Romanian regulator clears Raiffeisen’s €591 million purchase of Garanti Bank and leasing unit
Romania’s Competition Council approved Raiffeisen Bank’s acquisition of Garanti Bank and Motoractive IFN, clearing the final regulatory hurdle.
On October 20, the Competition Council in Romania authorized Raiffeisen Bank’s purchase of Garanti Bank along with Motoractive IFN, a non-bank financial institution of the Garanti BBVA Romania Group. The €591 million transaction, announced in March, was judged not to impede effective competition in the market. Once completed, expected in Q4 2026, Raiffeisen will become the country’s third-largest bank by total assets and will merge the acquired entities into its existing operations, though they will remain separate until integration concludes in the second half of 2027.
Motoractive IFN offers leasing services under the Garanti BBVA Leasing brand, while Motoractive Multiservices provides fleet management. BBVA projects the deal will improve its CET1 ratio by roughly 10 basis points and add €112 million to its income.
Why it matters
The approval enables a major banking consolidation, reshaping competition and market share in Romania’s financial sector.
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