The FMA is the competent authority for macroprudential banking supervision in Austria. In this function, the FMA has the following macroprudental tools at its disposal:
- the setting of capital buffers, such as the Countercyclical Capital Buffer, the Systemic Risk Buffer or the buffer for (Global) Systemically Important Institutions in association with the identification of globally systemically important institutions or other systemically important institutions,
- the setting of higher risk weights as well as
- the setting of borrower-based measures.
The FMA is also responsible for supervising compliance with macro-prudential tools, although the European Cental Bank (ECB) is competent for tools that are determined under European law (the buffer regime and tools defined in the CRR ) for significant institutions in the SSM , with the FMA also involved in prudential supervision via the Joint Supervisory Teams (JSTs). The FMA is the competent supervisory authority for enforcement for all other institutions (LSIs ) as well as for borrower-based measures.
The FMA performs its function as the macroprudential authority on the basis of recommendations by the Financial Market Stability Board (FMSG) and expert opinions by the Oesterreichische Nationalbank (OeNB).
The legal bases for the FMA’s macroprudential powers can be found in Section V (Article 22 to Article 24d BWG) of the Banking Act (BWG; Bankwesengesetz). They include both the implementation of tools prescribed under European law (Articles 128 to 140 of Directive 2013/36/EU “CRD” as well as Article 458 of Regulation (EU) 575/2013 “CRR”) as well as macroprudential tools of a purely national basis pursuant to Article 23h BWG (borrower-based measures).
The capital buffer regime comprises of the Countercyclical Capital Buffer, the Capital Buffer for Global Systemically Important Institutions, the Capital Buffer for Other Systemically Important Institutions and the System Risk Buffer, which is also possible in the form of a sectoral systemic risk buffer.
- Countercyclical Capital Buffer (CCyB)
(pursuant to Article 23a BWG in conjunction with Article 130 CRD)
Details about the Countercyclical Capital Buffer - Capital Buffer for Global Systemically Important Institutions
(pursuant to Article 23b BWG in conjunction with Article 131 CRD)
There are currently no global systemically important institutions in Austria. - Capital Buffer for Systemically Important Institutions (O-SII Buffer)
(pursuant to Article 23c BWG in conjunction with Article 131 CRD)
Details about the Capital Buffer for Systemically Important Institutions - Systemic Risk Buffer (SyRB)
(pursuant to Article 23d BWG in conjunction with Article 133 CRD)
Details about the Systemic Risk Buffer
- Measures for increasing Risk Weights
(pursuant to Article 124(9) CRR and Article 164(6) CRR)
There are currently no modified risk weights or stricter criteria pursuant to Article 124(9) CRR or higher LGD floors pursuant to Article 164(6) CRR in force in Austria. - Measures to limit the impact of systemic risk
(pursuant to Article 23g BWG in conjunction with Article 458 CRR)
There are currently no measures in force in Austria from the “National Flexibility Package”.
- Measures pursuant to Article 23h BWG for limiting the impact of systemic risks in real estate financing
There are currently no measures in force for the limiting systemic risks in real estate financing in Austria. On 1 July 2025, one such example pursuant to Article 23h BWG for limiting risk from private residential real estate lending, the Regulation on Real Estate Financing Measures in Credit Institutions (KIM-V), was repealed.
Reciprocity
Specific macroprudential measures, which have been taken in other Member States or third countries, must also be observed by credit institutions in Austria (“principle of reciprocity”). The European framework for macroprudential supervision (specifically Art 124(13) CRR) stipulates that measures taken by other Member States pursuant to Articles 124 and 164 CRR shall be required to be recognised without the need for an additional FMA legal act. Furthermore, Article 140(1) CRD, which is transposed by Article 23a BWG as well as the Annex to Article 23a BWG, prescribes the mandatory application for the countercyclical capital buffer ratios of all countries (both Member States and third countries) for a buffer rate of up to 2.5 %. Buffer rates of over 2.5% shall only apply where they are recognised by the FMA by way of a legal act. The FMA has not recognised any CCyB buffer rates of over 2.5%.
All Member States are required to make all information about the applicable macroprudential measures to the ESRB, which published them on its website.
In accordance with Article 124 (9) CRR or Article 164 (6) CRR, the European Banking Authority (EBA) publishes a list containing the increased risk weights by competent authorities and/or stricter criteria for exposures secured by immovable property or changes to the LGD floors.
Additional Links
Information by the Oesterreichische Nationalbank (OeNB) on Macroprudential Supervision
Disclosure by the European Banking Authority (EBA)
- Measures taken by Member States in relation to Article 124(9) CRR
- Measures taken by Member States in relation to Article 164(6) CRR
Disclosure by the European Systemic Risk Board (ESRB)
The ESRB has set up a web page on which it discloses information about macroprudential measures notified to the ESRB, including Member States’ Countercyclical Capital Buffer rates as well as its opinions and recommendations.
The following links contain information from the ESRB about notified measures as well as details about the Countercyclical Capital Buffer rates in Member States.
ESRB disclosure on Risk Weight Measures
Countercyclical Capital Buffer Rates in Member States
Disclosure by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS)
The BIS publishes the Countercyclical Capital Buffer rates on its website for Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) Member States as well as for non-members where notified. This information as well as the Countercyclical Capital Buffer rates notified to the ESRB are relevant for the calculation of the respective institution-specific capital buffers pursuant to Article 23a BWG as well as the Annex to Article 23 BWG in conjunction with Article 140 CRD. The following link contains an overview of the Bank for International Settlements Countercyclical Capital Buffer rates.
Overview of Countercyclical Capital Buffer Rates
Regulatory Bases
Disclaimer
The Financial Market Authority explicitly advises that the links on this page is only provided for information purposes. For legally binding information please contact the respective competent authority in the Member State or third country.