Austria's robust and well-regulated banking system is integral to the country's economic and financial stability and transparency. The country's top private banks offer a range of services, including deposit, investment, and loan services customised for wealthy individuals. Here is an overview of some of the best private banks in Austria, based on factors such as total assets, market share, and brand recognition.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Top 3 Austrian banks by total assets | 1. Erste Group Bank, 2. UniCredit Bank Austria, 3. Raiffeisen Bank International |
Top Austrian bank by Tier 1 capital | Bank Austria |
Top Austrian banks with private banking services | Bankhaus Carl Spängler & Co AG, Kathrein Privatbank AG, Liechtensteinische Landesbank (Österreich) AG, Zürcher Kantonalbank Österreich |
What You'll Learn
Private banking services
Private banks in Austria offer a range of services for high-net-worth individuals. As such, they are less commonly used than retail banks. Private banks offer personal investment banking, financial services, and wealth management. This means that customers will usually have a dedicated relationship manager who they can contact by phone or email and set up meetings as necessary.
- Current accounts with a debit card that lets you access ATMs across the country and an overdraft facility.
- The ability to issue standing orders or direct debits and have a linked savings account.
- Online or mobile banking facilities, and international money transfers.
- Unsecured personal loans, secured personal loans, fixed-rate loans, and variable-rate loans.
- Overdraft facilities, which allow you to take out more money than you have available in your account.
- Mortgages, although foreign applicants must first get a permit for property acquisition from the local Land Committee (Grundverkehrskommission).
- A range of investment opportunities, including shares, bonds, investment or real estate funds, securities, foreign exchange, and futures.
- Wealth management services, including financial advice and executing financial transactions on behalf of clients.
One of the best private banks in Austria is Credit Suisse, which was recognised by PWM/Financial Times and Global Finance as the best private bank in Austria and five other countries in 2025. Credit Suisse offers private banking and asset management services. Another top private bank in Austria is European American Investment Bank AG, which offers private banking, wealth management, and investment services.
Other notable private banks in Austria include:
- Bankhaus Carl Spängler & Co. AG, which offers private banking and asset management services.
- Bank Austria Wohnbaubank AG, which offers corporate and investment banking services.
- Bank für Tirol und Vorarlberg AG, which offers retail and business banking, as well as private banking and wealth management services.
- Erste Private Banking, which was recognised as the best private bank in Austria and five other countries by PWM/Financial Times and Global Finance in 2025. As part of the Erste Group, it combines the customer service of a private bank with the security and capability of one of the largest and most successful banks in Eastern Europe.
Austria's WWII Complicity: Hitler's First Conquest
You may want to see also
Largest banks by total assets
Austria's robust and well-regulated banking system is underpinned by a three-tier structure. The country's top banks are known for their financial stability and transparency, catering to diverse customer needs. Here is a detailed overview of the largest banks in Austria by total assets:
Erste Group Bank AG
Erste Group Bank AG, founded in 1819, is Austria's largest bank by total assets. As of 2023, its total assets were 102.67 billion EUR, giving it a 10.34% market share. The bank has a strong presence in Central and Eastern Europe, serving 16 million customers across seven countries. Erste Group Bank AG offers a comprehensive range of retail, private, corporate, and investment banking services. It is rated highly by Fitch (A) and Moody's (Aa3) for its credit quality.
UniCredit Bank Austria AG
UniCredit Bank Austria AG, formed in 1855, is the second-largest bank in Austria by total assets. In 2023, its total assets amounted to 99,374.14 million EUR, representing a 10.01% market share. The bank is part of the UniCredit Group, operating in Central and Eastern Europe. UniCredit Bank Austria AG provides a wide array of products and services in retail, corporate, and investment banking, as well as private banking and financial advising. It holds strong credit ratings from Fitch (BBB+) and Moody's (A1).
Raiffeisen Bank International AG
Raiffeisen Bank International AG (RBI) is Austria's third-largest bank in terms of total assets. In 2023, its total assets stood at 82,323.95 million EUR, with an 8.29% market share. RBI specializes in corporate and investment banking, serving companies and institutional investors in Central and Eastern Europe. In 2017, RBI merged with Raiffeisen Zentralbank Österreich AG (RZB) and became the head entity of the Raiffeisen Banking Group (Austria). The bank is rated by Fitch (WD) and Moody's (A1) for credit quality.
BAWAG P.S.K.
BAWAG P.S.K. is one of Austria's largest banks, serving over 1.6 million retail and corporate customers. It is the fourth-largest bank in the country by total assets, with 54,084.78 million EUR in assets as of 2023. The bank focuses on low-risk, high-efficiency operations, with most of its loans and receivables owed by customers in Austria and other western industrialized nations. BAWAG P.S.K. offers a range of services, including retail and SME banking, corporate lending, investments, and treasury services. It holds a high credit rating from Moody's (Aa3).
