Question 1

What is SKB Witten?

Accepted Answer

SKB Witten (officially Spar- und Kreditbank des Bundes Freier evangelischer Gemeinden eG) is a German cooperative bank based in Witten, North Rhine-Westphalia. It is a specialized financial institution that serves the Free Evangelical Church community in Germany (Bund Freier evangelischer Gemeinden), focusing on providing banking services to churches, their members, employees, and visitors.

As of 2023, SKB Witten ranks as the 1,093rd largest bank in Germany with total assets of approximately 175.63 million EUR. The bank is a member of the BVR (Bundesverband der Deutschen Volksbanken und Raiffeisenbanken), the German Cooperative Banking Association.

Question 2

When was SKB Witten founded?

Accepted Answer

SKB Witten was founded on October 13, 1925, by the Free Evangelical Church Association in Germany (BFeG) under the name "Spar- und Bauhilfskasse" (Savings and Building Aid Fund) in Gummersbach. The founders created it as a self-help organization to provide otherwise difficult-to-obtain loans for building church community centers.

In 1935, the bank merged with the Bausparkasse des Gemeinnützigen Bauvereins Freier evangelischer Gemeinden eGmbH (Building Savings Bank of the Non-Profit Building Association of Free Evangelical Communities), which had been founded in Hamm in May 1925.

The bank faced closure in May 1943 by order of the Reich Minister of Economics and was liquidated by decision of the General Assembly in March 1944. It was re-founded in July 1946 after World War II. In September 1948, the bank relocated to its current headquarters in Witten. The institution was renamed to its current official name, Spar- und Kreditbank des Bundes Freier evangelischer Gemeinden eG, in 1975.

The bank celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2025.

Question 3

Where is SKB Witten headquartered?

Accepted Answer

SKB Witten is headquartered at Goltenkamp 9, 58452 Witten, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The bank relocated to Witten in September 1948 from its previous locations.

Question 4

Where does SKB Witten operate?

Accepted Answer

SKB Witten operates throughout Germany, serving Free Evangelical communities and their members nationwide. The bank does not maintain its own branch network but provides services through digital channels and partnerships.

As a member of the German cooperative banking network, customers can access account statements and certain services at terminals of other cooperative banks (Volksbanken Raiffeisenbanken) throughout Germany.

Question 5

What services does SKB Witten offer?

Accepted Answer

SKB Witten offers a comprehensive range of banking services including:

Retail Banking: Current accounts, savings accounts, time deposit accounts, and pension plans. The bank offers specialized accounts such as student accounts (SKB-GemeinsamStart) with no monthly fees.

Lending Services: Consumer loans, car loans, and mortgage loans. The bank specializes in providing favorable financing for church building projects, renovations, and expansions of church facilities. Historically, the bank has offered relatively lower interest rates compared to conventional banks.

Payment Services: Girocard debit cards, Mastercard and Visa credit cards (BasicCard, ClassicCard, and GoldCard options), and standard payment transaction services.

Digital Banking: Online banking platform accessible via PC and mobile banking app for both private and business customers, providing modern digital banking solutions.

Insurance Products: Insurance services in partnership with other providers.

Some services and preferential terms are specifically reserved for members and friends of Free Evangelical communities.

Question 6

What makes SKB Witten unique?

Accepted Answer

SKB Witten stands out as a faith-based cooperative bank with a clear social mission. Its primary purpose remains providing favorable financing to Free Evangelical churches for building and renovation projects—loans that are often difficult to obtain through conventional banking channels.

The bank operates under the motto "Sicher Kompetent Begleiten" (Securely Competently Accompanying), which replaced its former slogan "Die Bank, die hilft" (The Bank That Helps). This reflects its expanded services beyond church financing to comprehensive banking for the evangelical community.

Unlike typical banks, SKB Witten charges relatively low interest rates and offers some products exclusively to members and friends of Free Evangelical communities. The bank is owned by its members as a registered cooperative (eingetragene Genossenschaft), ensuring it remains committed to serving its members rather than external shareholders.

Despite having no physical branches, the bank leverages its membership in the cooperative banking network, allowing customers to access services at over 13,000 ATMs and branch terminals of other Volksbanken Raiffeisenbanken across Germany.

Question 7

What type of financial institution is SKB Witten?

Accepted Answer

SKB Witten is a Genossenschaftsbank (cooperative bank), a specific type of credit institution under German law. It is registered in the cooperative register (Genossenschaftsregister) at the Bochum District Court under GnR 241.

As a cooperative bank, it is owned by its members who hold shares in the institution. The bank operates under the German Cooperative Act (Genossenschaftsgesetz) and is governed by a statute approved by its General Assembly. Its organizational structure includes a Management Board (Vorstand), Supervisory Board (Aufsichtsrat), and General Assembly (Generalversammlung).

SKB Witten is a member of the BVR (Federal Association of German Volksbanken and Raiffeisenbanken) and participates in both the mandatory deposit guarantee scheme (BVR Institutssicherung GmbH) and the additional voluntary security facility of the BVR. Deposits are protected up to 100,000 EUR per depositor under the German deposit guarantee scheme (DE_BVR-ISG).

The bank is supervised by BaFin (Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht), Germany's Federal Financial Supervisory Authority, and holds an AA- credit rating from Fitch, indicating very high credit quality.

Question 8

What is SKB Witten's connection to the Free Evangelical Church?

Accepted Answer

SKB Witten was founded by and continues to serve the Bund Freier evangelischer Gemeinden in Deutschland (BFeG), the Association of Free Evangelical Churches in Germany. This connection is embedded in the bank's official name and mission.

The bank was specifically created to provide financial support to Free Evangelical congregations that struggled to obtain traditional bank financing for church buildings and facilities. While the bank has expanded its services over the decades to include comprehensive retail banking for individuals and businesses, supporting church communities remains its core purpose.

Members, employees, and visitors of Free Evangelical churches receive special consideration, with some banking products and preferential interest rates available exclusively to this community. This faith-based mission distinguishes SKB Witten from conventional cooperative banks in Germany.

SKB Witten

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About SKB Witten in Germany