Austrian bank Addiko to enter Romanian market with consumer loans first
<p>Addiko Bank, an Austrian financial institution specialising in the consumer and SME sector operating in Central and South-Eastern Europe (CSE), is preparing to launch operations in Romania with the first solutions offered to consumers in the first quarter of 2025, according to <a href="https://economedia.ro/o-noua-banca-intra-in-romania.html?mc_cid=d1a4e05122&amp;mc_eid=cd1f92f96c" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Economedia.ro</a>.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, the bank does not expect the expansion into Romania to have a notable impact on profitability guidance before 2026.</p>

<p>The bank's interest in the Romanian market was first reported in 2022 by <a href="https://www.profit.ro/povesti-cu-profit/financiar/banci/grupul-austriac-addiko-bank-vrea-sa-se-extinda-in-sud-estul-europei-cu-tinta-de-a-deveni-banca-digitala-lider-din-regiune-20731216?mc_cid=d1a4e05122&amp;mc_eid=cd1f92f96c" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Profit.ro</a>. At that time, the bank was targeting the Romanian corporate segment, particularly the small firms and the microenterprise. Currently, it envisages entering the consumer lending segment first.</p>

<p>The volume of new consumer loans issued in Romania surged by 64% y/y to RON 47 billion (EUR 9.5 billion) in 2024, while the new corporate loans, although at a slightly higher level (RON 49 billion), increased by under 14% y/y. The new mortgage loans issued by the Romanian banks in 2024 rose by 60% y/y to RON 50 billion - although a large part of it was refinancing.</p>

<p>In 2024, Addiko completed the preparatory procedures for entering the Romanian market in 2025, using the cross-border license of its Slovenian subsidiary.</p>

<p>The bank now claims it is ready to launch fully digital consumer lending solutions in the first quarter of 2025.</p>

<p>"Addiko will leverage its current digital platform, risk management expertise, and business practices for its digital launch in Romania with an initial personal loan product. [T]he implementation phase has been launched, which is currently focused on IT integration and planning for future tests. The group plans to initiate a pilot phase in the first half of 2025 to stabilize the system and adjust its value proposition," the bank said.</p>

<p><em>iulian@romania-insider.com</em></p>

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