Raiffeisenlandesbank Oberösterreich AG
Raiffeisenlandesbank Oberösterreich AG is the fifth-largest bank in Austria by total assets. In 2023, its total assets were valued at 44,691.85 million EUR, giving it a 4.50% market share. As a regional bank within the Raiffeisen Banking Group (Austria), it primarily serves local residents and businesses, offering a broad range of retail and corporate banking products. The bank is rated A1 by Moody's for long-term credit quality.
Erste Bank der oesterreichischen Sparkassen AG
Erste Bank der oesterreichischen Sparkassen AG, together with Sparkassen, forms one of Austria's largest banking groups. With a focus on deposits and lending, it serves private customers, businesses, and public authorities. As of 2023, the bank's total assets were 40,452.03 million EUR, making it the sixth-largest bank in the country by total assets.
Austria-Hungary: Central Powerhouse of World War I
You may want to see also
Top banks by customer numbers
Erste Group Bank
First established in 1819, the Erste Group Bank is Austria's biggest bank and one of its oldest financial institutions. It has over 47,284 employees and serves about 15.7 million consumers worldwide. The bank has a presence in seven different countries and is the most important service provider in both Eastern and Central Europe.
Raiffeisen Bank International AG (RBI)
RBI is a member of the Raiffeisen Banking Group Austria and is one of the biggest banks in Austria. With its network of subsidiary banks, leasing firms, and specialist financial service providers, it offers its products and services to commercial consumers and financial institutions throughout Austria and Central and Eastern Europe. RBI has around 50,000 employees serving approximately 16.5 million clients.
UniCredit Bank Austria AG
UniCredit Bank Austria is one of the most prominent financial institutions in Austria. It is a subsidiary of the European banking giant UniCredit and is located in Central and Eastern Europe. It has approximately 162 branches and 7,700 personnel serving its customers.
BAWAG P.S.K.
BAWAG P.S.K. was formed from the merger of two different banks, P.S.K. and BAWAG, in 2005. As of 2016, the bank was providing services to approximately 2.5 million clients across Austria. It caters to retail, small company, and corporate clients and provides savings, payment, loan, leasing, investment, building society, and insurance products and services.
Hypo Vorarlberg Bank AG
Hypo Vorarlberg Bank AG is the biggest bank in Vorarlberg and one of the largest banks in Western Austria. The bank serves approximately 90,000 individual and business clients through its 21 locations in Vorarlberg, Vienna, Graz, and Wels.
Oberbank AG
Oberbank AG is a regional bank headquartered in Linz, Austria. It has 114 branches across Austria and in neighbouring countries. The bank offers a range of services, including loans, guarantees, payments, securities, business loans, foreign exchange, and note-and-coin services.
Springtime in Austria: Is March the Perfect Time to Visit?
You may want to see also
Best banks for private banking and financial advising
Austria has a highly developed banking sector, with nearly 600 banks and 3,600 branches. This equates to the highest density of banks in Europe. The country's banks encourage customers towards self-service, with online banking and banking apps widely used.
There are several types of banks in Austria, including joint-stock banks, banking houses, private banks, postal savings banks, mortgage banks, building societies, and cooperative credit institutions. The biggest sectors are joint-stock and private banks, as well as Raiffeisen (cooperative banks) and savings banks.
UniCredit Bank Austria AG
UniCredit Bank Austria AG is the second-largest bank in Austria by total assets. It is also the largest joint-stock bank and private bank in the country, commanding a 40.12% share of the market. It offers products and services in retail, corporate and investment banking, as well as private banking and financial advising. It has a global reach in many countries, including Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Bosnia, Russia, Serbia, and Turkey.
Erste Group Bank AG
Erste Group Bank AG is the largest bank in Austria by total assets. It is also the largest savings bank in Austria, commanding a 43.80% share of savings banks. Erste Group Bank is a universal bank, offering a full range of retail, private, corporate, and investment banking products and services to individuals, families, companies, and financial institutions. It is one of the largest financial services providers in Central and Eastern Europe.
Raiffeisen Bank International AG
Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) is the third-largest bank in Austria by total assets. It specializes in providing corporate and investment banking products and services to companies and institutional investors in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). It is the first-largest Raiffeisen credit cooperative in Austria, commanding a 23.32% share.
BAWAG P.S.K.
BAWAG P.S.K. is one of Austria's largest banks with more than 1.6 million retail and corporate customers. It is the second-largest joint-stock bank and private bank in Austria, with a 21.84% share of the market. It has a business strategy focused on low risk and high efficiency.
Raiffeisenlandesbank Oberösterreich AG
Raiffeisenlandesbank Oberösterreich AG is a regional bank of the Raiffeisen Banking Group. It is a universal bank offering a broad range of retail and corporate banking products and services to local residents. It is the second-largest Raiffeisen credit cooperative in Austria, with a 12.66% share.
Bankhaus Carl Spängler & Co. AG
Bankhaus Carl Spängler & Co. AG is a joint-stock bank and private bank offering private banking and asset management services.
European American Investment Bank AG
European American Investment Bank AG is a joint-stock bank and private bank offering private banking, wealth management, and investment services.
