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Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) is a leading corporate and investment bank in Austria and Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). It is a subsidiary of Raiffeisen Bank International AG, which is owned by the Raiffeisen Banking Group, a group of cooperative banks in Austria. RBI offers a range of financial services, including corporate, retail, and investment banking, as well as leasing, asset management, and M&A. With its headquarters in Vienna, RBI has a strong presence in CEE with subsidiary banks in 11 markets and a global network of branches and representative offices. While RBI has been expanding its operations internationally, including in the US, the specific question of its affiliation with US banks requires further direct investigation for a conclusive answer.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Is Raiffeisen Bank Austria affiliated with any US banks? | No clear indication, but Raiffeisen Bank Austria is part of Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI), which operates in several countries outside of Austria. |
| RBI's presence outside Austria | RBI has a presence in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), with subsidiary banks in 11 markets, including non-EU countries like Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, and Russia. RBI also has representative offices in various countries, including China, Sweden, and the UK. |
| RBI's US connections | In 2024, the US Treasury Department warned that RBI could be cut off from the US financial system due to its continued operations in Russia after the Ukraine invasion. |
What You'll Learn
Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI)
RBI has a wide international network, covering 11 markets in CEE, five of which are EU members. It also has a presence in 23 countries worldwide, including China, Japan, South Korea, India, Belgium, France, Germany, Sweden, the UK, and Russia. The bank provides corporate, retail, and investment banking services, as well as premium and private banking in selected countries.
The RBI Group comprises numerous other financial service providers, including leasing, asset management, and M&A. It has around 43,000 to 46,000 employees, serving approximately 17.7 million customers through about 1,400 to 1,600 business outlets, with the largest part in CEE. RBI's shares are listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange, and the bank has been designated as a Significant Institution under European Banking Supervision, supervised by the European Central Bank.
RBI has a long history in Austria, with its first Austrian credit cooperative founded in Mühldorf, a village in Lower Austria, in 1886. Over time, local cooperatives began working together, eventually founding regional cooperatives, which led to the three-tiered structure of the Austrian Raiffeisen Banking Group. This structure strengthened their market position and improved management and risk control.
RBI has faced some controversies in recent years, including its operations in Russia after the country's invasion of Ukraine. In March 2023, it was named an international sponsor of the war by Ukraine's National Agency on Corruption Prevention but was later excluded from the list for the 12th package of EU sanctions. The bank has also been under scrutiny by the US Treasury Department, which warned RBI that it risks being cut off from the US financial system if it does not wind down its Russian business.
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RBI's US warning
Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) is one of the leading banks in Austria and Central and Eastern Europe. RBI has a presence in 11 Central and Eastern European markets, with 11 subsidiary banks and 17.7 million customers.
In May 2024, the US Treasury warned RBI that its access to the US financial system could be restricted because of its dealings with Russia. A letter sent by Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo on May 6 expressed concern about RBI's presence in Russia, as well as a $1.5 billion deal with a sanctioned Russian tycoon, Oleg Deripaska, which the bank has since scrapped.
RBI's business in Russia has been a source of frustration for US officials, as their sanctions against Russia have not been as effective as hoped due to the presence of Western banks like RBI. The bank has been delaying plans to leave Russia and has been a critical financial bridge for Russian individuals and companies to the West, providing them with access to euros and dollars.
The warning from the US Treasury is a strong signal of the deep frustration in Washington with RBI's activities in Russia. The United States has the power to sever a bank's access to the dollar, which is a cornerstone of international finance. Losing access to the US currency would likely plunge any bank into a crisis.
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RBI's shareholders
Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) is regarded as one of the leading corporate and investment banks in Austria and Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). RBI's shares are listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange.
