Erste lifts 2026 outlook, to launch tender for Polish unit shares on November 1

Oct 30 (Reuters) - Erste Group ERST.VI on Friday raised its 2026 loan volume target to above €290 billion ($324 billion) and forecast net interest income growth of more than 6% excluding Poland, up from about 5% previously, after the Austrian bank saw strong customer growth in the first nine months of the year.

Third-quarter net profit rose to €1.12 billion, beating analysts' average forecast of €1.08 billion in a company-provided poll, as higher lending and deposit volumes helped boost net interest and fee income.

The Austrian lender said it would launch its new tender offer to raise its stake in Erste Bank Polska EBP.WA by up to 26% on Monday, with the subscription period starting the next day.

Erste Group currently holds a 49% stake in Erste Bank Polska, Poland's third-largest bank by assets and one of the country's most profitable lenders, after acquiring the shares from Santander SAN.MC earlier in 2026 as part of a push to expand in Central and Eastern Europe.

($1 = 0.8957 euros)