Erste Group | 68,272 followers on LinkedIn. Founded as “Erste oesterreichische Spar-Casse” in 1819, we are now one of the leading financial institutes in Central and Eastern Europe. As the leading institute of the Austrian savings banks, we are one of the country’s biggest banking groups, with regional savings banks. As Erste Group, we are present in the banking markets of 7 countries in the CEE region.