The ownership structure of RBI is as follows:
- 61.17% of shares are owned by 8 regional Raiffeisen banks
- 8 regional Raiffeisen banks are owned by 285 Raiffeisen banks
- 285 Raiffeisen banks are owned by approximately 1.7 million members, primarily private individuals
- 38.83% of shares are owned by free-float investors
The regional Raiffeisen banks that own RBI shares include:
- Raiffeisenlandesbank NÖ-Wien
- Raiffeisen Landesbank Steiermark
- Raiffeisenlandesbank Oberösterreich
- Raiffeisen-Landesbank Tirol
- Raiffeisenverband Salzburg
- Raiffeisenlandesbank Kärnten
- Raiffeisenlandesbank Burgenland
- Raiffeisenlandesbank Vorarlberg
The shareholder base is well-diversified due to the broad geographic spread and various investment strategies. The majority of institutional investors are from North America and Europe, with a growing number from Asia and Australia. There are also a large number of Austrian retail investors.
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RBI's subsidiaries
Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) is one of the leading corporate and investment banks in Austria and Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). It operates as a universal bank in 11 CEE markets, servicing 17.7 million customers through around 1,400 business outlets. RBI's shares are listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange.
RBI has 11 subsidiary banks in CEE, including:
- Raiffeisen Bank Sh.a.
- Raiffeisen Bank d.d. Bosna i Hercegovina
- Raiffeisenbank a.s.
- Raiffeisenbank Austria d.d.
- Raiffeisen Bank Kosovo S.A.
- Raiffeisen Bank Zrt.
- Raiffeisen Bank S.A.
In addition, the RBI Group offers other financial services, including leasing, asset management, and M&A. The group comprises numerous financial service providers, and the Austrian regional Raiffeisen banks own around 58.8% of the shares.
RBI also has subsidiaries in Austria that provide the wider Raiffeisen sector with financial services. Its first subsidiary bank was founded in Hungary in 1986, giving the bank almost 40 years of experience in the region.
RBI is not to be confused with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), which is India's central bank and regulatory body.
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RBI's history
Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) is one of the leading corporate and investment banks in Austria, with a history spanning over 130 years. Founded in 1886, the bank has established itself as a prominent financial institution in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE).
In 1986, RBI expanded beyond Austria by founding its first subsidiary bank in Hungary, marking its early foray into the CEE region. Today, RBI operates in 11 CEE markets through subsidiary banks, offering a range of financial services, including leasing, asset management, and M&A.
RBI's ownership structure is comprised of approximately 58.8% of shares held by Austrian regional Raiffeisen banks, with the remaining shares in free float. The bank is committed to responsible and sustainable banking, becoming an official signatory of the UN Principles for Responsible Banking.
RBI has a strong presence in the CEE region, serving approximately 16.7 million customers through around 2,000 business outlets. The bank's headquarters in Vienna underscores its focus on Central and Eastern Europe, acting as a gateway to this region and fostering international connections.
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Frequently asked questions
Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) is a leading corporate and investment bank in Austria and Central and Eastern Europe. While it has subsidiaries and operations in several countries, including China, Belgium, Albania, Hungary, Romania, Ukraine, and Russia, I found no indication that it has any direct affiliations with US banks. However, it is listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange, and its shares are publicly traded.
Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) is the central financial entity of the decentralised Raiffeisen Banking Group in Austria. It acts as the holding company for all the group's operations outside of Austria, including Raiffeisen Bank Austria.
The group's international expansion began in 1986 with the establishment of a subsidiary bank in Hungary. By 2003, the group had expanded to 15 Central and Eastern European countries. In 2010, Raiffeisen Bank International was established as a subsidiary of Raiffeisen Zentralbank (RZB), and it has since expanded its global presence further.
The Raiffeisen Banking Group is a group of cooperative banks in Austria. It includes local cooperative banks, regional wholesale banks, and the central entity Raiffeisen Bank International. The group's international operations are consolidated under Raiffeisen Bank International.
Raiffeisen Bank International, along with the broader RBI Group, offers various financial services beyond traditional banking. These include leasing, asset management, and M&A (mergers and acquisitions).
Raiffeisen Bank International covers 11 markets in Central and Eastern Europe, with a total of 1,400 business outlets serving 17.7 million customers. It operates in both EU and non-EU countries within this region.
