Press releases

05.05.2020

DSGV supports the "Principles for Responsible Banking" of the United Nations

The German Savings Banks and Association (DSGV – Deutscher Sparkassen- und Giroverband) is a new supporter of the six Principles for Responsible Banking of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). "By supporting the UN Principles for Repsonsible Banking, the German Savings Banks Finance Group is making its commitment to sustainable development more visible both nationally and internationally," said Helmut Schleweis, DSGV President, today in Berlin.

19.03.2020

Credit and liquidity supply: Savings Banks and Landesbanken fulfil their public service mission

Germany’s Savings Banks and Landesbanken are jointly ready to provide very fast support to enterprises and self-employed persons affected by the coronavirus crisis so as to prevent a broad economic slump. “The German Savings Banks Finance Group will amply fulfil its public service mission,” said Helmut Schleweis, President of the German Savings Banks Association (DSGV), at the financial press conference held by the German Savings Banks today.

19.03.2020

Savings Banks with lower operating result; Schleweis: “We have continued to strengthen our reserves”

Germany’s 378 Savings Banks will tackle the difficult coming months from a position of strength. “Our institutions closed the past year with net income after taxes of EUR 1.8 billion. Another EUR 4.1 billion was transferred to contingent reserves for difficult times,” said Helmut Schleweis, President of the German Savings Banks Association (DSGV), at the financial press conference held by the Savings Banks Finance Group today in Berlin. With a tier-1 ratio of 16.0 percent and a total capital ratio of 17.3 percent, Savings Banks display a very solid capital base overall.

19.03.2020

Schleweis: “Savings Banks generated more retail banking business in 2019, but with lower earnings”

Helmut Schleweis, President of the German Savings Banks Association (DSGV), described the past fiscal year of Germany’s 378 Savings Banks as a “good retail banking year, but with lower operating earnings”. “Customers place a great deal of trust in their Savings Banks, making them the number-one financial partner in Germany. With a share of about 30 percent, we are the market leader in loans to enterprises and self-employed persons, and with a share of 35.2 percent, we are the market leader in residential real estate financing. At the same time, it is becoming more and more difficult to translate market success into a trading profit”, said Schleweis.

18.03.2020

Chief Economists: Now overcome the shut-down of the economies and limit negative second-round effects

In their latest position paper the Chief Economists of the Savings Banks Finance Group welcome the measures announced on 13 March 2020. The German government has created necessary conditions to support companies effectively in this challenging time. “In addition, it is now a matter of finding sector-specific solutions to help cushion companies in the period of shut-down. Reliefs for banks must also follow. In addition, the closure of stock exchanges must be taken into consideration”, says Uwe Burkert, Chief Economist of Landesbank Baden-Württemberg (LBBW).