Raiffeisen Bank Acquires Garanti BBVA Group Romania
Raiffeisen Bank SA takes full ownership of Garanti BBVA Group Romania, which includes Garanti Bank SA and leasing unit Motoractive IFN SA.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Financial Services
Raiffeisen Bank SA has acquired 100% of the shares in Garanti BBVA Group Romania from subsidiaries of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA. The Garanti BBVA Group Romania comprises Garanti Bank SA and the leasing unit Motoractive IFN SA.
Why it matters
The deal brings a full ownership stake in a banking and leasing business into Raiffeisen's regional footprint, which had total assets of EUR 17.5 billion at year-end 2025. It reflects continued consolidation activity among banks operating across Central and Southeastern Europe.
Raiffeisen Bank SA, with total assets of EUR 17.5 billion at year-end 2025 and 2.3 million customers, acquired 100% of the shares in Garanti BBVA Group Romania. The purchase price and financial terms were not disclosed.
The players
Raiffeisen Bank SA
Raiffeisen Bank SA is the Romanian banking subsidiary of the Austrian Raiffeisen Bank International group, serving a customer base of 2.3 million.
Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA
Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA, commonly known as BBVA, is a major Spanish multinational bank with operations across Europe and the Americas.
Schoenherr
Schoenherr is a Central and Eastern European law firm that advised on the transaction across banking, corporate, and competition matters.
The details
The shares were sold by subsidiaries of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA. Schoenherr's Banking & Finance and Corporate/M&A teams provided buy-side legal advice, while its Competition, EU & Foreign Trade team advised on merger control and foreign direct investment screening.
Timeline
The 2025 year-end figures show Raiffeisen Bank SA's total assets reached EUR 17.5 billion.
Schoenherr announced completion of the acquisition on November 6, 2026.
Market Landscape
The acquisition continues a pattern of Western European banks, including BBVA, selling Central and Southeastern European subsidiaries to regional institutions. It also places Raiffeisen in a stronger position across Romania and neighboring markets where Schoenherr advised on Turkish, Serbian, Kosovar, Montenegrin, and Albanian law matters.
For Romanian customers of Garanti Bank SA and Motoractive IFN SA, the ownership change may affect account services, loan terms, and leasing arrangements, though the source material does not specify any changes. Customers should watch for official communications from the bank regarding product and service continuity.
The takeaway
Bank ownership changes often shape service levels for everyday customers over time, so watching for updates from the new owner is worthwhile. Readers with accounts or loans at affected institutions should review any notices they receive about terms and contacts.
Further reading
Explore more coverage in Financial Services for context on how banking deals like this one are reshaping regional markets.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Lawyers Week |.
