Question 1

What is Volksbank Freiburg?

Accepted Answer

Volksbank Freiburg is one of the largest German cooperative banks, ranking 71st among 735 cooperative banks by balance sheet size. The bank operates as a member-owned universal bank serving individuals, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and organizations across the Freiburg region in southwestern Germany.

As of 2024, Volksbank Freiburg held total assets of approximately 3.94 billion EUR, ranking as the 274th largest bank in Germany and the 77th largest cooperative bank in the country. The bank's motto is "Meine Bank gehört mir" (My bank belongs to me), emphasizing member ownership and democratic governance.

Question 2

When was Volksbank Freiburg founded?

Accepted Answer

Volksbank Freiburg was originally founded as Freiburger Gewerbebank (Freiburg Crafts Bank) on December 30, 1866, as a cooperative with unlimited liability. The bank was officially entered into the cooperative register on January 2, 1871.

The institution underwent significant transformation throughout its history. In 1909, it converted from unlimited to limited liability. During the hyperinflation of 1923-1924, the bank restructured its balance sheets from paper marks to gold marks.

The modern Volksbank Freiburg emerged through major mergers: with Volksbank St. Blasien in 1972, with Raiffeisenbank Freiburg in 1973 (when it adopted the current name), with Raiffeisenbank Südlicher Schwarzwald in 2000, with Kaiserstühler Volksbank in 2002, and with Volksbank Hochschwarzwald in 2003. The bank celebrated its 140th anniversary in 2007.

Question 3

Where is Volksbank Freiburg headquartered?

Accepted Answer

Volksbank Freiburg is headquartered in Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Since May 20, 1974, the bank's main office has been located in a purpose-built building at the Hauptbahnhof (main train station), designed by Swiss architectural firm Suter + Suter based on a design by Rainer Fleischhauer.

The previous headquarters was located in Franziskanerstraße, where the bank operated from 1906 until 1974.

Question 4

Where does Volksbank Freiburg operate?

Accepted Answer

Volksbank Freiburg's service area extends from Sasbach am Kaiserstuhl in the west to Friedenweiler-Rötenbach in the Black Forest (Schwarzwald) to the east, and from Wyhl am Kaiserstuhl in the north to Schönau im Schwarzwald in the south. This extensive coverage spans the southern Black Forest region and the Kaiserstuhl area of Baden-Württemberg.

The bank operates multiple branch locations throughout this region, including in cities and towns such as Schönau, St. Blasien, Todtnau, and various communities in the Rhine Valley and Black Forest foothills.

Question 5

What services does Volksbank Freiburg offer?

Accepted Answer

Volksbank Freiburg offers comprehensive universal banking services for retail, business, and institutional customers. Retail products include checking accounts (Girokonto), debit and credit cards from Mastercard, savings products (Sparbrief/savings bonds), demand deposit accounts, pension plans, consumer loans (easyCredit), car loans, and mortgage loans.

Business customers can access business accounts, business loans up to 100,000 EUR (Unternehmerkredit), international payment services, and business succession planning. As of 2024, the bank's loans to customers totaled approximately 2.93 billion EUR.

Digital banking services include online banking platforms, the VR-Banking mobile app, online brokerage services, and call center support. Through the cooperative banking network, customers access products from partners including R+V Versicherung (insurance, including employee pension schemes), Bausparkasse Schwäbisch Hall, Teambank (easyCredit), VR Leasing, DZ Hyp, and Union Investment.

The bank also offers Gewinnsparen (lottery savings), combining savings, prize draws, and charitable donations.

Question 6

What makes Volksbank Freiburg unique?

Accepted Answer

As a member-owned cooperative, Volksbank Freiburg operates on principles of "Mitwissen, mitbestimmen, mitverdienen" (co-knowledge, co-decision, co-earning), allowing members to participate in governance and share in profits. The bank has maintained local roots while growing to become one of Germany's largest cooperative banks.

With a Fitch credit rating of AA- (very high credit quality) and membership in the BVR Institutssicherung GmbH, the bank provides enhanced depositor protection. Its extensive merger history reflects successful consolidation while maintaining regional focus.

The bank's historical significance includes surviving major economic crises, including the hyperinflation of 1923-1924 and World War II, demonstrating resilience over more than 150 years of operation.

Question 7

What type of financial institution is Volksbank Freiburg?

Accepted Answer

Volksbank Freiburg is a Genossenschaftsbank (cooperative bank), a member-owned credit institution type prevalent in Germany. As a cooperative, it is governed by the German Cooperative Act (Genossenschaftsgesetz) and operates with a management board (Vorstand), supervisory board (Aufsichtsrat), and representative assembly (Vertreterversammlung replacing the original general assembly in 1927).

The bank is registered as a credit institution (CRDCREINS) with the European Banking Authority and is supervised by BaFin (Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht). It operates within the German Cooperative Financial Group (Genossenschaftliche FinanzGruppe Volksbanken Raiffeisenbanken) as a member of DZ Bank AG.

Volksbank Freiburg

in Germany 🇩🇪

Crypto-Friendliness

All done!

About Volksbank Freiburg in Germany