Sparda-Bank

The Sparda-Banks in Germany are eleven cooperative banks which are consolidated in the Verband der Sparda-Banken e. V. (Union of Sparda-Banks). Traditionally they are specialized in the private banking business. The eleven, legally independent banks operate according to the regional principle, which means that each bank is responsible for a set business area and only accepts customers from that area.

Deutsche Kreditbank
IndustryCooperative bank
Founded6 May 1896
HeadquartersFrankfurt am Main, Germany
ProductsGiro
Websitewww.sparda.de

Development

The oldest Sparda-Bank was founded on 6 May 1896 as Spar- und Vorschuss-Verein der badischen Eisenbahnbeamten (Savings and Imprest Association of the Baden Railroad Officials) in Karlsruhe.[1] Based on this model equal cooperatives were founded in other places, which, in the spring of 1906, consolidated in the Revisionsverband der Eisenbahn-Spar- und Darlehnskassen (Revision Federation of the Railroad Savings and Loan Associations) in Kassel.[2]

In 1969 the railroad savings banks were opened for staff of other public services and in 1974 for all employees (steady income in the salary account is expected). Since 1978 the banks uniformly call themselves Sparda-Banks.[2]

In the center of its business activities is the standardized private banking. Customers purchase at least one cooperative share (the amount and the maximum of available shares is determined individually by each bank in a statute) and are therefore, together with other customers, members and part owners of the bank. For the cooperative shares an annual dividend is paid (at the Sparda-Bank Süd-West currently 3%,[3] at the Sparda-Bank Baden-Württemberg 3.5%).[4]

Check account

The Sparda-Banks check account (excluding Sparda-Bank Berlin since October 1, 2017) is free of charge for members as wage, salary or retirement account. However, since 2015, Sparda-Banks charge annually different amounts for the Bankcard.[5][6][7]

Cooperative

The following Sparda-Banks are consolidated in the Verband der Sparda-Banken e. V. (Union of Sparda-Banks) which as auditing association is responsible for the statutory audits according to the cooperative bill:

The Sparda-Banks are members in the National Association of German Cooperative Banks (BVR) and its protection scheme. The Sparda-Banks are together with other banks part of CashPool. A few Sparda-Banks have agreements for a free of charge cash withdrawal at Postbank ATMs.[8]

Business figures

In sum the total assets of all Sparda-Banks was 68.9 billion Euros in 2016. At the end of 2016 the number of all members of Sparda-Banks was 3.6 million.[9]

References
  1. "Geschichte: Ein kurzer Rückblick". Sparda-Bank. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  2. Aufterbeck, Sigrid (31 March 2006). "Sparda: Mit der Eisenbahn gewachsen". Handelsblatt. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  3. "Das Erfolgsmodell Genossenschaft". Sparda-Bank. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  4. "Die beste Möglichkeit Geld zu sparen, ist keines zu verschenken!". Sparda-Bank. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  5. Neuhaus, Carla (12 February 2015). "Kostenlos ist nicht umsonst". Der Tagesspiegel. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  6. Preißler, Steffen (3 May 2016). "Der Abschied vom Gratiskonto freut die Hamburger Sparkasse". Hamburger Abendblatt. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  7. Lindgens, Janet (9 January 2016). "Sparda-Bank West führt eine Gebühr für die EC-Karte ein". DERWESTEN. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  8. "SpardaGirokonto". Sparda-Bank. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  9. "Sparda Report 2017" (PDF). Verband der Sparda-Banken. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
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