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Savings Banks in Germany - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

David Riemeier David Riemeier Frankfurt, Germany Last Updated: July 2024 WZ K64.19bDE

Revenue

€40.8bn

2024

€40.8bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

€XX.Xbn

Employees

183k

Businesses

341

Wages

€XX.Xbn

Savings Banks in Germany industry analysis

The savings banks sector has developed negatively over the last five years. Since 2019, their turnover, which is made up of interest and commission income, has fallen by an average of 1% per year. The reason for the decline was the phase of low interest rates, which made it difficult for savings banks to generate increasing income in their traditional business. The most recent upturn is due to the European Central Bank's increase in the base rate to combat high inflation in Europe. At the same time, however, the tense global situation, demographic change and continued high inflation are having a negative impact on the industry. Turnover of €40.8 billion is expected for 2024, which corresponds to an increase of 0.8% compared to the previous year.The digitalisation of society is also fundamentally changing the sector. Branches are being closed and staff cut. The number of branches has fallen from over 12,000 in 2013 to around 7,300 in the current year. Companies are increasingly focussing on conducting their business online and using modern technologies. However, the investments associated with the integration of apps and online banking into business processes, as well as the high personnel costs in relation to turnover, have led to a reduction in profit margins in the low-interest phase. The pandemic-related increase in write-downs on non-performing loans and intensified price competition are also likely to have contributed to this. The sector is characterised above all by its strong focus on small and medium-sized enterprises. Savings banks account for a high percentage of loan financing for these companies, but banks from outside the sector, fintechs and other competitors are also pushing into this market. < />For the next five years, Alfabank-Adres expects sales to increase slightly. The industry's turnover is expected to grow by an average of 0.5% per year during this period, meaning that it is likely to amount to 41.8 billion euros in 2029. How the industry reacts to change will be shown by how the savings banks and Landesbanken deal with new technologies and their use. At the same time, it can be assumed that increasing regulation and the tightening of rules will weaken the positive effects of the key interest rate hike. The number of institutions and branches is likely to continue to decline, as is the number of employees. However, this should have a positive impact on the profitability of the sector.

Trends and Insights

  • For a long time, savings banks acted as the first lenders for start-ups. However, banks from other sectors are now entering this market and jeopardising the position of savings banks as the principal banks for SMEs.
  • The savings banks' most important product group is building loans for private individuals. Demand for such loans was high until the interest rate hike. However, due to higher interest rates, building loans for private individuals are likely to become less important in the medium term.
  • The Central region has the highest number of authorised savings banks in Germany. This is primarily due to the large number of companies based in the Rhine-Main and Rhine-Ruhr conurbations in particular, as well as the high number of inhabitants.
  • The competition within the savings bank sector is limited. Banks in this sector have strong regional roots and rarely operate outside their home region.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 1.0 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €40.8bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

The low base rate and high operating costs put pressure on industry players

  • The savings banks emerged as winners from the 2008 financial crisis and the subsequent euro crisis. While other credit institutions suffered greatly from the collapse of the global financial market due to their international portfolio structure, this only applied to a few savings banks. Due to their focus on regional markets and more traditional investment portfolios, the sector survived the crisis largely unscathed.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Savings Banks in Germany
Revenue (2014-2029)
Alfabank-Adres Logo Source: Alfabank-Adres

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

The digitalisation of the banking sector does not stop at the savings banks and Landesbanken

  • The Sparkassen Innovation Hub sees itself as an experimental laboratory and think tank for the industry. In addition to entering into partnerships with fintechs, observing the market and current trends in the financial industry, it also accepts orders from other sectors and develops solutions. In this way, the savings banks fulfil an important service function for small and medium-sized companies that cannot afford their own technology or innovation platforms.

Biggest companies in the Savings Banks in Germany

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue (€m)
2024
Landesbank Baden-Württemberg
18,713.0
Bayerische Landesbank
6,191.0
Norddeutsche Landesbank – Girozentrale
4,981.0

To view the market share and analysis for all 7 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Savings Banks in Germany
Products & Services
Alfabank-Adres Logo Source: Alfabank-Adres

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Building loans for private individuals, Long-term corporate loans and Short and medium-term corporate loans. Building loans for private individuals is the largest segment of the Savings Banks in Germany.

