Bausparkassen (building societies) are special credit institutions that hold a restricted licence under the Building Society Act (BSpG; Bausparkassengesetz) and which grant loans for housing-related purposes. There are four licensed Bausparkassen in Austria.
Building society savers conclude a building savings contract with a Bausparkasse of their choice, and once they have paid in building savings deposits (= accumulation phase) they may be granted a buildings savings loan (= loan phase).
The upper limit for the building savings loan, i.e. the maximum amount that a buildings society saver may obtain, is legally defined. The legal basis for this is the FMA’s Regulation in regard to the Building Society Act (BSpkV; Bausparkassengesetzverordnung).
The following new maximum amount per building society saver applies with effect from 30.11.2024: EUR 300,000
The maximum building savings loan amount is valorised (increased) regularly based on the development of the Index of Agreed Minimum Wages (TLI 16; Tariflohnindex 16) that is compiled by Statistics Austria.