Former MNB Governor Matolcsy Rejects Prosecutor's Allegations in Erste Bank Probe
Matolcsy György, ex-head of the Magyar Nemzeti Bank, says he does not accept the prosecutor’s accusation in the Erste Bank investigation.
Former Magyar Nemzeti Bank president Matolcsy György publicly denied the prosecutor’s accusation related to the Erste Bank case, filing a formal complaint that his lawyer also presented in writing. He emphasized that under the law no one is considered guilty until a final court judgment and that the burden of proof lies with the authorities. The probe began following statements by former MNB chief Simor András, who claimed pressure was applied to the Austrian parent of Erste Bank because of a supervisory board role.
Prosecutors allege that senior staff of the MNB’s supervisory department misused their authority in 2023 to influence the bank, leading to a board member’s resignation. The National Investigation Office has interrogated seven suspects, including Matolcsy, and collected documents from both the MNB and Erste Bank. Matolcsy has declined to comment further, stating he will address the matter only through legal channels.
Why it matters
The case could expose potential misuse of central-bank authority and affect confidence in Hungary’s financial supervision.
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