SUPPORTING INTERNATIONALISATION
German Savings Banks do not operate branches abroad, but they do support their customers’ international business.
Needless to say, Savings Banks also cover international payment transactions, documentary business and foreign trade financing. Savings Banks often use the services of the Landesbanken to process international transactions or have their own correspondent banking connections.
All Landesbanken are internationally active in a variety of fields, and they are also present in other countries through branches and offices. They provide a wide range of specialised services, from supporting small and medium-sized enterprises to derivatives trading and project financing.
Through their correspondent banking, Landesbanken maintain direct contact with foreign banks worldwide. In addition, they operate in the international capital markets, are involved in international project financing and act as investors.
Today, most Landesbanken are also part of S-CountryDesk. Via this network, they make the services of their international bases available to all interested Savings Banks and their business customers.
The Deutsche Leasing Group is the solution-oriented asset finance partner for German SMEs. The company supports investment projects in Germany and abroad and offers a wide range of financing solutions (asset finance) and supplementary services (asset services) for fixed and current assets. The company supports its customers in financing change and innovation, particularly with regard to the major transformation issues of our time ‐ whether decarbonisation, digitalisation or sustainable infrastructure.
Within the Savings Banks Finance Group, Deutsche Leasing is the central and internationally oriented alliance partner and competence centre for leasing, factoring and other alternative forms of financing. This enables the Savings Banks in Germany to offer their corporate and business customers fast, simple digital solutions or advice tailored specifically to the respective investment project, depending on their needs.
The Deutsche Leasing Group’s entire range of services ‐ including as the leading manufacturer-independent leasing company in Germany – extends from financing solutions for machinery and operating equipment, vehicles (including commercial vehicles and public transport as well as passenger cars), IT and communications equipment, to medical technology, real estate, and large items of property (e.g. energy generation plants such as solar and wind farms, rail vehicles) and intangible assets. The company also offers factoring and receivables management as well as other services such as insurance, fleet and construction management.
The financing and property experts at Deutsche Leasing support their customers and business partners with both small-volume investments and financing for individual, complex large-scale projects. Offices in Germany also guarantee a comprehensive local presence.
Deutsche Leasing
Since 1993, Deutsche Leasing accompanied its customers from Germany to the most important export markets in Europe, as well as to China, the USA, Canada and Brazil. In total, Deutsche Leasing is present in over 20 countries. While most internationally active machine and plant manufacturers use leasing as an important instrument for promoting their own sales, Deutsche Leasing also supports German companies with direct investments abroad.
For over 60 years, Deutsche Leasing has facilitated the investments of its SME customers in industry, trade, services and the public sector.
deutsche-leasing.com
S-CountryDesk is an international network which was established as a joint project between the German Savings Banks and their European and overseas partners. S-CountryDesk provides German Savings Banks’ customers with access to the infrastructure, product range, local expertise and capabilities of foreign banking and non-banking partners. It also provides a platform for all the institutions and service providers from within the German Savings Banks Finance Group that offer specialised products for international corporate banking business, including the Landesbanken.
The legal structure of S-CountryDesk is that of a limited liability company (GmbH). Its shareholders include not only a large number of German Savings Banks but also Landesbanken, Deutsche Leasing and Deutsche Factoring Bank. Associated service providers include institutions such as the EuropaService of the Savings Banks Finance Group and the German Centres in major target markets.
S-CountryDesk engages in intensive relationship management between foreign service and banking partners and the Savings Banks Finance Group.
S-CountryDesk can therefore be used to organise and accompany corporate customers’ specific business deals.
S-CountryDesk was also established to make Savings Banks more easily accessible for foreign banks’ corporate clients on their way to Germany. Today, banks and service providers from almost 100 countries make their expertise and their services available to this personalised network of contacts.
In 2016 S-CountryDesk launched the highly successful “S-weltweit App” for international business. Nearly 250 Savings Banks use this digital marketing channel for international business.
