Q: How did the Austrian banking sector perform in 2020 and in the first half of 2021?
A: Thanks to the build-up of macroprudential capital buffers and restrictions on dividends, as well as swift public support measures provided for companies and households, Austrian banks weathered this challenging situation well, reaching a sector-wide common equity Tier 1 ratio of more than 16%. They were therefore able to support their clients during the worst of the pandemic and the ensuing rebound.
