History of the OeNB

Founded in 1816, the Austrian central bank, now known as the OeNB, has a long and eventful history. This section offers fascinating insights into the holdings of our Bank History Archive, the history of Austrian monetary and currency policy, and the architectural and social history of Austria’s central banking institution.

Foundation and history

The institution we know today as the OeNB was founded in 1816 and looks back on more than 200 years of history. Over the course of time, it has undergone profound changes that are closely intertwined with Austria’s own historical development.

The “privilegirte oesterreichische National-Bank” became the Austro-Hungarian Bank in 1878, 11 years after the Austro-Hungarian Compromise. Following the collapse of the Habsburg Monarchy, the institution led was re-established in 1923 as the Oesterreichische Nationalbank. During the National Socialist era, it operated as the “Vienna Reichsbank head office”. Re-established in 1945, the OeNB has been part of the European System of Central Banks (ESCB) since 1999.

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