Trends and Insights

Building loans for private individuals are less in demand due to rising interest rates

  • Housing loans for private individuals represent the largest product group of the savings banks. Over the last five years, the share of this product group in the sector's turnover has increased steadily, which is attributable to the favourable development of the real estate market.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

This sector comprises credit institutions of municipal organisations whose guarantors are municipalities and associations of municipalities. The sector also includes the central institutions of their affiliated savings banks. These central institutions, also known as Landesbanken, are responsible for ensuring the liquidity of the savings banks and processing cashless payment transactions as well as basic and municipal lending business.

What's included in this industry?

Building loans for private individualsLong-term corporate loansShort and medium-term corporate loans

Companies

Landesbank Baden-WürttembergBayerische LandesbankNorddeutsche Landesbank – Girozentrale

Purchase this report to view all 7 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

PURPOSE ASSOCIATIONFINTECHNON-PERFORMING LOANBLOCKCHAINE- AND M-COMMERCE

Industry Code

WZ 2008

WZ 64.19.2 - Savings Banks in Germany

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

For a long time, savings banks acted as the first lenders for start-ups. However, banks from other sectors are now entering this market and jeopardising the position of savin...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

The savings banks' most important product group is building loans for private individuals. Demand for such loans was high until the interest rate hike. However, due to higher...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

The Central region has the highest number of authorised savings banks in Germany. This is primarily due to the large number of companies based in the Rhine-Main and Rhine-Ruh...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

The competition within the savings bank sector is limited. Banks in this sector have strong regional roots and rarely operate outside their home region.

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

The Landesbank Baden-Württemberg has the highest market share in the savings bank sector. It is the largest Landesbank in Germany and the sixth-largest credit institution.

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Landesbank Baden-Württemberg's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Bayerische Landesbank's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Norddeutsche Landesbank – Girozentrale's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 4 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Landesbank Baden-Württemberg, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Bayerische Landesbank, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Norddeutsche Landesbank – Girozentrale, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 4 additional companies

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

The development of the business climate provides information about the demand for loans. If the business climate improves, companies are usually more willing to invest, which...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

The interest rate hike had a positive impact on the sector's profitability. During the low-interest phase, savings banks, like other banks, were forced to pass on interest ra...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Savings Banks industry in Germany in 2024?

The market size of the Savings Banks industry in Germany is €40.8bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Savings Banks in Germany industry in 2024?

There are 341 businesses in the Savings Banks industry in Germany, which has declined at a CAGR of 2.1 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Savings Banks industry in Germany grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Savings Banks industry in Germany has been declining at a CAGR of 1.0 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Savings Banks industry in Germany over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Savings Banks industry in Germany is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Savings Banks market in Germany?

The biggest companies operating in the Savings Banks market in Germany are Landesbank Baden-Württemberg, Bayerische Landesbank and Norddeutsche Landesbank – Girozentrale

What does the Savings Banks in Germany include?

Building loans for private individuals and Long-term corporate loans are part of the Savings Banks industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Savings Banks in Germany?

The company holding the most market share in Germany is Landesbank Baden-Württemberg.

How competitive is the Savings Banks industry in Germany?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Savings Banks industry in Germany.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • Commercial Banks in Germany
  • Cooperatives in Germany
  • Mortgage Banks in Germany

Complementors

  • Development Banks in Germany
  • Building Societies in Germany

International industries

  • Global Commercial Banks
  • Savings Banks & Thrifts in the US
  • National and Regional Commercial Banks in Australia
  • Banking in New Zealand
  • Banks in the UK

View all industries in Germany

Methodology

How are Alfabank-Adres reports created?

Alfabank-Adres has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for Alfabank-Adres readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of Alfabank-Adres’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

Alfabank-Adres relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do Alfabank-Adres analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Germany include:

  • German Federal Statistics Office (Destatis)
  • European Statistics Office (Eurostat)
  • United Nations Comtrade

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, Alfabank-Adres’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does Alfabank-Adres forecast its data?

Alfabank-Adres’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

Alfabank-Adres prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.