The Voice of the Private Banks

The voice of the private banks The Association of German Banks Banking world in figures €70,200,000,000,000 €70.2 trillion turnover in cashless payments in 2012 Number of online accounts million at private banks in 2012 18.4 80% million Private banks’ share securities accounts at of total export finance 10.6 private banks in 2010 million Number of bank cards 26.2 at private banks in 2011 Number of persons employed at the Association of German 176,000 Banks’ member banks in 2012 € billion Financial assets of private 4,939 households in 2012 Banking world in figures €2,012,329,000,000 Total assets of the Association of German Banks’ largest member bank in 2012: €2 trillion € million Total assets of the Association of 10 German Banks’ smallest member banks €1,044.9 billion German bank loans to private individuals in 2012 €1,377.6 billion German bank loans to businesses and self-employed persons in 2012 Over complaints handled since the launch of the 70,000 Ombudsman Scheme in 1992 participants in the Association of German Banks’ Schul|Banker 60,000 bank management game since 1998 Number of mentions of the Association of German Banks in the media in 2012 2,045 Number of participants in the Association of German Banks’ “Jugend und Wirtschaft” competition since it was launched in 2000 18,000 100.4 million bank customer cards in Germany in 2012 billion cashless payment 18.2 transactions in 2012 9,905 domestic branches of private banks in 2012 2,232 information notices to member banks in 2012 branches of private banks 388 abroad in 2012 Number of current accounts million at private banks in 2012 26.9 Market share of private banks, measured in terms 38% of the total volume of banking business in Germany The voice of the private banks The Association of German Banks 6 The voice of the private banks bankenverband Foreword Responsible lobbyist prosperity in Germany. Particularly when it comes to providing export finance and foreign investment services, The financial crisis put banks in the public spotlight. they are businesses’ principal partner. As a result, the interest in financial issues – among policymakers and many citizens alike – has increased At the same time, the Association of German Banks strongly. For the Association of German Banks, this is promotes a responsible approach to handling money both a challenge and an opportunity. A challenge, as among citizens. It has for many years also practised a banks are now seen more critically and the perceived proactive consumer information policy, and campaigns need for regulation has become more pronounced. An for a better economic education in schools. In the opportunity, because the accompanying dialogue offers private banks’ Ombudsman Scheme, we have, in the chance to explain the work of our industry and how addition, created a widely recognised dispute-resolution it sees itself to a wider public. mechanism for our customers. Whether in a dialogue with policymakers or as a point of contact for interested There should be no repeat of the mistakes which members of the public – a successful trade association triggered the financial crisis. To remove the shortcomings relies first and foremost on a trustful and constructive in regulation that existed then, the industry’s expertise is, exchange of views. however, indispensable. It is not least banks themselves who are interested in good regulation. The credo of the private banks and the Association of German Banks has always been that we can only capture the attention of policymakers by providing sound and convincing arguments. Whether policymakers take up Jürgen Fitschen our arguments and include these in the decision-making President process is entirely up to them. Association of German Banks An association is obviously bound first and foremost to protecting the interests of its members. It would, however, be at odds with the way the private banks see themselves if our association were confined solely to this task. Being the voice of a key industry in the economy at large, we are well aware of the special responsibility we have for Germany as a business location. A large, export- based economy needs strong banks. The Association of German Banks’ members have always played a leading role in funding small, medium-sized and large businesses and thus in helping to ensure economic growth and The voice of the private banks 7 Contents The Association of German Banks 10 The Association of German Banks 10 How it sees itself 10 Tasks – an overview 12 Members 14 Tasks 16 Opinion-making 16 Services for members 18 Deposit protection 19 Ombudsman Scheme 21 Economic literacy 22 Events 23 Regulation and self-regulation 26 Regulation in the financial sector 26 Self-regulation on ATM fees 32 Organisation 34 The organisation of the association 34 The Senior Management Board 35 The departments 36 The member associations 40 Representing interests at European and global level 40 The association’s history 42 Contact details 44 8 The voice of the private banks 1 The Association of German Banks The Association of German Banks The Association of German Banks: a leading trade association The Association of German Banks (German name: Bundesverband deutscher Banken (BdB), or Bankenverband for short) is the voice of the private banks in Germany. As a leading trade association, it coordinates, shapes and represents the interests of the private banking industry and acts as a mediator between the private banks, policymakers, administrators, consumers and the business sector. international organisations – from the European Banking Federation (EBF), The Association of German Banks comprises more than to technical and accounting standard- 200 private banks and 11 regional member associations. setters in Germany and at global level. It also works together with the four other big banking- It also works together closely with sector associations that make up the German Banking associations representing German Industry Committee (Deutsche Kreditwirtschaft (DK)). industry and the German skilled crafts sector. The association was established in Cologne in 1951, superseding the Centralverband des deutschen Bank- How it sees itself: service provider, und Bankiersgewerbes, which existed from 1901 mediator, expert and policy shaper Michael Kemmer, until its enforced political conformity under the Nazi General Manager regime in 1934. In 1999, the association moved from Banks are a key pillar of the German economy. They and Member of the Cologne to Berlin, from where its around 160 staff are interconnected with society in general in many Board of Directors: “We are ultimately inform members expertly about current banking ways and at many levels. This gives the Association of interpreters – we and financial-policy issues and conduct an ongoing German Banks a responsibility of which it is well aware. translate the dialogue with policymakers, administrators, supervisors As a leading trade association, it therefore seeks to help language of the private banks into and social groups. The Association of German Banks shape economic-policy decisions and make Germany that of policymakers, has, in addition, had a representative office in Brussels an attractive and competitive business location. The and vice versa.” since 2004. Its staff are involved in many national and association is politically independent, pro-European and stands for a market economy as well as a strong German and European financial centre. As a provider of services to the private banks, the association shapes and represents their common interests along these lines at regional, national and international level. To this end, it identifies pertinent national and international developments, particularly regulatory and legislative initiatives, assesses the 10 The voice of the private banks impact of political action on banks, works out common positions and supports its members in implementing statutory and regulatory requirements in banking practice. In its role as a mediator, the Association of German Banks conducts an intensive dialogue with national and The Association of German Banks international social groups. For example, it promotes understanding between policymakers and the business is a mediator between private sector by presenting practice-oriented arguments and informs the general public about where the private banks, policymakers, administrators, banks stand on issues. It also takes part in public debate, speaking as the voice of the private banks, and consumers and the business contributes heavily and independently on behalf of its members to the political opinion-forming process. sector and conducts an intensive dialogue with relevant national and international social groups. The voice of the private banks 11 Tasks – an overview The tasks of the Association of German Banks are highly varied, both internally and externally. For example, the staff of its various departments support member banks in implementing legislation and provide guidance on issues relating to banking law, banking practice and The Association of German Banks banking policy. Through the association’s subsidiary Bank-Verlag, they provide not only specialist publications represents the economic and political but also forms for day-to-day banking business. The association and its members also work together closely interests of its members in all matters in various bodies such as technical committees, working committees, working groups or communication forums. of common concern, taking into Externally, the Association of German Banks represents

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