Bürgschaftsbank

What Bürgschaftsbank does

Bürgschaftsbank Rheinland-Pfalz GmbH is a BaFin-supervised, non-profit guarantee bank (Förderinstitut) headquartered in Mainz, Germany, operating under a statutory promotional mandate to back SME financing in Rhineland-Palatinate. Established on November 2, 2011 through the consolidation of the former Handwerk guarantee community (KGG) and the ISB-administered surety business, the institution provides counter-guarantees (Rückbürgschaften) covering up to 80% of bank loans to collateral-deficient but economically viable SMEs, startups, founders, and agricultural operations. Its product portfolio comprises six core offerings — Bürgschaft Classic (up to €2M, 80% coverage), Bürgschaft Express (up to €90K, 60%, five-day decision), Bürgschaft Premium (up to €1M, 50%, ten-day decision), Bürgschaft Direkt/BoB (direct-application channel for founders up to €150K), Agrar-Bürgschaft (EU InvestEU-backed, up to €750K, 50-70% coverage for agricultural businesses), and the ERP-Förderkredit Gründung und Nachfolge (co-financed with KfW, up to €500K at 100% guarantee coverage). In 2025 the institution deployed €51.3 million in guarantees across 163 approved projects, enabling €67.2 million in total credit and investment volume, with 53.5% of approvals supporting new ventures. Distribution operates almost entirely through partner banks — Sparkassen (41.2% of approvals), Genossenschaftsbanken (48.6%), and Privatbanken (7.8%) — supplemented by leasing companies, chambers (IHK, Handwerkskammer), and a direct online channel for founders.

The technology stack centers on a guarantee management platform supporting partner-bank workflow integration, a customer/bank/advisor self-service Finanzierungsportal (finanzierungsportal.ermoeglicher.de), a digital application system (eAntrag) that captures banker input and transmits it directly to the guarantee bank, and a free rule-based Unternehmenswertrechner providing succession-planning valuation estimates. These are conventional fintech/workflow tools rather than AI-driven systems; underwriting relies on experienced staff evaluating business viability on a case-by-case basis within published program parameters.

The business model is fee-based and cost-covering rather than profit-maximizing, with two revenue streams: one-time processing fees (typically 1.5% of approved credit amount with floors of €250-€450 depending on product) and recurring annual surety commissions on outstanding balances (typically 0.75%-1.5% p.a., varying by product and coverage ratio). Ownership is held by a multi-stakeholder consortium including the state development bank (ISB), Sparkassenverband RLP, DZ BANK, private banks (Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank, ODDO BHF, UniCredit, DSK Hyp), four IHKs, four Handwerkskammern, trade and professional associations, insurance entities, and the sister equity-participation vehicle MBG Mittelständische Beteiligungsgesellschaft Rheinland-Pfalz — collectively forming the regional Mittelstand self-help institution under the unified 'ermoeglicher.de' brand. Counter-guarantee capacity is supplied by federal and state governments (Bund and Land Rheinland-Pfalz) as well as the EU InvestEU Fund for agricultural programs, providing the structural risk-bearing backbone that distinguishes Bürgschaftsbank from commercial sureties.

Name

Bürgschaftsbank

Legal name

Bürgschaftsbank Rheinland-Pfalz GmbH

Website

https://rlp.ermoeglicher.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Bürgschaftsbank Rheinland-Pfalz GmbH is a BaFin-supervised, non-profit guarantee bank in Mainz that provides counter-guarantees (up to 80% coverage, €90K-€2M) to SMEs, startups, and agricultural businesses in Rhineland-Palatinate lacking collateral, distributed primarily through Sparkassen and cooperative banks.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Guarantee Banking

NAICS

Other Nondepository Credit Intermediation (52229)

SIC

Federal & Federally-Sponsored Credit Agencies (6111)

akta.pro primary industry

SME, Microfinance & Financial Inclusion Facilities (BPADACAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Guarantee, Insurance & Risk Mitigation Facilities (BPADACAK)

Keywords

• Surety guarantees
• SME financing
• Credit guarantees
• Collateral replacement
• Promotional banking

