Question 1

What is Emsländische Volksbank?

Accepted Answer

Emsländische Volksbank is a German cooperative bank (Genossenschaftsbank) headquartered in Lingen (Ems), Lower Saxony. As a member of the German Cooperative Financial Group (Genossenschaftliche FinanzGruppe Volksbanken Raiffeisenbanken), it serves over 46,000 members across the Emsland district.

With total assets of approximately €3.4 billion as of 2024 and 27 branch locations, the bank provides comprehensive financial services to private customers, small and medium-sized enterprises, and commercial clients throughout the middle and northern Emsland region. The bank operates on cooperative principles of self-help, self-management, and member promotion.

Question 2

When was Emsländische Volksbank founded?

Accepted Answer

The bank's roots trace back to 1893, when it was established following the cooperative banking principles pioneered by Friedrich Wilhelm Raiffeisen and Hermann Schulze-Delitzsch. The institution was originally founded as the Emsländische Bauernbank eG in 1922 and the Volksbank Meppen eG in 1899.

In 1970, these entities merged and were renamed Emsländische Volksbank eG. The bank has undergone several strategic mergers over the decades, including consolidations with Spardaka Haren eG (1975), and between 2000 and 2004 with Raiffeisenkasse Wesuwe eG, Raiffeisenkasse Twist eG, Volksbank Dörpen eG, and Aschendorfer Bank eG.

Most recently, in 2021, the bank merged with Volksbank Lingen eG (founded June 21, 1893) and relocated its legal headquarters from Meppen to Lingen (Ems), creating today's institution.

Question 3

Where is Emsländische Volksbank headquartered?

Accepted Answer

Emsländische Volksbank is headquartered at Lookenstraße 18-20 in Lingen (Ems), Lower Saxony, Germany. The bank's legal seat was moved to this location in 2021 following its merger with Volksbank Lingen eG, previously having been based in Meppen.

Question 4

Where does Emsländische Volksbank operate?

Accepted Answer

Emsländische Volksbank operates throughout the Emsland district in Lower Saxony, particularly serving the middle and northern regions of Emsland. The bank maintains a strong regional presence with 27 branch locations across the district.

Key service areas include Lingen (Ems), Meppen, and surrounding communities including Baccum, Laxten, Dalum, Bramsche, Lohne-Wietmarschen, Holthausen, Bawinkel, Brögbern, Osterbrock, Haren, Wesuwe, Twist, Dörpen, and Aschendorf. The bank focuses on deeply embedded local relationships and community banking throughout its service territory.

Question 5

What services does Emsländische Volksbank offer?

Accepted Answer

Emsländische Volksbank provides comprehensive banking services for both retail and commercial customers:

Retail Banking: Current accounts (Girokonto), savings accounts, time deposits, debit cards (girocard), credit cards (Mastercard), consumer loans (easyCredit), mortgage loans, and pension planning.

Business Banking: Business accounts (Geschäftskonto), commercial lending up to €100,000, international payment services, business succession planning, and direct insurance for employee pension schemes.

Investment Services: Securities trading, investment funds (Union Investment), online brokerage, and depot management with access to market data and analysis tools.

Digital Banking Services: The bank offers the comprehensive VR Banking App for iOS and Android, enabling mobile banking, contactless payments, photo transfers, account aggregation from multiple banks, electronic postbox for documents, and the Wero payment function for instant account-to-account transfers. Online banking platforms provide 24/7 access to banking services with secure TAN authentication methods including VR SecureGo plus.

Insurance Products: Property insurance, liability coverage, and health insurance through R+V Versicherung partnership.

Question 6

What makes Emsländische Volksbank unique?

Accepted Answer

Cooperative Ownership Structure: Unlike traditional banks, Emsländische Volksbank is owned by its 46,126 members, who have democratic voting rights regardless of their capital contribution. Members are simultaneously customers and owners, ensuring the bank operates in their collective interest rather than maximizing shareholder profits.

