The Austria Financial Market Authority has published a new instalment of its “Let’s talk about supervision” series calling for banks to reduce non-performing loans (NPLs) more quickly, arguing that prolonged retention of problem assets ties up capital, depresses results and constrains new lending to households and healthy companies. It reiterates that institutions with high NPL ratios are expected to submit reduction plans. The FMA highlights commercial real estate finance as the main pressure point in Austria, where it reports the highest NPL ratio at 8.4% (Q3), equivalent to EUR 8.6bn. Large single-name exposures, complex projects and lengthy recovery processes can slow down workouts, while delays can increase the burden through additional provisions and impairments. Supervisory expectations include ambitious but realistic targets and timelines down to key individual cases (restructuring, collateral realisation, sale or write-off), realistic and verifiable cost estimates with sufficient staffing and organisational resources, and clear accountability with ongoing monitoring and transparent reporting to the management body.
Austria Financial Market Authority 2026-03-11
Austria Financial Market Authority urges faster non-performing loan reduction as commercial real estate NPLs stand at EUR 8.6bn
The Austria Financial Market Authority urges banks to expedite reducing non-performing loans (NPLs), emphasizing that high NPL ratios hinder capital and lending capabilities. The authority identifies commercial real estate finance as a significant concern, with an NPL ratio of 8.4% in Q3, amounting to EUR 8.6 billion. Banks are expected to set ambitious yet realistic reduction plans, including detailed targets, timelines, and transparent reporting.