Bausparkasse Schwäbisch Hall, Germany’s largest building society, is planning to issue an inaugural Pfandbrief next year. It would be following Wüstenrot Bausparkasse, the first Pfandbrief issuer from the sector, amid reported interest from other building societies.

A Bausparkasse Schwäbisch Hall spokesperson confirmed a report in Börsen-Zeitung that the issuer intends to launch its first Pfandbrief in 2019 and said the building society is currently planning its next steps to prepare for the issue.

He declined to comment further on the plans, including on whether the building society intends to issue a benchmark or sub-benchmark-sized deal.

Bausparkasse Schwäbisch Hall is the biggest German building society, with 7.4 million customers. It is a member of the DZ Bank Group, alongside the established Pfandbrief issuers WL Bank and DG Hypothekenbank.

Wüstenrot Bausparkasse became the first German building society to sell a new Pfandbrief issue in November, printing a EUR300m eight year deal. The issuer had taken over the Pfandbrief business of sister institution Wüstenrot Bank Pfandbriefbank earlier in the year.

Other Bausparkassen – such as Alte Leipziger and Mainz – are also cited as possible candidates for Pfandbrief issuance.