Austrian FMA: Foreign Currency Loans Fell 4.0% in Q4 2025

Austrian FMA News

Published March 23rd, 2026

Detected March 23rd, 2026

Summary

The Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA) reported that outstanding foreign currency loans to private households fell by 4.0% in Q4 2025, now totaling €5.23 billion. Since the FMA banned new FX loans in 2008, the volume has decreased by 91%.

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What changed

The Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA) has released its latest survey findings indicating a 4.0% decrease in outstanding foreign currency loans to private households during the fourth quarter of 2025, bringing the total to €5.23 billion. This represents 2.9% of all loans to private households in Austria. The FMA notes that since its ban on new foreign currency loans in Autumn 2008, the outstanding volume has fallen by 91% adjusted for exchange rate effects. The majority of remaining loans are denominated in Swiss francs and are expected to mature between 2029 and 2033.

Credit institutions are reminded of their obligation to meet with affected borrowers at least annually. Borrowers are encouraged to utilize these meetings to discuss their foreign currency loans and associated risks. The FMA also provides links to further information on foreign currency loans and associated risks, as well as its Minimum Standards on FX Loans.

What to do next

Credit institutions must continue to hold annual meetings with affected borrowers regarding foreign currency loans.
Borrowers should attend these meetings to discuss risks associated with their foreign currency loans.

Source document (simplified)

FMA Survey: Remaining outstanding foreign currency loans fall by 4.0% in Q4 2025

March 2026

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- Press Release

€5.2 billion in loans denominated in Swiss France and Japanese Yen still outstanding – the majority of which are bullet loans maturing between 2029-2033

The volume of outstanding foreign currency loans (FX lending) to private households fell by 4.0% during the 4th quarter adjusted for exchange rate effects and therefore now stands at €5.23 billion. This amount makes up 2.9% of all loans to private households in Austria. These are the findings from the latest survey conducted by the Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA) on FX lending.

Since the FMA banned granting new foreign currency loans in Autumn 2008, the outstanding volume has fallen by € 44.1 billion or 91% adjusted for exchange rate effects. At the height of the FX lending boom in 2006 almost one-third of all loans to private households (32%) were denominated in foreign currencies. This position was a risk for the entire Austrian banking sector during the Global Financial Crisis of 2008.

Practically all remaining FX loans (99.0%) are denominated in Swiss francs (the remainder is almost exclusively in Japanese yen). During the 4th quarter, the Swiss franc exchange rate was around 0.9314 CHF to the Euro. The Swiss franc has appreciated by 78% since 2008.

FMA estimates expect that the majority of the remaining bullet FX loans will mature between 2029 and 2033. Credit institutions are required to hold a meeting with affected borrowers at least annually. Borrowers should definitely take advantage of this opportunity.

Information about foreign currency loans to private households and the associated risks can be found here. The FMA Minimum Standards on FX Loans can be downloaded here.

Journalists may address further enquiries to:
Boris Gröndahl (FMA Media Spokesperson)
+43 1 24959-6010
+43 676 8824 9995

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