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RBI: Lawsuit worth billions and cuts to Russia endanger profits!
Raiffeisen Bank International reports profit increases while its Russian operations are under pressure. EU sanctions and legal disputes shape the situation.
RBI: Lawsuit worth billions and cuts to Russia endanger profits!
Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) is optimistic despite the challenges in Russia. According to recent reports from vienna.at The bank was able to increase its profit by 21.2% to 1.03 billion euros in the first nine months of the 2025 financial year, without taking into account business in Russia and Belarus. This is a positive development, despite a downturn last year when the bank posted a loss of €118 million due to a court ruling in Russia.
The RBI has severely restricted its business in Russia. The loan volume fell from 13.7 billion euros to just 4.5 billion euros. In addition, deposits fell by 38%. In contrast, net interest income increased by 0.5% to 3.13 billion euros, while net commission income increased by 9.3% to 1.47 billion euros. Bank boss Johann Strobl expressed hope for future progress, especially in connection with the EU's 20th sanctions package.
EU sanctions and litigation
A central problem remains the release of shares in the construction company Strabag that have been frozen under sanctions in Russia. The RBI failed in this project due to a lack of support from other EU member states, although Austria had advocated for an exception. The court in Russia also ordered RBI to pay two billion euros to Rasperia Trading Limited, which is related to a relationship with Raiffeisen-Holding Niederösterreich-Wien, which holds 25% of RBI's parent company.
If the release of the sanctioned shares fails, the RBI plans to take legal action in Austria against Rasperia to secure its assets. Strobl is confident that the bank has a strong case and will file the lawsuit “at the right time.” These legal battles come in a context where the EU is considering the possibility of lifting sanctions on assets of Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska in order to compensate the RBI.
Stock market and future outlook
RBI has recently recorded a 6.6% increase in shares on the Vienna Stock Exchange. Analysts at Erste Group rate this development as “extremely positive” for the share. Although the Russian business is valued at zero in the valuation of RBI shares, the release of Strabag shares could have a positive impact on share prices. Proponents of these measures argue that they would prevent double compensation for the sanctioned company.
It has already been shown in the past that attempts to free up shares through swap transactions failed due to concerns about circumventing EU sanctions. Russian authorities were reluctant to let the bank go because it offers access to the Swift international payment system.
In summary, the RBI operates in a complex situation and is influenced by both legal challenges and political decisions in the EU. However, the bank remains optimistic and is actively pursuing ways to minimize its losses while expanding its operations outside Russia.