Guarantee Bank North Rhine-Westphalia

What Guarantee Bank North Rhine-Westphalia does

Bürgschaftsbank Nordrhein-Westfalen GmbH (Guarantee Bank North Rhine-Westphalia) is a state-backed promotional bank (Förderbank) headquartered in Neuss, Germany, established in the 1950s to address collateral gaps facing SMEs. Operating under BaFin supervision with Rückgarantien from the State of NRW and the Federal Republic of Germany, the institution issues partial guarantees (Ausfallbürgschaften) of 50-80% coverage up to €2.0 million that substitute for missing borrower collateral, enabling house banks to extend credit to economically viable but under-collateralized SMEs, founders, business successors, agricultural/horticultural businesses, and — since 2025 — community-oriented and non-profit enterprises. The institution does not lend directly; instead, it absorbs a portion of credit risk that house banks (Sparkassen, Volksbanken, private banks) cannot underwrite alone.

The product portfolio comprises ten core instruments: Klassische Bürgschaft (general SME financing), ExpressBürgschaft (5-day decisions up to €400K), Gründungs- und Nachfolge ExpressBürgschaft (5-day decisions up to €250K for founders/successors), Nachfolge-Bürgschaft (succession-specific with personal liability reduced to 20%), Börgschaft ohne Bank (direct application up to €400K without house bank), Leasing-Bürgschaft (up to €4M, 12-120 month terms), guaranteed silent partnership via KBG NRW (up to €1.5M), ERP-Förderkredit with KfW (100% bank risk relief), Agrar-Bürgschaft (EIF-backed), and Service-Bürgschaft (free preliminary review). Pricing is publicly disclosed: 0.70%-1.50% annual guarantee fees on the guaranteed amount, plus a 1.5% one-time processing fee (minimum €400). Distribution is entirely intermediated through house banks, chambers (IHK, HWK), leasing companies, and professional advisors — supplemented by weekly Berater-Tag consultation sessions and a digital Finanzierungsportal (finanzierungsportal.ermoeglicher.de) using EXEC Software's electronic application system.

In fiscal year 2025, the bank enabled €208+ million in total credit volume through €152 million in guarantees across 444 new transactions — its second-best result in over 70 years, representing 37% year-over-year growth. The institution employs 51-100 staff under a two-Geschäftsführer leadership (Lothar Galonska and Manfred Thivessen), with Dr. Peter Achten chairing the Supervisory Board. It is a member of the nationwide Verband Deutscher Bürgschaftsbanken (VDB) network of regional guarantee banks. Technology is operational rather than differentiating: standard SaaS for application processing (EXEC Software, PASS Consulting, Ennit AG), GDPR-compliant analytics (etracker, data stored in Germany), consent management (Usercentrics), and email delivery (rapidmail).

Name

Guarantee Bank North Rhine-Westphalia

Legal name

Bürgschaftsbank Nordrhein-Westfalen GmbH

Website

https://nrw.ermoeglicher.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1950

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Bürgschaftsbank Nordrhein-Westfalen (Guarantee Bank North Rhine-Westphalia) is a state-backed German Förderbank that issues collateral-substitute guarantees enabling SMEs, founders, and business successors in NRW to access bank financing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Development Banking (SME Guarantee Banking)

SIC

Federal & Federally-Sponsored Credit Agencies (6111)

akta.pro primary industry

SBA/Government-Backed & Development Finance Loans (FSAKAGAI)

Keywords

• SME guarantee banking
• Collateral substitute lending
• Business succession financing
• Startup loan guarantees
• Development banking services

Headquarters

HQ city

Neuss

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Bürgschaftsentgelt (Guarantee Fees): Annual guarantee fees (Bürgschaftsprovision) charged on the guaranteed loan amount, with rates ranging from 0.70% to 1.50% per annum depending on the guarantee percentage (50% to 80%). For agricultural guarantees, fees range from 0.6% to 3.2% based on risk classification.
2. Bearbeitungsentgelt (Processing Fees): One-time processing fee of 1.5% of the credit amount at guarantee inception, with a minimum of €400. For agricultural guarantees, a 1.0% processing fee applies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Bürgschaftsbank Nordrhein-Westfalen GmbH is a state-backed promotional bank (Förderbank) that issues default guarantees (Ausfallbürgschaften) of 50–80% on bank loans up to €2.0 million, enabling SMEs, founders, and business successors in North Rhine-Westphalia to obtain credit when they lack sufficient collateral. It distributes products through a partner network of house banks (Sparkassen, Volksbanken, private banks) and leasing companies, with a separate direct-application channel for smaller guarantees, and is supervised by BaFin.

