National-Bank AG

What National-Bank AG does

National-Bank AG is an independent regional universal bank headquartered in Essen, Germany, founded in 1921 and operating approximately 18 branches across North Rhine-Westphalia with around 600 employees. It serves three primary client groups — private customers (Privatkunden), free professions (Freie Berufe, including physicians, lawyers, tax advisors and insolvency administrators), and Mittelstand corporate customers — with a full-service product suite spanning checking and savings accounts, credit and debit cards, consumer and mortgage lending, wealth and asset management, corporate banking (working capital, investment finance, leasing/factoring, acquisition and leveraged finance, commercial real estate, international trade), insurance brokerage and real estate services. The bank remains privately held and is not exchange-listed; its share price is set administratively by the board rather than traded on a market.

Operationally, the bank runs a relationship-led, advisory-centric go-to-market model built on its physical branch network, complemented by digital channels including the TÜV-tested NATIONAL-BANK mobil app (iOS/Android), an online banking portal, telephone banking, and mobile payment integrations (Apple Pay, Google Pay/Digitales Bezahlen, digital girocard) secured via the SecureGo plus two-factor app and Mastercard Identity Check. It migrated to the agree21 core banking system in October 2024. Business-customer connectivity is delivered through StarMoney Business, MultiCash and DATEV. Specialized subsidiaries extend the platform: NATIONAL-BANK Immobilien GmbH (real estate brokerage), NATIONAL-BANK Versicherungsagentur GmbH (insurance agency drawing on 100+ insurers), and NATIONAL-BANK Vermögenstreuhand GmbH (trust and foundation management).

Revenue is generated through classic banking mechanics: net interest income from lending, commission and fee income (account maintenance, payment transactions, card fees, securities commissions), asset and wealth management fees (including proprietary funds such as NB Stiftungsfonds, NB Aktienfonds Global VT and Multi Asset Global Opportunity), and insurance commissions. Account pricing is tiered by segment (e.g., myGiro web/exklusiv/Karriere for retail, myGiro med for physicians, myGiro jur for legal/tax professionals, and business accounts), with monthly service fees, per-transaction charges and annual card fees. Ownership is granular and stable — roughly 5,300 shareholders, about 98% natural persons and roughly 96% of whom are also bank customers — with SIGNAL IDUNA Gruppe as the largest shareholder at approximately 32%.

Name

National-Bank AG

Legal name

NATIONAL-BANK Aktiengesellschaft

Website

https://national-bank.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1921

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Independent, privately held regional universal bank in Essen, Germany, serving private customers, free professions and Mittelstand corporates across North Rhine-Westphalia with accounts, lending, payments, wealth management, insurance and real estate services through ~18 branches and digital channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Retail and Commercial Banking

NAICS

Depository Credit Intermediation (5221), Commercial Banking (52211)

SIC

National Commercial Banks (6021)

akta.pro primary industry

Mass-Market Consumer Deposit Banking (Checking/Savings) (FSABAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Small Business Banking (Microbusiness/Sole Proprietor) (FSABAAAI), Real Estate (Commercial Property, REITs) (FSABACAH)

Keywords

• Retail banking services
• Corporate banking services
• Wealth management services
• Mortgage and consumer lending
• Regional private banking

Headquarters

HQ city

Essen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices19 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Interest Income: Traditional banking interest income from lending activities including mortgage loans, personal loans, and business credit facilities
2. Commission Income: Account maintenance fees, payment transaction fees, credit card fees, and securities commission from investment products and wealth management services
3. Investment Products and Asset Management: Revenue from investment funds (NB Stiftungsfonds, Multi Asset Global Opportunity, Dividendenfonds), wealth management services, and asset management fees
4. Insurance Products: Commission income through NATIONAL-BANK Versicherungsagentur GmbH offering property, casualty, and life insurance products

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

National-Bank AG operates as an independent regional bank offering deposit accounts (myGiro retail and business accounts), payment cards (NB girocard and Mastercard Standard/Gold/Business), consumer and mortgage lending, investment funds and wealth management, corporate banking (working capital, acquisition financing, leasing, factoring, international trade, commercial real estate), and insurance brokerage. Services are delivered to private customers, free professions (physicians, lawyers, tax advisors), and Mittelstand corporate clients across North Rhine-Westphalia through 18 branches plus digital channels.

