Erste Group Bank AG announced earnings results for the fourth quarter and year ended 2012. For the fourth quarter, the company reported net loss of EUR 114 million given the goodwill write-down of EUR 305 million, mainly Romania. Net interest income was EUR 1.266 billion, down from EUR 1.317 billion, due to basically, a weaker contribution from money markets activities, risk provisions up in the first quarter in Hungary and in the large corporate business.

For the year, the company reported net profit of EUR 438.5 (sic) [EUR 483.5] million affected by a number of positive and negative one-offs.

The company do expects to see a modest decline of NPL volume in 2013 on the back of reduced NPL inflows. And the company do see operating income growing in 2013, at the same time, operating expenses continuing to decline which still makes positive, that the company might show a small profit in 2013.