Volksbank

The Volksbanken Raiffeisenbanken form one of Germany's largest banking groups, operating under a cooperative model where customers can also be members and owners. The network, known as the "FinanzGruppe," consists of legally independent local cooperative banks, the central institution DZ BANK, and specialized service providers like R+V Versicherung (insurance) and Union Investment. Its history dates back to the mid-19th century and the ideas of Friedrich Wilhelm Raiffeisen and Hermann Schulze-Delitzsch. The group's mission is to provide stable, member-focused financial services, supporting local communities and the German "Mittelstand" (small and medium-sized enterprises). The Bundesverband der Deutschen Volksbanken und Raiffeisenbanken (BVR) acts as the national association for the entire group.