Product overview

National-Bank AG operates as an independent regional bank headquartered in Essen, Germany, serving private customers, professionals (Freie Berufe), and corporate clients (Mittelstand businesses) across North Rhine-Westphalia through 18 branches with approximately 600 employees. The bank offers a unified platform-plus-modules architecture combining core banking services (checking accounts, credit cards, loans) with specialized offerings including wealth management, corporate banking, digital banking apps, and subsidiary services. Digital channels include the NATIONAL-BANK mobil App for iOS/Android, Onlinebanking portal, Apple Pay and Android mobile payment integrations, and electronic banking via StarMoney Business, MultiCash, and DATEV. Specialized products span Private Banking, Business accounts for medical/legal professionals (myGiro|med, myGiro|jur), commercial real estate and acquisition financing, international trade services, leasing/factoring, and insurance brokerage through its Versicherungsagentur subsidiary. Real estate services are delivered via the Immobilien GmbH subsidiary, while the Vermögenstreuhand GmbH handles trust and foundation management. Investment products include asset management funds, the NB Stiftungsfonds for foundations, and various public funds. The bank is 100 years old (founded 1921) and remains privately held with approximately 5,300 shareholders.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• myGiro Account (myGiro web / exklusiv / Karriere) Personal checking account family for retail customers with three tiers: myGiro web (online-focused, 0.00-15.90 EUR/month), myGiro exklusiv (premium with advisory services included), and myGiro Karriere (free for students/apprentices under 30).
• NB girocard (Debit Card) Maestro debit card for giro accounts enabling free cash withdrawals at over 2,800 CashPool ATMs in Germany and contactless payments; also available as a digital girocard for iPhone and Android smartphones.
• NB Mastercard Standard Retail credit card with 12 free worldwide cash withdrawals per year, contactless payment capability, and travel insurance options; annual fee 39 EUR (waived with 8,000 EUR annual spend).
• NB Mastercard Gold Premium retail credit card with 24 free worldwide cash withdrawals and comprehensive travel insurance including trip cancellation, international health, and accident coverage; annual fee 79 EUR (39 EUR with 8,000 EUR annual spend).
• NB Mastercard Business Business credit card for corporate customers with travel insurance, car rental coverage, and expense management features; annual fee 75 EUR (25 EUR with 8,000 EUR annual spend).
• Onlinebanking Web-based banking portal for account management, transfers, standing orders, and card controls; accessed via browser with SecureGo plus two-factor authentication.
• NATIONAL-BANK mobil App Mobile banking application for iOS and Android supporting account management, transfers, standing orders, multi-bank aggregation, and mobile payments; TÜV-certified for security.
• Privatkredit (Personal Loan) Unsecured personal loan for retail customers with terms from 12 to 84 months and amounts from 5,000 to 50,000 EUR; Sollzinssatz 6.45-6.74% p.a., free unlimited extra repayments, optional credit protection insurance.
• Immobilienfinanzierung (Real Estate Financing) Residential mortgage and property financing including construction loans, home purchases, modernization loans, and Anschlussfinanzierung (follow-on/refinancing) with fixed interest rate protection.
• Bausparen (Building Society Savings) Building society savings product for accumulating down payment capital for property purchase with guaranteed interest rates and potential state subsidies.
• Anlagekonten (Investment Accounts) Savings and investment deposit accounts including savings books and money market accounts with competitive interest rates and full liquidity.
• Vermögensverwaltung (Asset Management) Professional wealth management including investment funds, discretionary portfolio management, and advisory services for private and institutional clients.
• Private Banking & Wealth Management Premium banking for high-net-worth individuals including comprehensive financial planning, investment management, and family office services.
• Altersvorsorge (Pension Planning) Retirement planning services including private, state-subsidized, and occupational pension schemes to supplement statutory pension insurance.
• Versicherungen (Insurance Brokerage) Insurance brokerage selecting from over 100 insurers for personal, property, liability, and life coverage, offered through NATIONAL-BANK Versicherungsagentur GmbH subsidiary.
• Geschäftskonto (Business Account) Business checking account for SMEs and free professions with transaction-based pricing, electronic banking access, and business debit/credit cards.
• myGiro med (Medical Professional Account) Specialized account package for physicians with free account maintenance when receiving regular KV (health insurance association) payments and discounted business services.
• myGiro jur (Legal/Tax Professional Account) Account package for lawyers, tax advisors, and auditors featuring trust account management (Anderkonten), factoring solutions, and DATEV accounting integration.
• Insolvenzverwalter Services Specialized banking for insolvency administrators including pre-finance of insolvency wages (Insolvenzgeldvorfinanzierung) and trust accounts (Insolvenzsonder-/Vollrechtstreuhandkonten).
• Firmenkundengeschäft (Corporate Banking) Comprehensive corporate banking for SMEs and Mittelstand including working capital financing, investment loans, leasing, factoring, guarantees, and international trade finance.
• Akquisitions- und Leveragefinanzierung Specialized acquisition and leveraged finance services for M&A transactions, providing structured financing solutions for corporate takeovers.
• Gewerbliche Immobilienfinanzierung Commercial real estate financing for property developers and investors, including Bauträgerfinanzierung and project development loans.
• Unternehmensnachfolge (Succession Planning) Advisory and financing services for business succession and ownership transfer, helping family businesses navigate generational transitions.
• Internationales Geschäft (International Trade) Foreign trade services for importers and exporters including documentary credits, guarantees, and currency risk management (Währungsmanagement).
• Leasing und Factoring Equipment leasing and accounts receivable factoring services for businesses to optimize liquidity and balance sheet management.
• NB Stiftungsfonds Award-winning investment fund specifically designed for foundations and charitable organizations, managed with a long-term conservative strategy.
• NB Aktienfonds Global VT Global equity fund holding a Morningstar Five-Star Rating for outstanding performance, offered as a public fund for retail and institutional investors.
• Multi Asset Global Opportunity Multi-asset fund investing globally across equities, bonds, and alternative investments, launched as a public fund for broad investor access.
• NATIONAL-BANK Immobilien GmbH (Real Estate Brokerage) Wholly-owned real estate brokerage subsidiary providing property search, buying, and selling services for residential and commercial properties in the Rhine-Ruhr and Münsterland regions since 1995.
• NATIONAL-BANK Vermögenstreuhand GmbH (Trust Management) Wholly-owned trust management subsidiary handling estate planning, foundation management, and fiduciary services including Mehr.Wert.Stiftung foundation services.

