BAWAG Group AG: Best Banking Group Governance DACH 2024

BAWAG Group has reported 2023 net profit of 683 million euros, a ROTCE of 25 percent, and a cost-to-income ratio of 31.8 percent. Since its 2017 IPO, BAWAG has delivered a total shareholder return of 67 percent, outperforming major European bank indices by 31 percentage points (as of Q1 2024). Earnings per share have grown from 4.50 euros (2017) to 8.31 euros in 2023, with a CAGR of nine percent. BAWAG recently acquired an Idaho-based community bank, marking a decade of collaboration with US banking. The group executed a €175 million share buyback in 2023 –since 2017, BAWAG Group distributed € 2.6 billion of capital in the form of €1.7 billion of dividends, equivalent to €19.70 per share, and €900 million of buybacks, having reduced our total shares outstanding by over 21%. Dividend increased from 3.70 euros to five euros per share last year. In early 2024, BAWAG announced the signing of the acquisition of Knab, a bank in the Netherlands with a customer base of 400,000. BAWAG adheres to the Austrian Code of Corporate Governance and has a two-tier board of a diverse and experienced composition. The company is transparent in its operations and financial reporting. BAWAG ensures high standards of integrity and accountability. It is renowned for active community engagement, contributing over 3,700 volunteer hours in 2023. Initiatives include preparing and distributing more than 25,000 meals, disaster relief, and matching a one-million-euro donation from its management board. The bank promotes financial literacy for underprivileged children and environmental efforts such as riverbank clean-ups. BAWAG Group’s focus on governance delivers strong returns for stakeholders while contributing significantly to the community. The CFI.co Judging Panel congratulates BAWAG Group AG on the 2024 award Best Banking Group Governance (DACH).