Erste Group Bank AG is one of the largest bank groups in Austria. Bank plays a major role in the development of financial management in Austria and Central Europe. Erste Bank forms a strong bank group together with the (joint liability) Savings banks. Total assets: €199.9 billion (as of December 31, 2013). Net profit: €878.7 million (2010), €483.5 million (2012), €61 million (2013).

Erste Bank and the Sparkasse banks combine the advantages of the locally-anchored Savings banks with the security and strength of a major international bank. This mutual joint liability provides more security to Savings bank-group clients because the members mutually share responsibility for account deposits. More than 45,500 employees are serving clients in over 2,800 branches in 7 countries (Austria, Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, and Croatia).