Austrians still tend to prefer traditional savings deposits, but interest in alternatives such as stocks has recently increased. This is shown by the so-called Financial Monitor of Bank Austria, which surveyed around 600 bank customers. According to the survey, 42 percent are now interested in securities products, up from 35 percent last year. Actual ownership of such investments also rose to 37 percent, compared to 28 percent in the previous year.
Younger people in particular are increasingly turning to securities. Already 41 percent of those under 30 now own securities—up from 34 percent last year and only 28 percent in 2023, marking a significant increase within a few years. Women are also showing more interest in alternatives to traditional savings, though they still use them much less frequently than men. While nearly half of men (49 percent) say they specifically use securities for retirement planning, only 24 percent of women do so. The reason for this discrepancy, according to Bank Austria, is that women are significantly more risk-averse than men.
Strong Preference For Traditional Saving Persists
Despite growing interest in securities, the traditional savings habit remains deeply rooted among Austrians. Seventy-two percent continue to use classic savings products (2024: 69 percent), and 52 percent still consider saving attractive (previous year: 53 percent). In the midst of the strained economic situation, people also set aside more money than last year: the average monthly savings amount (median) increased from €200 to €250 per month. Savings are primarily set aside for emergencies, major purchases, and retirement.
Interest in real estate is also rising again. Thirty percent of respondents now consider property “particularly attractive,” compared to 26 percent in 2024. However, for many, investing in real estate is not realistic: more than two-thirds (73 percent) lack sufficient capital (2024: 66 percent), and just under one-fifth of those interested in property as an investment want to wait for lower prices.
Vlaho: Securities A “Win-Win Strategy”
Bank Austria CEO Ivan Vlaho emphasized the advantages of investment forms such as stocks in a statement: an investment can represent a “win-win strategy,” as investors have the opportunity to achieve long-term returns despite “manageable risks” while simultaneously strengthening the economy. Moreover, long-term investments in securities “make an important contribution to retirement planning and preserving the real value of financial assets, which would otherwise shrink due to high inflation.”
