The Austrian bank Raiffeisen Bank, which operates in our country, reacts to the fact that Austria has blocked Romania’s accession to Schengen. Officials of the Austrian bank are surprised by Vienna’s decision, but specify that they do not make “decisions of a political nature.”

“We are unable to comment on decisions of a political nature, we are more than surprised by this decision. Raiffeisen Bank International Group, together with Raiffeisen Bank Romania, as one of the most important markets in Central and Eastern Europe, is a promoter of democratic values ​​that unite the European community and supports sustainable economic growth through a common market based on the free movement of goods, people, services and capital”, – says the press release of Raiffeisen Bank Romania.

Details of representatives of Raiffeisen Bank:

• “Raiffeisen Bank is a local bank that has been financing and supporting the Romanian economy for 25 years, being the third largest bank in terms of lending on the market. Since the privatization of the Agrarian Bank (2001) until today, Raiffeisen Bank has been a reliable partner for more than 2 million individuals, more than 110,000 small and medium-sized enterprises and 5,600 large and medium-sized corporations. In the nine months of 2022, lending at Raiffeisen Bank grew by 27% and recorded the highest growth in the corporate segment, respectively by 55%. In addition, 4,900 employees work at Raiffeisen Bank Romania in approximately 300 offices.
• Over the past 30 years, foreign investment in Romania has played a crucial role in the modernization of the economy and the integration of Romania’s market economy into international production chains. In addition to the capital and investments that the RBI group has made in the local market, Raiffeisen Bank is an engine that supports the development of the local economy through long-term financing, through the creation of jobs, both directly and indirectly, as a result of financing local businesses and their supply chain through transfer technologies and know-how that contribute to increased productivity and, just as importantly, through fees and taxes that support the public budget.
• Last but not least, RBI remains deeply committed to the principles underlying the Vienna Initiative and, as a co-founder of this initiative, the Group reaffirms, even in very difficult times, its commitment to Romania and the CEE region, ensuring that the necessary conditions are in place so that capital continues to flow into real economies during the crisis”

Photo source: 156728027©Mino Surkala|Dreamstime.com