Bernhard Spalt, the CEO of Erste Group Bank writes that across the globe, the current situation is a uniquely difficult one, with literally billions of people worried about their jobs, their finances and investments, and their own health.

The chief executive of the CEE banking group says that they have put in place measures to ensure the health of their 47,000 employees. He states that most of their co-workers can work from home „whenever possible”. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Erste Group has also postponed its annual general meeting to a later date this year and the management has decided to review the 2019 dividend proposal.

Mr. Spalt says that they encourage customers to avoid branch visits if at all possible, however, all of their branches in Austria and the large majority of their branches in other CEE countries remain open, partly with shorter hours.

Regarding their troubled corporate clients, he states that they are already postponing installments, offering bridge loans, and providing tailored advice and individual solutions for their customers across all of their markets.

The banker emphasized that apart from meeting the demands of daily crisis management, it is more important than ever not to lose sight of the future we want to live in together.