Question 1

What is Burgerliche Ersparniskasse Bern?

Accepted Answer

Burgerliche Ersparniskasse Bern is a Swiss regional bank headquartered in Bern, Switzerland. Organized as a cooperative (Genossenschaft), it specializes in retail banking and mortgage lending, primarily serving the city of Bern and its surrounding agglomeration.

As of 2023, the bank holds total assets of approximately 416.6 million CHF and operates as an independent regional bank affiliated with Entris Holding. The bank is the oldest financial institution in Bern and Canton Bern, maintaining a unique focus on serving Bernburger citizens, civic guilds (burgerliche Zünfte), and institutions connected to the Burgergemeinde Bern.

Question 2

When was Burgerliche Ersparniskasse Bern founded?

Accepted Answer

Burgerliche Ersparniskasse Bern was founded in 1820, making it over 200 years old. The founding members had previously formed a social-cultural group called the Burgerleist in 1816.

On April 5, 1820, the founding assembly approved the basic statutes (Grundgesetze) of the savings bank. The bank was established with a dual patriotic and philanthropic mission: to provide savings opportunities for burgerliche home workers and industrial laborers (particularly for retirement planning), and to circulate idle capital to meet the credit needs of small borrowers and civic corporations.

The Bern civic guilds (burgerliche Zünfte) were the primary supporters of the institution, traditionally responsible for poor relief among their members. The bank was formally registered in the commercial register in 1884 as a cooperative under Swiss commercial law, initially as "Burgerliche Ersparniskasse der Stadt Bern" and renamed "Burgerliche Ersparniskasse Bern" in 1980.

Question 3

Where is Burgerliche Ersparniskasse Bern headquartered?

Accepted Answer

Burgerliche Ersparniskasse Bern is headquartered at Marktgasse 37, 3001 Bern, Switzerland. The bank's location at Marktgasse has remained its permanent address after initially changing locations according to the residence of its cashier in its early years.

The headquarters serves as the bank's sole operating location, where customers can access services Monday through Friday from 08:00 to 12:00 and 13:30 to 17:00.

Question 4

Where does Burgerliche Ersparniskasse Bern operate?

Accepted Answer

Burgerliche Ersparniskasse Bern operates exclusively in the city of Bern and the Bern agglomeration within Canton Bern, Switzerland. The bank's operational focus is deliberately local, concentrating on the Bern metropolitan area rather than maintaining a broader regional or national presence.

This geographic specialization aligns with its mission to serve the specific community of Bernburger citizens and institutions closely connected to the Burgergemeinde Bern.

Question 5

What services does Burgerliche Ersparniskasse Bern offer?

Accepted Answer

Burgerliche Ersparniskasse Bern offers traditional retail banking services focused on savings and mortgage lending. Core services include:

Savings Products: Multiple savings account options, all fee-free, along with savings bonds (Kassenobligationen) for depositors.

Transaction Accounts: Personal accounts (Kontokorrent Private) and business accounts (Kontokorrent Firmen) for payment processing and financial transactions.

Mortgage Lending: Personalized and comprehensive mortgage advisory services, including construction loans (Baukredit), which represent a significant portion of the bank's business.

Retirement Planning: Third pillar pension accounts (PRIVOR Vorsorgekonto 3. Säule) and vested benefits accounts (PRIVOR Freizügigkeitskonto) for Swiss pension planning.

Deposits up to 100,000 CHF are protected under the Swiss deposit guarantee scheme through esisuisse – Deposit Insurance (ESI). The bank is authorized and supervised by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA).

Question 6

What makes Burgerliche Ersparniskasse Bern unique?

Accepted Answer

Burgerliche Ersparniskasse Bern distinguishes itself through its unique governance structure and historical continuity. As a cooperative, every depositor becomes a member (Genossenschafter), and the bank remains committed to the cooperative principle of mutual self-help.

The bank's supreme governing body is a delegate assembly consisting of a seven-member directorate and 28 delegates appointed by 13 civic guilds (Zünfte) and Burgers without guild affiliation. This governance structure has remained largely unchanged since the 19th century, maintaining direct representation from Bern's traditional civic societies.

Unlike profit-oriented banks, all earnings are exclusively directed toward strengthening equity and enhancing financial security rather than shareholder distributions. The bank's independence ensures it serves only the interests of its customer base.

The bank has chosen the industrious bee (fleissige Biene) as its emblem, symbolizing diligence and community cooperation. As the oldest bank in Bern and Canton Bern, it maintains a strong connection to local heritage while serving modern banking needs.

Question 7

What type of financial institution is Burgerliche Ersparniskasse Bern?

Accepted Answer

Burgerliche Ersparniskasse Bern is classified as a Regionalbank (regional bank) and Sparkasse (savings bank) under Swiss banking law. This designation reflects institutions that focus on retail banking services within a specific geographic region.

In the Swiss banking system, regional and savings banks typically emphasize deposit-taking and mortgage lending to local customers rather than complex investment banking activities. The bank is subject to the Swiss Federal Act on Banks and Savings Banks (Bundesgesetz über die Banken und Sparkassen).

As a member bank of Entris Holding, Burgerliche Ersparniskasse Bern benefits from shared infrastructure and services while maintaining its operational independence. The bank was a founding member of the Revisionsverbandes Bernischer Banken und Sparkassen (Audit Association of Bernese Banks and Savings Banks) in 1912, and subsequently a founding member of Entris Holding AG in 1994.

Question 8

What is the bank's affiliation with Entris Holding?

Accepted Answer

Burgerliche Ersparniskasse Bern operates as an independent regional bank affiliated with Entris Holding (formerly Entris Banking AG). Entris Holding serves as a central bank and service provider for smaller and medium-sized Swiss financial institutions.

Through this affiliation, the bank gains access to payment infrastructure, correspondent banking services, card programs (including Debit Mastercard), and compliance services while maintaining complete operational autonomy. Entris Banking provides services to approximately 70 smaller and medium-sized banks in Switzerland, enabling them to access cost-effective infrastructure through volume bundling and standardization.

This affiliation allows Burgerliche Ersparniskasse Bern to focus on its core competency of customer service while leveraging professional back-office support for complex regulatory and operational requirements.

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About Burgerliche Ersparniskasse Bern in Switzerland

Burgerliche Erspar­niskas­se Bern