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Vienna as a Financial Centre

Banking success gives new life to Vienna’s finance hub aspirations but the industry is haunted by dirty-money scandals. Plus: Erste Group CEO interview; why foreign residents are drawn to the Viennese lifestyle; and Austria’s bustling start-up scene

© Stefan Fuertbauer for the FT

Vienna’s finance capital dream edges closer to reality
Austrian banks are flourishing and regional growth is set to outpace the EU average, but structural challenges remain
Erste Group CEO: ‘We went into this crisis from a position of strength’
Why Bernd Spalt is betting on the central and eastern region to be a frontrunner in Europe’s race to recovery
My Vienna: a haven of tranquillity and tradition
After three decades of urban renewal, Austria’s capital is attracting a growing number of foreign residents
Austrian banks bolster Vienna’s financial hub ambitions
Lenders are emerging in a strong position post-Covid, with smaller but firmer footings in central and eastern Europe
Vienna’s banking industry struggles to shake off dirty money scandals
Austrian lenders face pressure to tackle corruption after a series of money laundering allegations
Austria’s first unicorns hint at 2021 uplift for tech start-ups
A growing ecosystem is attracting international investment, though local funding sources are limited