30 October 2026
Press Releases, News
“The results achieved in the first nine months of 2026 reflect the continuation of Erste Bank’s and the local Group’s positive business trends, as well as the soundness of our strategy and business policies. We are particularly pleased to see the growth in new lending across both business segments, retail and corporate, demonstrating our commitment not only to supporting our clients in achieving their financial needs and goals, but also to providing a meaningful impetus to the growth of the Croatian economy. We are especially honoured that our efforts and achievements have also been recognised through the receipt of our tenth Golden Kuna award for Croatia’s most successful bank, a prestigious recognition conferred by the Croatian Chamber of Economy.” said Christoph Schoefboeck, CEO of Erste&Steiermärkische Bank d.d. (“the Bank”), commenting on performance in the first nine months of 2026. “We are proud that today every fourth citizen of Croatia, as well as every fourth company in the country, banks with Erste Bank. At the same time, we support the majority of Croatia’s strategic regional projects, with recent examples including the Terme Wellovar project in Bjelovar and the Pical Resort and Congress Centre in Poreč. It is our responsibility and commitment to continue along this path, promoting healthy and sustainable growth, not only for our bank, but also for our clients and the Croatian economy as a whole.”
According to the unaudited consolidated financial statement, EBC Group's1 net profit after minority interests in Q3 2026 was EUR 310 million, compared to EUR 200 million in the same period in 2025. EBC Group’s net interest income was EUR 361 million, up 10.4% from EUR 327million in Q32025. Net fee and commission income was EUR 94 million, down 12.1% from EUR 107 million in Q3 2025.
ECB Group's total assets as at 30 September 2026 were EUR 18.47 billion, up 4.8% from EUR 17.63 billion at YE 2025. Total loans to customers as at 30 September 2026 were EUR 11 billion, up 4.9% from EUR 10.5 billion at YE 2025. Total deposits of ECB Group's customers as at 30 September 2026 were EUR 14.1 billion, up 3.4% from EUR 13.6 billion at YE 2025.
1The consolidated financial statement for the EBC Group includes, in addition to Erste&Steiermärkische Bank d.d., the following affiliates: Erste Nekretnine d.o.o., Erste&Steiermärkische S-Leasing d.o.o, Erste Bank a.d., Podgorica, Izbor Nekretnina d.o.o. and Keks Pay d.o.o.
The most significant one-off impact on the net profit growth compared to the same period in 2025 arises from the completion of the transaction for the sale of a 100-percent ownership stake in Erste Card Club d.o.o. to Global Payments s.r.o from the Czech Republic in January this year. In addition to that, the result achieved in Q3 2026 was positively impacted by the increased volume of new lending. A stronger increase in demand for housing loans was noticed in retail segment, while in corporate banking the most significant growth impulse in loans was recorded in the real estate financing segment and for small and medium-sized enterprises. Total customer deposits continued to increase, supported by a visible shift towards term deposits, particularly in the corporate banking segment. The sale of Erste Card Club impacted on the decrease of net commission and fee income, as well as on the decline of other administrative expenses, compared to previous year’s result. Risk costs have a positive contribution to the result, mainly due to collections and improved ratings in the corporate segment, although this contribution on an annual level is smaller than in 2025.
According to the unaudited unconsolidated financial report, which includes the results of the Bank excluding affiliated companies, net profit in Q3 2026 was EUR 253 million, compared to EUR 187 million in the same period in 2025. Net interest income was up 8.8% from EUR 294 million in Q3 2025 to EUR 320 million in Q3 2026, while net fee and commission income was up 4.8% from EUR 84 million in Q3 2025 to EUR 88 million in the same period in 2026.
The Bank's total assets as at 30 September 2026 were EUR 16.94 billion, up 5.5% from EUR 16.05 billion at YE 2025. Total loans to customers as at 30 September 2026 were EUR 9.8 billion, up 6% from EUR 9.3 billion at YE 2025. Total deposits of the Bank's clients as at 30 September 2026 were EUR 13.3 billion, up 3.1% from EUR 12.9 billion at YE 2025.