Oberösterreich Magazin - New Board Member
29 Sep 2026
Just under four months ago, MMag.a Valerie Ritzinger was appointed to the Management Board of Partner Bank, headquartered in Linz. In this interview, the 43-year-old from Styria talks about her vision for the bank's future and explains why the lawyer chose this career path.
You were appointed to the Management Board of Partner Bank AG just under a month ago. What visions and goals would you like to realise over the next five years?
The bank has existed for more than 30 years and has a strong foundation. From the very beginning, its vision has been to accompany clients and business partners over the long term with a very personal "touch". I think that's wonderful. Nothing needs to change here; instead, it's about consciously preserving these values! At the moment, however, we have several exciting projects for the future underway, such as the technological development of our platform for clients and advisors. I want to play an active role in shaping and defining it. Beyond that, the regulatory side, my "professional home", is particularly close to my heart. Here I want to further strengthen the bank's governance so that it remains robust in times of constant and rapid change.
What sets Partner Bank AG apart from a conventional bank?
Partner Bank offers the classic services of a bank combined with a very personal, I would even say almost family-like atmosphere. Our clients benefit from long-term advice and support, and as a bank we think across generations. What's especially lovely is that this culture is also lived and valued among colleagues within the bank.
Preserving the personal touch while shaping the future: Board Member MMag.a Valerie Ritzinger is driving the technological development of Partner Bank.
As a business economist and lawyer, you specialised in compliance. How did that come about? And what do you particularly enjoy about it?
To be honest, it happened purely by chance, like so many things in life probably do. My first professional steps took me to the Financial Market Authority, and there I came to really appreciate regulation and compliance. We humans need rules, that's just how it is. As a compliance officer, you're essentially an in-house guardian of order. Perhaps my grandfather's genes are showing through here; he was a police officer. I enjoy it because you can, and should, be creative as well.
Wealth management and financial planning is one of the biggest topics at your bank. What would you advise your own children to do about financial planning once they've finished their education?
The motto is clear: start investing as early as possible! It makes an enormous difference whether I start investing at 20 or at 30. And it doesn't matter at all if you start with small monthly amounts. Diversification is also important, in other words: never put all your eggs in one basket. My children are still minors, but we already regularly hold our own "investment meetings". In my view, that's not only important, it's also great fun.
Do you think women in particular should pay even more attention to their financial security with regard to their retirement than they already do?
Definitely! We women tend to be more cautious, and perhaps we also often simply lack the time and leisure in everyday life to engage with the topic of financial planning. Securities involve risks, no question. But does that mean that a woman with a heightened sense of caution shouldn't invest? No. A long-term investment strategy based on sensible diversification, together with other factors such as building knowledge about financial planning and keeping track of income and expenses, is indispensable for sound provision for the future.
What career opportunities are open to women at your bank?
Literally all of them. I think I'm a very current and good example of that myself. We want women at the bank to have the same development opportunities and chances as their male colleagues. In fact, a large proportion of my colleagues are women, and they also hold numerous key positions within the bank.
Partner Bank AG offers special financial education programmes for women. Why do you do this, and what exactly happens there?
We believe that women and families in particular still need more support and guidance to engage with the topic of investing, and we want to make this easily accessible. For example, we offer the very popular Female Finance Podcast "Truly Rich. We Talk About More Than Just Money."
Interview and photos: Richard Haidinger
Read the full interview with Valerie Ritzinger in the current issue of Oberösterreicherin:
