Question 1

What is Raiffeisenbank Mittel- und Hinterbregenzerwald?

Accepted Answer

Raiffeisenbank Mittel- und Hinterbregenzerwald is a regional cooperative bank (eingetragene Genossenschaft) based in Egg, Vorarlberg, Austria. As one of the largest independent banks in the Bregenzerwald region, it serves over 4,700 members who are also co-owners of the institution.

The bank operates as part of the Austrian Raiffeisen Banking Group, providing comprehensive financial services to private individuals and businesses throughout the Mittel- and Hinterbregenzerwald areas. With approximately 60 full-time and part-time employees, the bank maintains a strong local presence while benefiting from the resources and infrastructure of the broader Raiffeisen network.

Question 2

When was Raiffeisenbank Mittel- und Hinterbregenzerwald founded?

Accepted Answer

The bank was founded in 1894, making it one of the pioneering financial institutions in the Bregenzerwald region. Its establishment came during a period of economic hardship in Vorarlberg, shortly after severe flooding of the Rhine River in 1888 caused widespread poverty and famine in many communities.

The founding was inspired by the cooperative banking principles developed by Friedrich Wilhelm Raiffeisen in Germany. The severe 1888 Rhine floods had left many in the region unable to secure credit, prompting local leaders to embrace Raiffeisen's self-help philosophy. The first Raiffeisen savings and loan associations in Vorarlberg were established in Wolfurt and Lustenau in 1889, and the movement quickly spread throughout the region, including to Egg and the surrounding Bregenzerwald valleys.

For over 130 years, the bank has served as a trusted financial partner for the local population and economy.

Question 3

Where is Raiffeisenbank Mittel- und Hinterbregenzerwald headquartered?

Accepted Answer

The bank is headquartered in Egg (Vorarlberg), Austria. Egg is the largest municipality in the Bregenzerwald region by both surface area and population, serving as a central hub for the surrounding mountain communities.

The main office is located at Loco 12, 6863 Egg, in the heart of this Alpine valley community.

Question 4

Where does Raiffeisenbank Mittel- und Hinterbregenzerwald operate?

Accepted Answer

The bank operates throughout the Mittel- and Hinterbregenzerwald regions of Vorarlberg. The Bregenzerwald is a valley region in the Austrian Alps, located southeast of Lake Constance (Bodensee), comprising approximately 22 villages with around 30,000 inhabitants.

The bank maintains several branch offices across the region, including locations in Egg, Andelsbuch, and Lingenau, providing comprehensive coverage of the middle and rear sections of the Bregenzerwald valley. This network ensures that customers in these rural and mountainous communities have convenient access to banking services.

The region is known for its distinctive architecture, cheese-making traditions, tourism, and strong agricultural heritage.

Question 5

What services does Raiffeisenbank Mittel- und Hinterbregenzerwald offer?

Accepted Answer

The bank offers comprehensive financial services across multiple areas:

Personal Banking: Current accounts, savings products, term deposits, payment cards (debit and credit), SEPA and international payment services, and mortgage lending for home purchases and renovations.

Business Banking: Commercial accounts, working capital financing, investment loans, business payment solutions, and specialized support for small and medium-sized enterprises in the region.

Wealth Management and Investment: Securities custody and brokerage services, investment funds through Raiffeisen Capital Management, and financial planning advice.

Specialized Financial Services: Housing finance expertise through partnership with Raiffeisen Bausparkasse, insurance products via Raiffeisen Versicherung, and leasing solutions through Raiffeisen-Leasing.

Digital Banking: The bank provides modern digital services through the Mein ELBA online banking platform and mobile app, enabling customers to manage accounts, execute transactions, and access services remotely. Customers can use pushTAN authentication for secure mobile banking, scan payment slips and QR codes, and utilize RaiPay for contactless mobile payments.

Branch facilities include accessible ATMs with barrier-free features, coin counting services, safe deposit boxes, and consultation spaces designed for accessibility.

Question 6

What makes Raiffeisenbank Mittel- und Hinterbregenzerwald unique?

Accepted Answer

Deep Local Roots: With over 130 years of history in the Bregenzerwald region, the bank has been a cornerstone institution through multiple generations, surviving economic crises and natural disasters while maintaining its commitment to local communities.

Cooperative Ownership: The bank is owned by its 4,700+ members, primarily local residents who have invested in cooperative shares. This structure ensures that decisions are made locally and profits are reinvested in the region rather than extracted by external shareholders.

Regional Economic Impact: The bank actively promotes regional development by recycling local deposits into loans for regional businesses and households, creating a functioning local money circulation. It also provides substantial annual support (over €700,000 in comparable regional Raiffeisen banks) to social, cultural, sporting, and sustainability initiatives.

Accessibility Focus: The bank demonstrates exceptional commitment to accessibility, with barrier-free branch access, equipment at accessible heights, voice output systems, contactless card recognition, and wheelchair-accessible consultation areas and facilities.

Mountain Community Expertise: Operating in an Alpine valley region with unique economic characteristics—including tourism, agriculture, cheese production, and timber crafts—the bank has developed specialized knowledge in financing these traditional and contemporary local industries.

Question 7

What type of financial institution is Raiffeisenbank Mittel- und Hinterbregenzerwald?

Accepted Answer

Raiffeisenbank Mittel- und Hinterbregenzerwald is a cooperative bank (Genossenschaftsbank), legally structured as an eingetragene Genossenschaft (eGen), which is a registered cooperative under Austrian law.

As a cooperative credit institution, it operates on the Raiffeisen principle of self-help and mutual support. Members purchase cooperative shares and have voting rights in the general assembly, which elects the management board and supervisory board. This democratic structure ensures local control and aligns the bank's interests with those of the community it serves.

The bank is licensed as a credit institution under Austrian law and is supervised by the Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA) and the Oesterreichische Nationalbank. Customer deposits are protected by the Österreichische Raiffeisen-Sicherungseinrichtung (Austrian Raiffeisen Deposit Guarantee Scheme), which covers eligible deposits up to €100,000 per depositor.

As an independent member of the Austrian Raiffeisen Banking Group, the bank combines local autonomy with access to the resources, technology, and expertise of Austria's largest banking group, which collectively serves over 4 million customers nationwide.

Raiffeisenbank Mittel- und Hinterbregenzerwald

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About Raiffeisenbank Mittel- und Hinterbregenzerwald in Austria

Raiffe­isenba­nk Mittel- und Hinter­bregen­zerwald