Erste Bank signed a purchase agreement to acquire the state’s 83.3% stake in the Serbian Novosadska banka for EUR 73m on Friday. Erste Bank was selected as the preferred bidder on May 18. Separately, Erste bank, together with another nine banks, qualified to bid for a 50% stake + one share in Romania’s Banca Comerciala Romana (BCR). The Romanian government should short list two bidders with whom it will hold negotiations. Final bids are due by September 19.
Separately, Erste’s CEO Andreas Treichl said that the bank plans further expansion in Serbia via the acquisition of Bank Niska and opening new branches in order to achieve a 10% market share.