Question 1

What is Raiffeisenbank Leibnitz?

Accepted Answer

Raiffeisenbank Leibnitz is a local cooperative bank (eingetragene Genossenschaft or eGen) operating in the South Styrian region of Austria. As a member of the Austrian Raiffeisen Banking Group, it serves individuals, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and agricultural businesses in the Leibnitz area. With approximately €489 million in total assets as of 2023, it ranks as the 195th largest bank in Austria with a 0.05% market share.

The bank operates on the cooperative principle, meaning it is owned by its members who participate in fundamental decision-making processes. This member-owned structure allows the bank to maintain independence and make decisions locally, keeping economic value within the region.

Question 2

When was Raiffeisenbank Leibnitz founded?

Accepted Answer

Raiffeisenbank Leibnitz was founded on September 5, 1897, during the inaugural general assembly of the Raiffeisen Advance Fund Association for the market town of Leibnitz (Raiffeisen'schen Vorschusscassenvereins für die Marktgemeinde Leibnitz). The bank was established as a registered cooperative with unlimited liability, based in Leibnitz.

The first chairman of the new banking institution was Franz Knittelfelder, with Berthold Schellauf serving as bookkeeper and cashier. In its early years, the bank held office hours in various guesthouses in Leibnitz, typically on Sundays after church services, until 1923 when it opened its first permanent business location.

The founding reflected the broader cooperative banking movement initiated by German reformer Friedrich Wilhelm Raiffeisen, whose ideas spread throughout Austria in the late 19th century to provide financial services to farmers, craftsmen, and small business owners.

Question 3

Where is Raiffeisenbank Leibnitz headquartered?

Accepted Answer

Raiffeisenbank Leibnitz is headquartered at Bahnhofstraße 11, 8430 Leibnitz, Austria. The bank's main building at this location was constructed in the 1960s and underwent significant expansion and renovation between 1995 and 1996 to achieve its current appearance.

The headquarters is located in Leibnitz, a market town in the South Styrian wine country, approximately 40 kilometers south of Graz, the capital of Styria.

Question 4

Where does Raiffeisenbank Leibnitz operate?

Accepted Answer

Raiffeisenbank Leibnitz operates primarily in the Leibnitz district of South Styria (Südsteiermark), Austria. The bank maintains multiple locations throughout the region to serve local communities.

Historically, the bank operated branch locations in several nearby communities, including Neutillmitsch (opened in 1967 as an "Autobank Tillmitsch") and Wagna (operated from 1970 to 2016). The bank's operational footprint focuses on the greater Leibnitz area and surrounding agricultural communities in southern Styria.

As a locally-focused cooperative bank, Raiffeisenbank Leibnitz emphasizes territorial proximity and regional commitment, maintaining its presence in the communities it has served for over a century.

Question 5

What services does Raiffeisenbank Leibnitz offer?

Accepted Answer

Raiffeisenbank Leibnitz provides a comprehensive range of retail and business banking services, including:

Personal Banking: Current accounts, savings accounts, time deposit accounts, debit cards, credit cards, consumer loans, car loans, and mortgage loans for residential real estate.

Business Banking: Business accounts, business payment cards, business loans, and financing solutions tailored for small and medium-sized enterprises and agricultural operations.

Digital Banking: Online banking platform and mobile application for convenient account management and transactions. Customers can access services through multiple channels—physical branches, online systems, and mobile apps.

Investment Services: Trading accounts and investment products to help customers grow their wealth. The bank also offers fixed deposits with competitive interest rates (up to 2% for 3-4 year terms as of recent data).

Question 6

What makes Raiffeisenbank Leibnitz unique?

Accepted Answer

True Local Ownership: Unlike many banks that have centralized operations, Raiffeisenbank Leibnitz is owned entirely by its cooperative members since its founding in 1897. Each member is a co-owner with voting rights in fundamental decisions, ensuring the bank truly serves local interests.

Complete Operational Independence: The bank uniquely maintains both sales and operational departments under one roof, without outsourcing back-office functions or staff departments to a central organization. This independence allows all decisions to be made locally and ensures the bank remains a significant regional employer.

Regional Value Retention: Through the principle of directly lending deposited funds as credits to local borrowers, Raiffeisenbank Leibnitz ensures that wealth creation and capital remain in the South Styrian region, supporting local economic development.

Historical Continuity: With over 125 years of continuous service to the Leibnitz community, the bank has demonstrated remarkable stability and commitment to cooperative principles, maintaining its status as a primary bank while adapting to modern banking requirements.

Question 7

What type of financial institution is Raiffeisenbank Leibnitz?

Accepted Answer

Raiffeisenbank Leibnitz is a Genossenschaftsbank (cooperative bank), specifically an eingetragene Genossenschaft (eGen)—a registered cooperative under Austrian law. This is a distinct institutional type in Austria characterized by member ownership, democratic governance, and mutual benefit principles.

As a cooperative credit institution (CRD_CRE_INS in EBA terminology), it operates as an independent primary bank within the three-tier Austrian Raiffeisen Banking Group structure. The bank is regulated by the Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA) and participates in Austria's deposit guarantee scheme, protecting deposits up to €100,000 per depositor.

The cooperative banking model, pioneered by Friedrich Wilhelm Raiffeisen in the 19th century, emphasizes self-help, self-responsibility, and self-governance. This model differentiates cooperative banks from joint-stock banks by prioritizing member benefits over shareholder profit maximization, making them particularly suited to serving local communities, SMEs, and agricultural sectors.

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About Raiffeisenbank Leibnitz in Austria

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