Quantifiable outcome

• Dividend yield consistently between 2.4-3.1% over past decade
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.

• Apple Pay (girocard)coreTechnology or Integration · 25 April 2023Extended Apple Pay support to include digital girocard functionality for contactless payments in Germany.
• Charta der VielfaltstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 May 2022Diversity charter commitment signed in 2022, demonstrating commitment to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
• Klima-Selbstverpflichtung des deutschen FinanzsektorsstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 October 2021Climate commitment aligning credit and investment portfolios with Paris Climate Agreement goals of limiting warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius.
• Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials (PCAF)strategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 July 2021Global partnership for standardizing carbon accounting for financial institutions, supporting National-Bank's commitment to climate disclosure and sustainability reporting.
• NATIONAL-BANK StiftungcoreOthers · 24 February 2021Independent foundation established in 2021 to support arts, culture, research and science, and education in North Rhine-Westphalia.
• We4Europe InitiativeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019European initiative membership supporting broader European interests and collaboration.
• Ruhrstiftung Bildung und ErziehungstrategicOthers · 1 January 2004Education foundation established in 2004 with National-Bank as founding donor, supporting equal education opportunities and childcare programs.
• CashPoolcoreTechnology or IntegrationATM network partnership providing customers free cash withdrawals at over 2,800 CashPool ATMs across Germany, enhancing customer convenience for card-based banking services.
• Apple PaycoreTechnology or IntegrationMobile payment integration enabling customers to pay with iPhone and Apple Watch using their National-Bank Mastercard, leveraging Apple device security features including Face ID and Touch ID.
• Google Pay / Digitales BezahlencoreTechnology or IntegrationAndroid mobile payment solution allowing customers to add their Mastercard to the app for contactless payments using Android smartphones.
• Mehr. Wert. StiftungminorOthersDonor-advised fund community enabling customers to establish their own charitable foundations starting at 50,000 EUR minimum deposit.
• CredaRateSolutions GmbHstrategicTechnology or IntegrationCo-development partner for sustainability/ESG scoring in lending, with National-Bank holding a share in this leading provider of bank-supervisory approved internal ratings.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bethmann Bank (ABN AMRO): Germany-focused private bank specializing in private banking and wealth management for private clients and Mittelstand entrepreneurs. Comparable product set in private banking and wealth advisory.
• Deutsche Apotheker- und Ärztebank (apoBank): Germany's leading specialized bank for healthcare professionals (doctors, pharmacists, dentists). Highly comparable to National-Bank's Freie Berufe franchise (myGiro|med, medical professional accounts) and offers a relevant benchmark for niche professional banking.
• Oldenburgische Landesbank (OLB): Independent German regional bank serving private, professional, and Mittelstand clients in northwestern Germany. Closely comparable size, business mix, and independent ownership structure to National-Bank.
• Bankhaus Lampe: Private German regional bank headquartered in Bielefeld/Düsseldorf, focused on private banking, wealth management, and corporate banking for Mittelstand. Comparable in scale, product mix, and client segments to National-Bank.
• Donner & Reuschel: Hamburg-based independent private bank offering private banking, asset management, and corporate banking for the Mittelstand. Comparable independent regional bank profile and similar product breadth.
• Hauck & Aufhäuser Lampe Privatbank: German private bank combining traditional private banking, wealth management, and corporate banking services. Comparable in being an independent private bank serving similar client segments.
• Berenberg Bank: Hamburg-based private bank with strong wealth management and corporate banking franchise. Comparable as an independent German private bank with private/Freie Berufe-style focus and award-winning asset management.

Regional players

• Sparkasse Essen: Local public-sector savings bank in National-Bank's home market. Direct regional competitor for retail and SME deposits, but operates under a fundamentally different public-law ownership model.
• Volksbank Essen-Cappeln eG: Cooperative bank serving the same Essen/NRW market with retail and SME banking focus. Represents the cooperative competition alongside the Sparkassen for deposits and lending.

Broad incumbents

• Commerzbank AG: One of Germany's largest private banks, serving retail, Mittelstand, and corporate clients nationally. Direct overlap with National-Bank's Mittelstand and private banking segments at larger scale and broader geography.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xxing.com/pages/national-bank-ag
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC5rrIv2n5JjSRqSqUdw13UA
• LinkedInde.linkedin.com/company/national-bank-ag

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about National-Bank AG