Headquarters

HQ city

Mainz

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Bürgschaftsprovision (Surety Commission): Annual surety commission charged on the outstanding loan amount. General rate of 1.5% p.a. of valutating credit amount. Varies by product (Premium: 0.75%, Express: 1.25%, Classic: 1.5%, Agrar: 0.6%-3.2% depending on coverage ratio)
2. Bearbeitungsgebühr (Processing Fee): One-time processing fee for guarantee approval. General rate of 1.5% of approved credit amount (minimum €450). Premium: 0.75% (min €250), Express: individual calculation, Agrar: 1.00% (min €400)
3. Non-Profit Mission: The guarantee bank operates as a non-profit promotional institution (Förderinstitut). Revenues only cover costs. Shareholders are chambers, associations, and credit institutions who provide the institutional framework.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Bürgschaftsbank Rheinland-Pfalz GmbH is a non-profit promotional institution (Förderinstitut) that issues surety guarantees to SMEs and startups in Rhineland-Palatinate that lack sufficient collateral for bank financing. By providing typically 80% risk coverage to partner banks (Sparkassen, Genossenschaftsbanken, private banks), it enables credit approvals that would otherwise be rejected, addressing the SME financing gap in the region.

Product overview

Bürgschaftsbank Rheinland-Pfalz operates as a guarantee/collateral bank for SMEs, offering a portfolio of guarantee products (Bürgschaft Classic, Bürgschaft Express, Bürgschaft Premium, Bürgschaft Direkt, Agrar-Bürgschaft) plus the ERP-Förderkredit co-branded program, complemented by digital services including an online application system (eAntrag), financing portal, and company valuation calculator. The product range follows a platform-plus-specialized-programs model where the core guarantee programs differ by target segment (startups, established businesses, agriculture) and coverage levels, while digital tools provide application and portfolio management functionality.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bürgschaft Classic: Standard surety program for start-ups, business successors, and existing commercial enterprises and freelancers, with coverage up to 80% of the loan amount and a maximum surety ceiling of EUR 2.0 million.
• Bürgschaft Express
• Bürgschaft Premium
• Bürgschaft Direkt (BoB)
• Agrar-Bürgschaft
• ERP-Förderkredit Gründung und Nachfolge

Products and services

• Bürgschaft Classic Standard guarantee program providing up to 80% coverage of bank loans with a maximum guarantee amount of €2 million. Designed for startups, business successors, existing commercial enterprises, and freelancers of all industries meeting SME criteria. Used for founding, succession, participation, investments, operational expansion, working capital, aval credits, and leasing financing.
• Bürgschaft Express Standardized and accelerated guarantee procedure for established small and medium enterprises and freelance professionals with decisions made within five business days. Provides up to 60% coverage with maximum guarantee of €90,000. Requires positive equity, positive operating result, and minimum 2 years of financial statements.
• Bürgschaft Premium Guarantee program for credit takers with good creditworthiness (default probability up to 0.9%), offering a quick guarantee decision within ten business days with up to 50% coverage and maximum guarantee of €1 million. Excludes founding and takeover financing.
• Bürgschaft Direkt (BoB) Direct guarantee program exclusively for startup founders allowing direct application without a house bank. Provides up to 80% coverage with maximum guarantee of €150,000. Processing fee 2% of credit amount (1% at positive decision, 1% at guarantee issuance), with annual surety commission of 1.5%.
• Agrar-Bürgschaft Specialized guarantee program for small and medium-sized agricultural businesses in Rhineland-Palatinate covering agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and viticulture. Offers optional 50% or 70% coverage with maximum guarantee of €750,000. Supported by the EU InvestEU Fund enabling favorable conditions for the agricultural sector.
• ERP-Förderkredit Gründung und Nachfolge Interest-reduced loan financing for startups, business acquisitions, and young companies offered in cooperation with KfW. Provides up to 35% project financing with maximum loan of €500,000 and 100% guarantee coverage by Bürgschaftsbank. No collateral required from borrowers; banks bear no risk due to full guarantee coverage. Loan terms of 10 years with 2 free years, or 15 years with 5 free years.

