Austria's Erste says 2030 earnings goals do not depend on bigger Poland stake (updated)

Erste Bank Polska SA

30/07/2026 08:04

Recasts with comments on CEE growth, stake in Polish unit in paragraphs 1 and 4-6, adds shares in paragraph 8.
Full-year return-on-tangible-equity target raised to above 20%
Bank says 2030 goal to double earnings per share requires no bigger Polish stake
Larger stake in Erste Bank Polska remains attractive, but no decision taken, management says
By Emanuele  Berro
July 30 (Reuters) - Austria's Erste Group ERST.VI said on Thursday its ambitions to sharply increase earnings in the coming years did not depend on further acquisitions, after it raised 2026 outlook on the back of strong lending growth across Central and Eastern Europe.
Erste's earnings are closely tied to the economies of this key region, where it operates major banking franchises in Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Hungary, Poland, Croatia and Serbia. 
The group entered Poland earlier this year by acquiring a controlling stake the country's third-largest bank by assets from Santander, which has since been rebranded Erste Bank Polska EBP.WA.
Erste said on Thursday its goal of doubling earnings per share by 2030 was achievable without further increasing its stake in the Polish lender.
However, a larger stake in Erste Bank Polska would be an attractive opportunity and the group is evaluating its options, the management said, although no decision has been taken and funding remains under consideration.
Chief Financial Officer Stefan Doerfler also said the group's net profit target of more than €4 billion ($4.6 billion) for this year reflected stronger operating performance rather than lower risk costs.
Earlier on the day, the banking group raised its 2026 return-on-tangible-equity target to above 20% and upgraded its outlook for underlying loan growth, citing strong demand across its core markets.
Shares in the Vienna-based lender were little changed by 0933 GMT.
($1 = 0.8728 euros)

(Reporting by Emanuele Berro, editing by Milla Nissi-Prussak)
((Emanuele.Berro@thomsonreuters.com; +48 587696510))