Erste Group Bank AG: Announcement pursuant to sec. 93 BörseG (Austrian Stock Exchange Act)

Vienna (pta026/09.10.2012/17:00 UTC+2) As required under sec. 91 BörseG, we hereby inform you that the percentage of percentage of voting rights held by DIE ERSTE österreichische Spar-Casse Privatstiftung (the "Foundation") in Erste Group Bank AG has changed as follows:

The sale of Erste Group shares by ERSTE Foundation to international and Austrian institutional investors has lowered the percentage of share capital held directly by DIE ERSTE österreichische Spar-Casse Privatstiftung in Erste Group to 18.52% as of the value date of 5 October 2012. Currently, the Foundation directly holds 73,064,034 shares in Erste Group with voting rights.

In addition, we hereby make the following disclosures:

a) 6,350,000 shares (i.e., 1.61%) are held by Sparkassen Beteiligungs GmbH & Co KG (FN 366870s). The limited partner, with a maximum amount of liability of EUR 3.2 million (of a total of EUR 6.35 million), is the Foundation. The general partner is Sparkassen Beteiligungs GmbH (FN 364092f); 100% of its capital stock is held by the Foundation. Thus, pursuant to sec. 92, no. 4 BörseG, the shares of Sparkassen Beteiligungs GmbH & Co KG are attributable to the Foundation.

b) 15,969,966 shares (i.e., 4.04%) are held by Austrian savings banks, which act jointly with the Foundation and are associated with Erste Group through a cross-guarantee system (Haftungsverbund). Savings banks in which Erste Group holds a stake of more than 20% are to be regarded as subsidiaries of Erste Group within the meaning of sec. 228, par. 3 UGB (Austrian Commercial Code) in conjunction with sec. 244, par. 1 UGB. Therefore, the shares held by these savings banks are to be classified as own shares of Erste Group. Of the 15,969,966 shares held by the savings banks, this classification applies to 5,305,625 shares (1.34%). Pursuant to sec. 92, no. 4 and no. 7 BörseG, the shares held by the savings banks in Erste Group are attributable to the Foundation.

Together with the legal entities named in (a) and (b) above, the Foundation holds a stake of less than 25%, namely 24.17%.

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Emitter:	Erste Group Bank AG Milchgasse 1 1010 Wien Austria
Contact Person:	Thomas Sommerauer/ Simone Pilz
Phone:	+ 43 (0)5 0100 - 17741
E-Mail:	investor.relations@erstegroup.com
Website:	www.erstegroup.com
ISIN(s):	AT0000652011 (Share)
Stock Exchange(s):	Vienna Stock Exchange