, reported full-year 2024 net profit of EUR 3.1 billion, a 4.3% increase on the prior year, across a seven-country network that spans Austria and core Central and Eastern European markets.
Net interest income for the year reached EUR 7.5 billion across the group's operations in Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Croatia, and Serbia. The results were published on the group's investor relations website on 28 February 2025, with net interest income rising in all core markets except Austria and fee income growing in all core markets.
LOANS, RETURNS AND CAPITAL
Customer loans grew 4.9% over the year to EUR 218.1 billion. Loan growth was recorded in both retail and corporate business, most notably in Austria, the Czech Republic and Romania.
Return on equity reached 15.2%. The CET1 capital ratio was 15.1%.
DIVIDEND PROPOSAL AND 2025 TARGETS
Erste Group proposed a dividend of EUR 3.00 per share for 2024, equal to 41.2% of adjusted net profit, alongside a planned third share buyback of 23.7% of adjusted net profit, subject to regulatory approval.
For 2025, management targeted a return on tangible equity of about 15%, loan growth of about 5%, broadly flat net interest income and operating expenses rising by about 5%.