Quantifiable outcome

• 163 approved projects in 2025 enabling €67.2M credit volume for SMEs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Volksbank RheinAhrEifelcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCooperative bank that collaborated with Bürgschaftsbank to support Niesmann Caravaning during COVID-19 lockdown, improving short-term liquidity and financing increased demand.
• Sparkasse KaiserslauterncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSavings bank that partnered with Bürgschaftsbank to support founding of TiLu Adventure adventure park, enabling the greenfield project in Pfälzerwald.
• Volksbank Darmstadt MainzcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCooperative bank that supported founding of Das Nest café/bar in Mainz during COVID-19 pandemic in cooperation with Bürgschaftsbank Rheinland-Pfalz.
• Kreissparkasse MayencoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCounty savings bank that supported development of RMRH mobile disaster protection system in cooperation with Bürgschaftsbank Rheinland-Pfalz.
• Handwerkskammern (Craft Chambers)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFour Handwerkskammern in Rhineland-Palatinate (Koblenz, der Pfalz, für Rheinhessen, Trier) are shareholders and referrers. Trade businesses represent 20.7% of approved projects.
• Industrie- und Handelskammern (IHK)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFour IHKs in Rhineland-Palatinate (Koblenz, für die Pfalz, für Rheinhessen, Trier) are shareholders and provide business evaluation support and referrals.
• MBG Mittelständische Beteiligungsgesellschaft Rheinland-Pfalz mbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister organization providing equity participation for SMEs. Together with Bürgschaftsbank forms comprehensive financing support for Rhineland-Palatinate companies. Located at same network under 'ermoeglicher.de' brand.
• Verband Deutscher Bürgschaftsbanken (VDB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational association of German guarantee banks. Birgit Szöcs, GF of Bürgschaftsbank Rheinland-Pfalz, serves on VDB Vorstand. Published annual Verbandsbericht showing nationwide guarantee bank performance.
• Bundeskreditgarantiegemeinschaft des Handwerks GmbH (BKGG)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal guarantee community for crafts sector providing additional guarantee capacity for Handwerk businesses.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bürgschaftsbank Bayern: Bavarian regional guarantee bank offering Classic, Express, Premium, and Direkt-style surety products to Bavarian SMEs. Direct peer operating under identical legal and promotional framework with comparable Sparkassen/Genossenschaftsbanken distribution model.
• Bürgschaftsbank Baden-Württemberg: Regional guarantee bank for Baden-Württemberg offering the same SME Bürgschaft product suite with comparable coverage ratios and KfW co-financing. Direct peer with materially larger guarantee volumes given Baden-Württemberg's bigger industrial SME base.
• Bürgschaftsbank Nordrhein-Westfalen: Regional German guarantee bank for North Rhine-Westphalia, operating the same statutory Bürgschaftsbank model under the same VDB framework, serving SME founders and successors with counter-guaranteed surety products from federal/state Rückbürgschaften. Most direct structural peer given the identical mandate, product architecture (Classic/Express/Premium/Direkt), and BaFin-supervised non-profit status.
• Bürgschaftsbank Hessen: Hessian regional guarantee bank providing SME Bürgschaften under the same statutory mandate. Comparable in product mix, target segments, and partner-bank distribution model, making it a directly relevant regional peer for benchmarking.
• Bürgschaftsbank Sachsen: Regional guarantee bank for Saxony operating under the same VDB framework, providing SME Bürgschaften with comparable coverage ratios and partner-bank distribution. Useful benchmark for eastern German SME market dynamics.
• MBG Mittelständische Beteiligungsgesellschaft Rheinland-Pfalz: Sister organization to BB-RLP providing equity participations for Rhineland-Palatinate SMEs, operating under the same 'ermoeglicher.de' brand. Direct peer addressing the equity side of the SME financing gap that BB-RLP covers via guarantees.
• Investitions- und Strukturbank Rheinland-Pfalz (ISB): State development bank of Rhineland-Palatinate and shareholder of BB-RLP. Provides counter-guarantees (Rückbürgschaften) and handles guarantees above €2M, making it a sibling-state-promotional-bank peer operating in the same regional SME financing ecosystem.
• Bürgschaftsbank Niedersachsen: Lower Saxony's regional guarantee bank serving SMEs with surety-backed financing. Direct peer with parallel mandate and product portfolio, useful for cross-region benchmarking within the VDB system.

Broad incumbents

• KfW (Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau): Germany's federal development bank, providing the ERP-Förderkredit Gründung und Nachfolge product in cooperation with BB-RLP. Functions as both a strategic partner and broader SME funder whose programs and pricing constraints materially shape what regional guarantee banks can offer.

Others

• Verband Deutscher Bürgschaftsbanken (VDB): National industry association of the 17 German guarantee banks. BB-RLP's Managing Director serves on its board. Functions as a coordinator, lobbyist, and benchmarking body rather than a direct competitor, but materially shapes the regulatory and product environment.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bürgschaftsbank