Credit Suisse (Luxembourg) S.A. Zweigniederlassung Österreich
Credit Suisse is a joint-stock bank and private bank offering private banking, asset management, and retail and business banking services.
Bank Winter & Co. AG
Bank Winter & Co. AG is a joint-stock bank and private bank offering corporate and investment banking services.
Citibank Europe plc, Austria Branch
Citibank Europe is an institution defined under § 9 BWG, offering corporate and investment banking services.
BNP PARIBAS PERSONAL FINANCE SA Niederlassung Österreich
BNP PARIBAS PERSONAL FINANCE SA Niederlassung Österreich is an institution defined under § 9 BWG, offering corporate and institutional banking services.
Deutsche Bank AG Filiale Wien
Deutsche Bank AG Filiale Wien is an institution defined under § 9 BWG, offering corporate and investment banking services.
Commerzbank AG Niederlassung Wien
Commerzbank AG Niederlassung Wien is an institution defined under § 9 BWG.
Amazon's Austrian Availability: Exploring the eCommerce Giant's Reach
You may want to see also
Top banks by total assets owned
Austria's robust banking system is pivotal to the country's economy, ensuring financial stability and providing essential services to individuals and businesses. The country's largest banks by total assets owned are:
Erste Group Bank AG
First established in 1819, Erste Group Bank AG was Austria's first savings bank and is now one of the largest financial services providers in Central and Eastern Europe. In 2023, it had total assets of 102 billion euros, making it the largest bank in Austria by total assets. It has a presence in seven countries globally and serves over 15.7 million clients worldwide.
UniCredit Bank Austria AG
UniCredit Bank Austria AG is the second-largest bank in Austria by total assets, with 99.374 billion euros in assets as of 2023. It was formed in 1855 by a merger of Austria's leading traditional banks and became a member of the UniCredit Group in 2005. The bank has a global reach and offers a wide range of products and services in retail, corporate, and investment banking, as well as private banking and financial advising.
Raiffeisen Bank International AG
Raiffeisen Bank International AG is the third-largest bank in Austria by total assets, with 82.323 billion euros in assets as of 2023. It specializes in providing corporate and investment banking services to companies and institutional investors in Central and Eastern Europe. In 2017, it merged with Raiffeisen Zentralbank Österreich AG (RZB) and became the head entity of the Raiffeisen Banking Group (Austria).
BAWAG P.S.K.
BAWAG P.S.K. is one of Austria's largest banks, serving over 1.6 million retail and corporate customers. It is the fourth-largest bank in Austria by total assets, with 54.084 billion euros in assets as of 2023. The bank has a low-risk, high-efficiency business strategy, with over 70% of its loans and receivables owed by customers in Austria and the rest in other western industrialized countries.
Raiffeisenlandesbank Oberösterreich AG
Raiffeisenlandesbank Oberösterreich AG is a regional bank and part of the Raiffeisen Banking Group (Austria). It is the fifth-largest bank in Austria by total assets, with 44.691 billion euros in assets as of 2023. The bank offers a broad range of retail and corporate banking products and services to local residents and also serves as a regional center for IT infrastructure, marketing, and advertising for the local Raiffeisen Banks.
Erste Bank der oesterreichischen Sparkassen AG
Erste Bank der oesterreichischen Sparkassen AG, along with the Sparkassen, forms one of the largest banking groups in Austria. It is the sixth-largest bank in the country by total assets, with 40.452 billion euros in assets as of 2023. The bank's core business areas are deposits and lending, provided to private customers, business customers, and public authorities.
Applying for an Austrian Visa: A Guide for Nigerians
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Private banking services in Austria include deposit, investment, and loan services customised for wealthy individuals. Here are the best private banks in Austria:
- Bankhaus Carl Spängler & Co AG
- Kathrein Privatbank AG
- Liechtensteinische Landesbank (Österreich) AG
- Zürcher Kantonalbank Österreich
The largest banks in Austria by total assets as of 2023 are:
- Erste Group Bank, with approximately 102 billion euros in assets
- UniCredit Bank Austria, with total assets of around 99 billion euros
- Raiffeisen Bank International, with 82.3 billion euros in assets
A universal bank offers a full range of retail, private, corporate, and investment banking products and services. Here are some of the best universal banks in Austria:
- Erste Group Bank AG
- UniCredit Bank Austria AG
- Raiffeisenlandesbank Oberösterreich AG
The following banks offer services for small- and medium-sized enterprises:
- Raiffeisen Bank International AG
- Raiffeisenlandesbank Oberösterreich AG
- Erste Bank der oesterreichischen Sparkassen AG
- RAIFFEISENLANDESBANK NIEDERÖSTERREICH-WIEN AG
Some of the oldest banks in Austria include:
- Erste Group Bank AG, founded in 1819
- Oberbank AG, founded in 1869
- Raiffeisen-Landesbank Steiermark, founded in 1927
- UniCredit Bank Austria AG, created in 1855 by a merger of Austria's leading traditional banks