Intesa Sanpaolo has successfully completed the acquisition of the Romanian group First Bank S.A. (Romania) from the US-based private investment fund J.C. Flowers & Co. Following the signing, on October 28, 2023, by Intesa Sanpaolo S.p.A. and JCF Tiger Holdings S.A.R.L., the majority shareholder of First Bank S.A., of a sale-purchase agreement for the acquisition of 99.980513% of the shares of First Bank S.A. and after obtaining all necessary approvals from all relevant regulatory authorities, Intesa Sanpaolo has today completed the acquisition of First Bank. The acquisition of First Bank allows Intesa Sanpaolo to double its presence in Romania, a country in which it has been active since 1996 through Intesa Sanpaolo Bank Romania. The acquisition significantly strengthens the competitive positioning of the Intesa Sanpaolo Group on the local market, including it in the top 10 banks in Romania. Together, Intesa Sanpaolo Bank Romania and First Bank total assets of approximately 3.2 billion euros, serve approximately 143,000 customers and have over 1,500 employees. The two banks – First Bank and Intesa Sanpaolo Bank Romania – are now part of the Group’s International Subsidiary Banks Division, a key player in the Central and Eastern Europe region, offering services to retail, corporate and SME customers. Marco Elio Rottigni, Head of the Group’s International Subsidiary Banking Division, said: “We warmly welcome First Bank employees and customers to the Intesa Sanpaolo Group, one of the largest and strongest banking groups in Europe. Consolidating our presence in Romania will stimulate Italian and foreign investments in this country, intensify trade and support the internationalization of SMEs. Our development will stimulate innovation at the economic level, for the benefit of individuals and legal entities”.
Two Romanians were arrested during Sunday night, May 11, after robbing empty houses in the evacuated mountain village of Brienz located in the Swiss canton of Graubünden. The village had been evacuated since November due to rock falls. The locality was, however, monitored by the authorities to prevent break-ins. The would-be thieves apparently tried to […]
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, or EBRD, has revised its estimates regarding the evolution of the Romanian economy in 2025 downward to 1.6%. The bank expects Romania’s GDP to grow 0.2% less than the 1.8% estimate made in February, and to increase by 2.4% in 2026. Romania's GDP growth slowed to 0.8% in […]
During a meeting on Monday, May 12, the Cluj-Napoca Local Council approved a draft resolution that imposes smoking restrictions in several public spaces in the city, including public transport stations, parks, and sports facilities. The resolution was adopted with 22 votes in favor and 3 abstentions, and will come into effect 90 days from the […]
An internal survey by Romanian Business Leaders, which does not have national representativeness but was answered by 417 entrepreneurs, shows that 62% of entrepreneurs expect to have to make layoffs, while a third expect the number of employees to remain the same. The expected layoffs are directly connected to the possibility of Romania choosing a […]
Romanian Istvan Kovacs will be the main referee for the UEFA Champions League final between Paris St-Germain and Inter Milan, which will be played on May 31 in Munich. The match will be Kovacs’ third European final in the last 4 years. The 40-year-old referee has previously officiated the UEFA Europa Conference League final in […]
Over 70 museums across Romania will open their doors after hours for the 21st edition of Night of Museums, one of the country's most anticipated cultural events. Held on the night of May 17, the event offers visitors a unique opportunity to explore exhibitions, installations, and creative activities in an unconventional, late-night setting. From major […]