Strong Local Commitment: The bank demonstrates exceptional regional engagement, donating €140,000-€157,000 annually to support over 110 social, cultural, and sports organizations in the Emsland region. This includes funding through the VR-Gewinnspargemeinschaft program.

Cultural Stewardship: Since 1995, the bank has organized the annual "Eine Bank voller Kunst" (A Bank Full of Art) exhibition at its former Meppen headquarters, showcasing works from renowned artists including Feodor Szerbakow, Ton Schulten, and Otmar Alt. The bank also preserved the historic Heylscher Saal, an 1809 stucco-ceilinged hall discovered during construction, which now serves as a Meppen landmark.

Strong Financial Position: The bank holds an AA- credit rating from Fitch Ratings, reflecting very high credit quality. It ranks as the 319th largest bank in Germany and the 86th largest cooperative bank with a 0.31% market share among cooperatives.

Question 7

What type of financial institution is Emsländische Volksbank?

Accepted Answer

Emsländische Volksbank is a Genossenschaftsbank (cooperative bank), specifically operating as an eingetragene Genossenschaft (eG), or registered cooperative. This legal form is fundamental to the German cooperative banking sector, which includes Volksbanken and Raiffeisenbanken.

As a cooperative credit institution, the bank is governed by the Genossenschaftsgesetz (German Cooperative Act) and its own bylaws. It operates on cooperative principles including democratic member control (one member, one vote), member promotion, identity of members and customers, and local responsibility.

The bank is a member of the BVR Institutssicherung GmbH and the Sicherungseinrichtung des Bundesverbandes der Deutschen Volksbanken und Raiffeisenbanken, which protect customer deposits up to €100,000 per depositor under Germany's deposit guarantee scheme. It is also affiliated with the Genossenschaftsverband Weser-Ems e.V. (Cooperative Association Weser-Ems) for auditing and oversight.

As a cooperative bank, Emsländische Volksbank is part of the broader German Cooperative Financial Group, which includes DZ Bank as its central institution and provides access to specialized services including Bausparkasse Schwäbisch Hall (building society), Union Investment (asset management), TeamBank (consumer finance), and R+V Versicherung (insurance).

Question 8

How many employees does Emsländische Volksbank have?

Accepted Answer

As of 2023, Emsländische Volksbank employs approximately 430 people, including 23 apprentices (Auszubildende) and 11 interns (Praktikanten). This workforce serves the bank's network of 27 branches throughout the Emsland district, maintaining the institution's commitment to personalized, relationship-based banking.

The bank's employment structure reflects the cooperative banking sector's role as a significant regional employer in Lower Saxony, contributing to local economic development while training the next generation of banking professionals.

Question 9

What is Emsländische Volksbank's relationship with other cooperative banks?

Accepted Answer

Emsländische Volksbank is an integral member of Germany's Volksbanken Raiffeisenbanken Cooperative Financial Network, one of the country's three major banking pillars alongside savings banks (Sparkassen) and commercial banks.

Through this network of 672 independent cooperative banks with 17.6 million members nationwide, Emsländische Volksbank benefits from shared infrastructure, product development, and risk management systems. The network operates through DZ Bank in Frankfurt as its central institution, providing wholesale banking services, liquidity management, and access to capital markets.

Member banks participate in a sophisticated Institutional Protection Scheme (IPS) comprising 781 entities, which ensures financial stability through mutual support arrangements under EU Capital Requirements Regulation Article 113(7). This institutional safety net, managed by the BVR-SE, enhances the resilience of individual cooperative banks while maintaining their legal and operational independence.

The cooperative structure allows Emsländische Volksbank to compete effectively with larger national banks by accessing specialized services from network partners including Union Investment for asset management, Bausparkasse Schwäbisch Hall for housing finance, TeamBank for consumer lending, and R+V Versicherung for insurance products—all while preserving its local decision-making authority and regional focus.

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About Emsländische Volksbank in Germany

Emslän­dische Volksbank