Strategic development

Cross Border Client Groups
The idea of Cross Border Client Groups (CBCG) is to create systematic, cross-border relationship management for corporates. A network of contact persons is available in all CEE countries. In order to make optimal use of potential for business with internationally active corporates within HVB Group, network products with uniform quality standards and more speedy processing have also been defined (see box “Network products”).

With CBCG we aim to further improve relationship management for international corporates who are active across national boundaries. The argument of a comprehensive network in CEE can be used most effectively with this customer group. The increasing industrial division of labour and integration within Europe provide the economic background for this approach. This strategy has already been in operation for some time for multinational corporates in the form of a cooperation model – customer service by local banks combined with supraregional relationship management. Potential certainly exists for expansion in this segment. Over 40,000 companies in 10 CEE countries and around 15,000 in Austria are active across national borders. EU enlargement and the almost “automatic” increase of trade flows in its wake lead to further rapid growth of this target group. By means of our CBCG approach, we want to make use of this potential even better than before in the entire area covered by HVB Group.

Project finance and special finance
Project finance and special financing transactions (infrastructure, real estate and leasing) are one of the bank’s strengths. Bank Austria Creditanstalt’s expertise and its access to international financial markets and to the banking market (syndications) are a guarantee of professional and satisfactory relationship management for customers which meets top international standards. This is ensured through services provided by supranational specialists. Bank Austria Creditanstalt is one of the market leaders in both project finance and special financing transactions.

Small and medium-sized companies (SMEs)
The impulses from internationally active companies are passed on to medium-sized companies with a certain time lag. For this reason we are expanding business with small and medium-sized companies (SMEs) – and thereby using experience gained in the more mature banking markets. In this area, the bank will pay attention to the highest possible degree of standardisation in current business and in products offered.