UniCredit Bank Austria AG: Bank Austria posts net profit of about EUR 1.3 bn for 2015

Preliminary results for the 2015 financial year

Wien (pta009/10.02.2016/09:10 UTC+1) Sound operating performance from customer business despite historically low market interest rates and persistently weak economic growth
o Lending volume up by 2.3 per cent to EUR 116.4 bn, with growth of 4.1 per cent in Austria while lending volume in CEE rose only slightly on account of negative exchange rate effects compared with the previous year
o Significant year-on-year growth of 7.9 per cent in customer deposits in Austria and CEE to a total of EUR 110.3 bn

Operating costs decline slightly, by 1.9 per cent, thanks to strict cost management

Net write-downs of loans up by 28.8 per cent to EUR 1,007 mn
o The main reason for the increase is the conversion, required by law, of CHF loans in Croatia, which had a one-off impact of EUR 205 mn
o Credit risk associated with Austrian customer business practically zero

Systemic charges including bank levies up by EUR 89 mn to EUR 326 mn, an increase of 37.7 per cent over the previous year; the figure is equal to over 20 per cent of profit before tax

After deduction of non-controlling interests, net profit of EUR 1,325 mn matches the previous year's level although the participation in profits of the Markets subdivision of UniCredit's CIB Division expired at the end of 2014

Total capital ratio up by 142 basis points on year-end 2014, reaching 14.9 per cent; Common Equity Tier 1 capital ratio up by 71 basis points to 11.0 per cent

Excellent direct-funding ratio underlines the bank's strong liquidity position; customer loans funded with customer deposits and debt securities in issue to the extent of 119.6 per cent

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Emitter:	UniCredit Bank Austria AG Schottengasse 6-8 1010 Wien Austria
Contact Person:	Günther Stromenger
Phone:	+43 (0)50505-57232
E-Mail:	guenther.stromenger@unicreditgroup.at
Website:	www.bankaustria.at
ISIN(s):	AT0000995006 (Bond) XS0638845700 (Bond)
Stock Exchange(s):	Vienna Stock Exchange (Regulated Open Market); Free Market in Frankfurt, Munich, Stuttgart
Other Stock Exchanges:	Luxemburg