Raiffeisenlandesbank Oberösterreich is seeing momentum in real estate again

“On the one hand, we can be very satisfied with the operational business, but on the other hand, we particularly benefited from the good performance of our key investments and fewer loan defaults in 2025,” said Schwendtbauer at the annual press conference. This includes, above all, the stake in Raiffeisenbank International (164 million euros contribution to earnings), voestalpine (150 million) and the Raiffeisenbank in the Czech Republic (98 million), in which RLB holds 25 percent (along with RBI).

Housing loans

Schwendtbauer is also satisfied with the bank’s positive development in the real estate sector. The number of new private home loan agreements rose by almost half. The volume increased by two thirds. 2026 shows even higher rates of increase so far. Schwendtbauer: “Many households are taking advantage of the more stable interest rate environment and the current price dynamics on the real estate market to implement residential projects. At the same time, the increased wage levels mean that the affordability of many financing options has noticeably improved. Confidence in long-term financing is increasing – and with it the willingness to invest.”

When it comes to commercial real estate, which is now the focus of financial market supervision, he sees the situation as relaxed again, and any further tightening would therefore be counterproductive. Of the 64 Raiffeisen banks in the state, fewer than ten had major problems with loans, but now everything is back on track.

Total loan defaults at group level fell from 6.3 to 5.6 percent, and the corresponding risk provisions were reduced by EUR 19 million to EUR 156.5 million.

The RLB boss has “no negative general mood” for this year as long as the oil price does not remain permanently above $100. In the short term, the situation is “somewhat cloudy, but if the situation eases in the next three weeks, GDP growth of one percent is possible.