Forde Sparkasse

Name

Forde Sparkasse

Legal name

Förde Sparkasse

Website

https://foerde-sparkasse.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Retail Banking

NAICS

Savings Institutions and Other Depository Credit Intermediation (522180), Commercial Banking (52211)

SIC

State Commercial Banks (6022), Savings Institution, Federally Chartered (6035), Personal Credit Institutions (6141)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Retail Lending (Personal Loans, Auto, Credit Lines) (FSABAAAB), Payables & Disbursements (ACH/SEPA, wires, checks, virtual cards) (FSABAIAB), Private Banking Lending (Securities-Backed, Real Estate, Structured Credit) (FSABADAE), Customer Experience & Engagement (CRM, Support, Rewards, Loyalty) (FSAGAAAM)

Keywords

• Retail banking
• Savings accounts
• Mortgage lending
• Securities brokerage
• Insurance distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Kiel

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Interest Income: Traditional banking interest revenue from mortgage lending, consumer loans, and business financing. Products include S-Baufinanzierung (mortgage), S-Privatkredit (personal loans), and S-Autokredit (auto loans).
2. Account & Transaction Fees: Monthly account maintenance fees from various MeinKonto variants (MeinKonto PLUS, PREMIUM, SMART, KNAX, AZUBI, CAMPUS) and transaction fees for banking services.
3. Securities Trading & Depot Services: Revenue from securities brokerage, depot management fees (€12.50-€19.50/year), and trading commissions through DekaBank Depot and S Broker DepotPlus partnerships.
4. Insurance Distribution: Commission revenue from distributing insurance products including home insurance, liability coverage, health insurance, travel insurance, and pet insurance through partnerships with Hanse Merkur and other providers.
5. Card Services: Revenue from credit card issuance (Mastercard, Visa), debit card services, and associated transaction fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Förde Sparkasse is a regional public-law savings bank offering comprehensive retail and business banking including current accounts (MeinKonto variants), savings and fixed-term deposits, mortgage and consumer lending, credit and debit cards, securities trading and depot services via DekaBank and S Broker, insurance distribution, private banking for high-net-worth clients, and full real estate services. Banking is delivered through physical branches in the Kiel region, an Internet-Filiale online portal, the Sparkassen-App, video and chat advisory, and a multichannel customer service center.

Product overview

Förde Sparkasse operates as a regional public-law bank (Anstalt des öffentlichen Rechts) in Kiel, offering a comprehensive financial services platform. The product portfolio centers on core banking services (Girokonto variants), extended through three main pillars: (1) Securities & Investments via DekaBank Depot, Deka-FondsSparplan, and S-Broker DepotPlus for brokerage; (2) Lending products including S-Baufinanzierung, S-Privatkredit, and insurance through S-Versicherungsmanager; and (3) Real estate services covering the full lifecycle via Immobilien and LBS-Bausparen. The digital layer includes Online-Banking, the Sparkassen-App (mobile banking), S-pushTAN authentication, Multibanking, Finanzplaner, and AI-powered chatbot Linda for digital advisory. Premium services include Private Banking and Ganzheitliche Beratung for comprehensive financial planning.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sparkassen-App: Mobile banking application for smartphone and tablet banking services
• Deka-FondsSparplan
• DekaBank Depot
• S Broker DepotPlus

Products and services

• Girokonto (MeinKonto Family) Checking accounts available in multiple tiers (PLUS, PREMIUM, KNAX, SMART, AZUBI, CAMPUS) for retail banking customers in Germany, with benefits scaled to customer segment including loyalty rewards and premium insurance coverage.
• Kartenprodukte (Card Products) Debit and credit card portfolio covering Sparkassen-Card debit, Mastercard and Visa credit cards in Standard/Gold/Platinum tiers, plus specialty cards with Apple Pay and 3-D Secure support for retail and business customers.
• Kredite und Finanzierungen (Loans and Financing) Lending suite offering personal loans (S-Privatkredit), auto loans (S-Autokredit), mortgage financing (S-Baufinanzierung), modernization credit (S-Modernisierungskredit), KfW subsidized loans, and flexible credit (FlexiGeld) for retail customers.
• Sparen und Anlegen (Savings and Investments) Savings products including call money (S-Tagesgeld), fixed-term deposits (S-Festgeld with seasonal Sommer-Zins up to 3.00% p.a.), lottery-linked savings (Los-Sparen), precious metal custody (SOLIT Edelmetalldepot), and automated savings goal vaults (Spartöpfe) for retail savers.
• Wertpapiere und Börse (Securities and Trading) Securities platform providing investment advisory tools (Deka Connect+, SmartVermögen), systematic fund savings from €25/month, Deka ETFs, certificates from LBBW and DekaBank, and an Anlagekonfigurator for personalized investment planning.
• DekaBank Depot Securities custody account for Deka investment funds, international partner funds, and selected certificates, accessible via Online-Banking with annual fee €12.50 (electronic mailbox) or €19.50 (postal delivery) including 19% VAT.
• Deka-FondsSparplan Systematic investment plan for Deka funds starting at €25/month with dynamic rate increases, flexible adjustments, partial withdrawals, and a promotional start bonus (Startprämie) for young adults aged 18-30.
• S-Broker DepotPlus Active securities brokerage depot with trading from €0.95 per trade, free depot custody, free ETF and savings plans from €5/month, integrated with Sparkasse Online-Banking and accessible via the dedicated S-Broker App.
• Altersvorsorge (Pension Products) Retirement planning products covering Sparkassen-GenerationenDepot Invest, Plan A, Sparkassen-FondsRente Vario, GarantRente, and Sparkassen-Starter Kids for children's pensions, designed for long-term savings and pension provision.
• Versicherungen (Insurance) Insurance offerings managed through S-Versicherungsmanager covering vehicles, pets (e.g., dog liability via Hanse Merkur), income protection, property, health, and travel insurance for retail customers, distributed via partner insurers.
• Immobilien (Real Estate Services) Full real estate lifecycle services including building, selling with S-ImmoPreisfinder valuation, financing, purchasing, renting, and refinancing, with Photovoltaik-Baupartner partnerships for solar installations and modernization tools.
• LBS-Bausparen (Building Savings) State-subsidized home savings plans with Wohnungsbau-Prämie, VL-Sparen (vermögenswirksame Leistungen), Wohn-Riester, and subsequent financing options including Modernisieren mit Bausparen and Anschluss-Finanzierung.
• Online-Banking (Internet-Filiale) 24/7 browser-based digital banking platform with pushTAN and chipTAN authentication, device recognition for trusted devices, and full account management including transfers and standing orders for retail and business customers.
• Sparkassen-App Multi-award-winning mobile banking application for iOS and Android with account overview, transfers, standing orders, Wero instant payments, Card-Control, and Multibanking aggregation of external accounts.
• Private Banking Premium wealth management services for high-net-worth individuals, including investment advisory, portfolio management, and comprehensive financial planning with foundation management (Stiftungsmanagement) for UHNW families.

