Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI), the Austrian financial group with an extensive presence in Central and Eastern Europe, has announced a new group-wide agreement with Vienna-based crypto broker Bitpanda. This partnership will enable RBI’s entire network of banks in the region to provide access to digital assets for as many as 18 million potential clients.
Unified crypto offering across RBI’s network
Previously, Bitpanda worked with Raiffeisen subsidiary banks individually, launching its first integration in Austria with Raiffeisenlandesbank Niederösterreich-Wien (RLB NÖ-Wien). In January 2024, RLB NÖ-Wien implemented Bitpanda’s crypto trading services within its Mein ELBA banking application, making it one of the earliest traditional EU banks to offer digital assets directly through its existing app infrastructure.
With the new agreement, Bitpanda Enterprise, the company’s business-to-business service, will provide the foundational crypto infrastructure for the entirety of RBI. Each network bank under the RBI umbrella will decide which crypto products to offer and the timing of their rollout, reflecting local regulations and market conditions.
Raiffeisen Bank International is one of the leading banking groups in Central and Eastern Europe, operating in 14 markets and servicing both retail and corporate clients.
Mini dictionary: Bitpanda Enterprise, founded in Austria, is a platform offering integrated crypto trading infrastructure to financial institutions and other companies, allowing them to add digital asset products seamlessly.
In a statement accompanying the announcement, RBI CEO Michael Höllerer highlighted the increasing appetite for digital assets among the bank’s clientele.
“We are seeing growing demand for crypto assets in our markets, which we are addressing with a strong, reputable partner,” stated Michael Höllerer.
Gradual rollout and local adaptation
Raiffeisen Bank plans to begin introducing crypto asset services in Albania, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia, targeting the first half of 2027. The launch timelines and product offerings in other countries will be determined by each local bank in line with their respective regulations and customer demand.
In the Austrian market, other Raiffeisen entities have already implemented Bitpanda’s crypto solutions on an individual basis. For example, Raiffeisen Salzburg, a separate regional group, has provided Bitpanda integration in its mobile app since August 2024.
Bitpanda Enterprise’s client list includes prominent names in European finance such as N26, Société Générale, and Deutsche Börse Group, underlining the growing momentum of digital asset adoption in traditional finance.
| Institution | Country/Region | Crypto Services Launch Date |
|---|---|---|
| Raiffeisen Salzburg | Austria | August 2024 |
| RLB NÖ-Wien | Austria | January 2024 |
| RBI (group-wide start) | Albania, Czech Republic, Slovakia | First half 2027 |
Regional momentum for traditional finance and crypto
Elsewhere in the European banking sector, traditional players are also moving into the digital assets space. On September 16, Deutsche Bank confirmed plans to offer custody services for bitcoin and ether to its institutional and corporate clients. The service is expected to launch later this year, pending regulatory approval.
Bitpanda co-founder and co-CEO Christian Trummer noted that the partnership allows RBI to combine its large customer reach and established reputation with digital asset technology. He emphasized that this collaboration will create infrastructure that spans markets and borders.
Bitpanda’s leadership described the partnership with RBI as an opportunity to blend “the reach and trust of traditional banking with digital asset technology to create infrastructure that works across markets and borders.”
The move demonstrates growing collaboration between major European banks and fintech providers, aimed at offering secure and compliant access to cryptocurrencies for mainstream users.
