Erste Group Bank AG: Green light for Erste Group's acquisition in Poland, all conditions satisfied

Wien (pta028/23.12.2025/17:00 UTC+1)

• All regulatory approvals by Polish regulator KNF for Erste Group's acquisition of ~49% controlling stake in Santander Bank Polska and 50% stake in Santander TFI from Santander Group obtained
• Other conditions precedent, including anti-trust approval from European Commission and the completion of sale of Santander Consumer Bank in Poland to Santander Group, have also been met
• Closing of the transaction is expected around mid-January 2026

All conditions for the acquisition of both, a ~49% controlling stake in Santander Bank Polska Group S.A. ("Santander Bank Polska") and a 50% stake in the asset management company Santander Towarzystwo Funduszy Inwestycyjnych S.A. ("Santander TFI") by Erste Group Bank AG ("Erste Group") have now been fulfilled.

Closing of the transaction was subject to customary regulatory approvals, including from the Polish Financial Supervision Authority ("KNF") and anti-trust approval from the European Commission. Additionally, it required the sale of the 60% stake in Santander Consumer Bank S.A. ("Santander Consumer Bank") by Santander Bank Polska to Santander Group. All these conditions have now been satisfied, and the closing of the transaction is expected to take place around mid-January 2026.

Once the acquisition of a ~49% controlling stake in Santander Bank Polska is closed, Erste Group will become the controlling shareholder of Poland's largest privately-owned bank, entering one of Europe's fastest growing and most profitable banking markets with immediate critical scale. In addition, Erste Group will strengthen its position as the leading financial institution in the eastern part of the EU, servicing around 23 million customers.

(end)

Emitter:	Erste Group Bank AG Am Belvedere 1 1100 Wien Austria
Contact Person:	Thomas Sommerauer/ Simone Pilz
Phone:	+43 (0)50100-17326
E-Mail:	investor.relations@erstegroup.com
Website:	www.erstegroup.com
ISIN(s):	AT0000652011 (Share)
Stock Exchange(s):	Vienna Stock Exchange (Official Trade)
Other Stock Exchanges:	Bucharest Stock Exchange, Prague Stock Exchange