Quantifiable outcome

• 24/7 digital banking availability through Internet-Filiale and mobile app
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

AI capability4 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• DekaBankcoreTechnology or IntegrationStrategic partnership with DekaBank, the central securities house of the Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe. DekaBank provides investment funds, securities brokerage, and depot services. Customers can access Deka investment products, ETFs, and certificates through Förde Sparkasse's online banking platform.
• S Broker AG & Co. KGcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with S Broker for active trading services. S Broker DepotPlus offers securities trading from €0.95 per trade, free depot maintenance, and commission-free savings plans. Integrated with Förde Sparkasse's online banking.
• Google Ireland Ltd.coreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partnership for chatbot 'Linda' intent recognition using Google's natural language processing. Chat messages are analyzed for customer intent to provide automated responses.
• S-Markt & Mehrwert GmbH & Co. KGcoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnical service provider for WhatsApp banking services. Enables secure WhatsApp communication between Förde Sparkasse and its customers for inquiries and support.
• AUTHADA GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationIdentity verification service using the German electronic ID card (Personalausweis) for online customer identification and onboarding.
• IDNow GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationVideo identification service for online identity verification, enabling remote customer onboarding via video chat with a call agent.
• PAYBACKminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLoyalty program partnership offering PAYBACK points on selected MeinKonto accounts and various banking transactions.
• Hanse Merkur VersicherungminorGTM or Marketing PartnerInsurance partner offering pet health insurance and dog liability insurance products distributed through Förde Sparkasse.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• N26: Berlin-based mobile-first neobank targeting the same digital-native retail customer base in Germany. Comparable on app-led checking/savings products, though lacks physical advisory, lending depth and securities trading.

Broad incumbents

• Deutsche Bank: Germany's largest universal bank with overlapping retail, mortgage, securities and wealth management offerings. Comparable on product breadth and customer overlap, though operates on a fundamentally different scale, ownership and mandate.
• Deutsche Kreditbank (DKB): Direct bank owned by BayernLB offering Girokonto, Tagesgeld, securities and lending products. Comparable as a digital-first competitor in the same retail banking categories Förde Sparkasse serves.
• Volksbanken Raiffeisenbanken (cooperative banking group): Germany's other large public-mandate banking group serving retail and SME customers via regional cooperatives. Comparable on public-mandate mission, regional presence and member/owner structure, though organized as cooperatives rather than Anstalt des öffentlichen Rechts.
• ING Deutschland: Germany's largest direct bank competing for the same retail checking, savings, brokerage and mortgage customers. Comparable on digital-led retail banking but operates pan-German without the public-law mandate or branch network.

Direct peers

• Sparkasse Holstein: Another major Sparkasse operating in Schleswig-Holstein, directly comparable as a regional peer within the same federal state and Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe network.
• Stadtsparkasse München: Munich's municipal savings bank operating under the same Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe framework with comparable full-service retail, business and private banking offerings, plus the same DekaBank/S-Broker integrations.
• Sparkasse Südholstein: Regional Sparkasse also serving Schleswig-Holstein with the same public-law structure and product suite, making it a direct geographic and product-market peer.
• Hamburger Sparkasse (Haspa): Largest Sparkasse in Hamburg with a similar full-service retail and business banking franchise. Closely comparable on product breadth (checking, lending, securities via DekaBank/S Broker, private banking) and digital platform (Sparkassen-App, Online-Banking).
• Sparkasse KölnBonn: Major regional Sparkasse in the Cologne/Bonn region with the same Anstalt des öffentlichen Rechts structure and product suite (Girokonto, mortgages, securities, insurance via Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe). Direct comparability in operating model, customer segments and regulatory framework.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCcKZYqFLnRp9bmhEPbkytXA
• Facebookfacebook.com/foerdesparkasse
• LinkedInde.linkedin.com/company/f%C3%B6rde-sparkasse-kiel
• Instagraminstagram.com/foerdesparkasse
• TikToktiktok.com/@foerdesparkasse

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Forde Sparkasse