Product overview

Bürgschaftsbank NRW operates as a guarantee bank (Förderbank) providing a comprehensive portfolio of guarantee and financing products to support SMEs, startups, and freelancers in North Rhine-Westphalia. The core offering consists of guarantee instruments (Ausfallbürgschaften) that substitute for missing collateral, enabling businesses to access bank financing. The product suite includes: Classic Guarantees (Klassische Bürgschaft) for general business financing needs; Express Guarantees (ExpressBürgschaft, Gründungs- und Nachfolge ExpressBürgschaft) for expedited decisions; Succession Guarantees (Nachfolge-Bürgschaft) with reduced personal liability; Direct Guarantee (Bürgschaft ohne Bank) for applications without house bank involvement; Leasing Guarantees (Leasing-Bürgschaft) for equipment financing; Silent Equity Participation ((Garantierte) Stille Beteiligung) through KBG NRW; ERP Promotion Credits in cooperation with KfW; Agricultural Guarantees (Agrar-Bürgschaft) for the farming sector; and Service Guarantees (Service-Bürgschaft) providing free application support. The bank also extends guarantees to community-oriented and non-profit enterprises.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Klassische Bürgschaft (Classic Guarantee) Default guarantee of 50–80% of loan amount, with a maximum guarantee amount of €2.0 million, covering SME founding, investments, relocations, working capital, and warranties. Published annual fee ranges from 0.70% p.a. (50% guarantee) to 1.50% p.a. (80% guarantee), with a one-time 1.5% processing fee (minimum €400). Extended in 2025 to gemeinwohlorientierte and gemeinnützige Unternehmen.
• ExpressBürgschaft (Express Guarantee) Fast-track guarantee of 50–80% up to €400,000 for established SMEs and freelancers, with a guarantee decision delivered in maximum five business days. Priced under the standard Klassische Bürgschaft schedule.
• Gründungs- und Nachfolge ExpressBürgschaft (Founding and Succession Express Guarantee) 50–70% guarantee up to €250,000 with a maximum five-business-day decision, specifically designed for founders and business successors.
• Nachfolge-Bürgschaft (Succession Guarantee) 50–80% guarantee up to €2.0 million designed for business succession, reducing personal liability for the successor to only 20% of the guaranteed loan amount. Includes a discounted processing fee and the same annual fee structure as the Classic Guarantee.
• Bürgschaft ohne Bank (Guarantee without Bank) Up to 80% default guarantee with a maximum guarantee amount of €400,000, allowing applicants to apply directly to Bürgschaftsbank NRW without prior house bank involvement — specifically for smaller tickets where a Sparkasse/Volksbank intermediation is not required.
• Leasing-Bürgschaft (Leasing Guarantee) 50–70% guarantee for leasing financing up to €4.0 million, with lease terms between 12 and 120 months, for SME leasing customers processed via leasing companies.
• (Garantierte) Stille Beteiligung ((Guaranteed) Silent Partnership) Silent equity participation up to €1.5 million issued through KBG NRW for business acquisitions, expansions, rationalizations, and growth investments, with the participation partially guaranteed (up to 70%) by Bürgschaftsbank NRW.
• ERP-Förderkredit Gründung und Nachfolge (ERP Promotion Credit – Founding and Succession) Low-interest credit financing for founding, business acquisitions, and young companies up to €500,000 per applicant, with 100% risk relief for the house bank. Jointly provided with KfW (Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau), with 10- or 15-year terms and 2- or 5-year amortization-free periods.
• Agrar-Bürgschaft (Agricultural Guarantee) 50–70% guarantee for agricultural and horticultural businesses up to €1.5 million in credit (guarantee amount up to €750,000). Annual fees range from 0.6% to 3.2% p.a. depending on rating and guarantee percentage, with a 1.0% one-time processing fee. Supported by a European Investment Fund counter-guarantee.
• Service-Bürgschaft (Service Guarantee) Free preliminary review and preparation of guarantee applications for financing partners, including document review, financing structuring, and application preparation. Designed as a support service for the bank's partner banks and advisors.