The app provides high-quality information on 150 countries and is designed to give new impetus to international corporate banking business.
countrydesk.de
s-weltweit.de
S-WELTWEIT APP provides:
The Savings Banks Finance Group’s EuropaService has formed part of the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) since its inception. This network was put into place by the European Commission to help businesses to innovate and grow internationally with the support of partners around the world. The network helps especially small and medium-sized enterprises to increase their resilience and supports their transition to a more sustainable and digital business model. As the only institution of the German banking market belonging to the EEN, EuropaService provides German Savings Banks’ customers with advice and information on cross-border investment and trade, on EU funding and financing, and on finding business partners abroad, covering all key economic sectors. The information and services provided by EuropaService are integrated into the broad range of services offered by the international network of the Savings Banks Finance Group and into the “S-weltweit App”.
europaservice.dsgv.de
The German Sparkassenstiftung1 (German Savings Banks Foundation) provides proactive support to financial institutions that sustainably foster economic and social development at local, regional or national level through needs-oriented banking services. The German Sparkassenstiftung’s goal is to assist its partner institutions to become more professional and to enable them to give their customers permanent access to financial services. The main target groups are micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSME), as well as poor and socially marginalised groups. This focus on MSMEs and low-income earners actually benefits our partner institutions, as delivering services to these customer segments secures ongoing stable and satisfactory returns.
By strengthening local and regional financial structures, the German Sparkassenstiftung not only generates development opportunities for wide sections of the population and local companies, but ultimately also helps to create jobs and income.
This complies with the approach and objectives of Germany’s Savings Banks. It also has a stabilising effect on the respective financial sector and, as a result, on the given country’s economic development. With their 200-year history, Germany’s Savings Banks show that sustainable microfinance is only feasible if it is organised efficiently and professionally. And it is these key success factors that the German Sparkassenstiftung communicates to its partners through its project work.
sparkassenstiftung.de
3252
employees worldwide
project volume in 2023
31.52
million
12 objective
sustainable development through financial inclusion
1102
additional employees from the Savings Banks Finance Group
552
project countries
402
employees at the head office in Bonn
1 Deutsche Sparkassenstiftung für internationale Kooperation – DSIK
2 As at 31 December 2023
The financial sector is severely affected by climate and structural change. Borrowers are facing new challenges that affect their ability to service a loan. Financial institutions (FIs) need to act now and position their organisation in the market in a sustainable and risk-mitigating way.
The ESG Risk Radar is a cost-effective, tried and tested method offered by the German Sparkassen stiftung in cooperation with the Kempten University of Applied Sciences. FIs can use it to analyse the environmental, social and governance risks in their loan portfolio and implement successful risk management strategies.
To support both the management of risk and chances associated with these ESG-related developments (Environmental, Social and Govermance) within FIs, the German Sparkassenstiftung offers the Sustainable Finance Compass, also in cooperation with the Kempten University of Applied Sciences.
It is a systematic questionnaire to assess the status quo of sustainable finance implementation in financial institutions. The Compass supports the institutions in setting appropriate goals and pursuing them in a coherent manner.
See the video about ESG Risk Radar
See the video about the Sustainable Finance Compass
Savings Banks or similar financial institutions are not a German phenomenon. Savings Banks also exist in other countries, albeit in a wide range of different forms. They share a strong focus on retail business and a business policy that is geared towards public welfare. The purpose of the European Savings and Retail Banking Group and the World Savings and Retail Banking Institute is to represent the political interests of local banks and to facilitate a professional exchange of views. The German Savings Banks Association is a voluntary member of both organisations.
wsbi-esbg.org/
Advocating for a diverse banking sector
Pluralism and diversity in the European banking sector safeguard the market against shocks that arise from time to time. Members are committed to defend the European social and economic model that combines growth with high living standards and good working conditions.
157
million customers
620,000
employees
28
countries
represents
859
savings and retail banks
total assets of
EUR 6.4trillion
EUR 3,72trillion
in loans to non-banks4
38.800
branches
3 As at 31 December 2023
4 Loans granted by ESBG members to their customers (households, corporates) excluding banks.
Favouring inclusive globalisation
Favouring an inclusive form of globalisation that is equitable and fair, the WSBI supports international efforts to advance financial access and usage for everyone. They also promote the vision of a pluralistic banking model and an environment conducive to financial inclusion. The WSBI supports the goal of achieving sustainable, inclusive and balanced growth and job creation around the world.
1.7
billion customers
total assets of
USD 13.25
trillion
total assets of
5
continents
represents
6,400
savings and retail banks in 78 countries
2.1
million employees
Total deposits
USD 11.4
trillion
103
members
5 As at 31 December 2023
Founded on 31 October 1924 in Milan during the first International Savings Congress, WSBI has become the world’s oldest global banking association with 103 members in 78 countries. Throughout a century of history, WSBI’s activities have shown a steadfast commitment to positively impacting people and communities worldwide.
wsbi-esbg.org/publications-home-page
