Not despite, but because of the corona pandemic: Sparkasse Oberland on the upswing

The Sparkasse Oberland is very satisfied.

More savings were made in 2020, but more was also invested - not least because of the corona pandemic.

Weilheim

- The slogan “When it's about money, Sparkasse” is what the CEO of Sparkasse Oberland, Thomas Orbig, would like to change, as he explained at the 2020 balance sheet discussion.

It should read: “Because it's about more than money, Sparkasse.” While earlier crises were only about money, the corona pandemic is also about health.

According to Orbig, “helping out of the crisis” was in the foreground last year.

It was about safeguarding companies - and thus jobs.

It would have shown that both entrepreneurs and private individuals have confidence in the regional savings bank.

Since the customers' deposits come from the region and loans would again benefit companies in the region, the business figures have risen sharply.

There have even been double-digit increases.

Customers also appreciate that the Sparkasse has been a reliable partner for 185 years and that they work in a risk-conscious manner.

"No gamblers are involved" in investing customer funds.

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Thomas Orbig, CEO of Sparkasse Oberland.

© Ralf Ruder

According to Michael Lautenbacher, who is responsible for the private customer business, the fact that the financial assets of Sparkasse customers has increased by around 300 million euros is also due to the corona pandemic. Since there were fewer opportunities to spend money - for example for travel or in the catering trade - the savings rate rose significantly. Because of the lack of interest, more savers would invest their money in securities. The development of the Dax shows that the economy looks confidently into the future.

Markus Lanz, who is responsible for corporate banking and real estate, sees the 18.3 percent increase in savings bank loans as a good omen for the future.

The new loan commitments amounted to 602 million euros, which means that customers invest 2.7 million euros per working day.

This is a sign of the confidence of the entrepreneurs.

Sparkasse employs 466 people

Sparkasse Oberland is also a great employer. It currently employs 466 people. 212 of them work part-time and 35 are in training. It operates 17 branches with advice and service, a business center, investment advice for private customers and 13 self-service branches, six of which offer advice. There are ATMs at 15 other locations, including supermarkets. She also offers advice on the Internet, by telephone and by video conference.

According to Orbig, the Sparkasse paid 3.7 million euros in business tax and supported non-profit organizations with 164,000 euros.

As for the future of Sparkasse Oberland, Orbig expects "six to eight percent growth per year" and that it will have 100,000 customers in a few years.

Orbig does not expect a return to the “old normal”, even “if we have Corona under control at some point”.

He expects a “new normal” in which the digitization of payment transactions will be decisive.

Alfred Schubert