Quantifiable outcome

• €152 million in guarantees enabled €208+ million in total credit volume in 2025
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Masterdent GmbH (as award participant)minorOthers · 4 March 2026Masterdent GmbH from Dortmund won silver at the 14th Handwerkspreis (Crafts Prize) 2026, awarded by VDB and ZDH at the International Handwerksmesse in Munich. This is recognition of supported businesses rather than a formal partnership.
• Industrie- und Handelskammern (IHK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Chambers of Industry and Commerce are shareholders of KBG NRW and serve as key referral partners directing SMEs to Bürgschaftsbank NRW for financing support.
• Handwerkskammern (HWK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Chambers of Crafts are shareholders of KBG NRW and key referral partners for craftsmen and trade businesses seeking Bürgschaftsbank NRW support.
• KfW (Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBürgschaftsbank NRW jointly offers the ERP-Förderkredit Gründung und Nachfolge with KfW, providing 100% risk relief for house banks. This partnership enables financing for founders and business successors with no collateral requirements.
• Verband Deutscher Bürgschaftsbanken e.V. (VDB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBürgschaftsbank NRW is a member of the national association of German guarantee banks (VDB), which organizes the annual Handwerkspreis (Crafts Prize) and coordinates nationwide guarantee programs.
• Kapitalbeteiligungsgesellschaft für die mittelständische Wirtschaft in NRW mbH (KBG NRW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKBG NRW provides silent equity participations (stille Beteiligungen) up to €1.5M, partially guaranteed (up to 70%) by Bürgschaftsbank NRW. KBG is a self-help organization of NRW's economy with shareholders including NRW.BANK, DZ BANK, private banks, IHK, and HWK.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• KfW (Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau): German federal development bank and strategic partner via the ERP-Förderkredit Gründung und Nachfolge (100% risk relief product). Operates nationwide with a much broader mandate including global project finance, housing, and SME loans.
• NRW.BANK: State development bank of North Rhine-Westphalia and core shareholder/partner of KBG NRW. Offers a broader mandate including promotional lending, housing finance, and infrastructure — overlapping with BB NRW on SME financing but covering a wider product portfolio.
• LfA Förderbank Bayern: Bavarian state development bank offering promotional loans, guarantees, and equity participations to Bavarian SMEs. Comparable Förderbank structure and SME focus but broader mandate than a pure guarantee bank.

Direct peers

• Bürgschaftsbank Sachsen: Regional guarantee bank for Saxony (Sächsische Bürgschaftsbank) providing SME guarantees, express products, and agricultural guarantees. Direct peer under the VDB umbrella with comparable product portfolio and Hausbank distribution model.
• Bürgschaftsbank Niedersachsen: Regional guarantee bank for Lower Saxony offering SME Ausfallbürgschaften, ExpressBürgschaften, and Nachfolge-Bürgschaften. Same VDB-affiliated structure, same public back-guarantee mechanics, and same customer base (German Mittelstand).
• Bürgschaftsbank Hessen: Regional guarantee bank for Hesse offering Ausfallbürgschaften and silent equity participations (via MBG Hessen) for SMEs. Direct peer with same target customer (SME founders/expansion) and product architecture.
• KBG NRW (Kapitalbeteiligungsgesellschaft NRW): Affiliated silent equity participation partner that jointly offers garantierte stille Beteiligungen up to €1.5M with BB NRW as back-guarantor. Operates within the same NRW SME ecosystem with overlapping shareholders and customer base.
• Bürgschaftsbank Rheinland-Pfalz: Regional guarantee bank for Rhineland-Palatinate providing SME collateral substitutes and Express guarantees. Identical product taxonomy and distribution model through Sparkassen, Volksbanken, and private banks.
• Bürgschaftsbank Baden-Württemberg: Regional guarantee bank for Baden-Württemberg providing default guarantees, ExpressBürgschaften, and succession guarantees to SMEs. Mirror business model to BB NRW with same VDB membership and public back-guarantee structure.
• Bürgschaftsbank Bayern: Regional guarantee bank for Bavaria, offering the same SME collateral-substitute (Bürgschaft) products through house bank channels. Operates under the same federal/state counter-guarantee framework via the Verband Deutscher Bürgschaftsbanken (VDB) and serves as the most direct structural peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/buergschaftsbank.nrw

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Guarantee Bank North Rhine-Westphalia