Volksbank Raiffeisenbank Meißen

The idea of cooperative banks

We are cooperative banks and therefore different from other banks. That's because we belong to our members. That's why we are particularly committed to them and their goals.

The origin of cooperative banks

The Volksbanken Raiffeisenbanken were founded over 170 years ago by Hermann Schulze-Delitzsch and Friedrich Wilhelm Raiffeisen. At the time, the creation of credit and loan associations offered a solution for the financially weak middle class to help each other through voluntary cooperation and gain access to credit. In doing so, they laid the foundation for the establishment of cooperative banks. Since then, communities have joined forces in other areas to form cooperatives, for example in agriculture, trade and crafts. With around 17.8 million members, the cooperative banks form the largest cooperative group in Germany.

The cooperative success model

Even after 170 years, we remain true to the cooperative idea. This is because it is not only more relevant than ever, but also timeless: we live in a society in which participation, solidarity and regionality play an increasingly important role – principles that are firmly anchored in our self-image.