Bürgschaftsbank Schleswig-Holstein GmbH

What Bürgschaftsbank Schleswig-Holstein GmbH does

Bürgschaftsbank Schleswig-Holstein GmbH (BB-SH) is a state-backed German development bank (Förderbank) headquartered in Kiel that issues default guarantees to enable bank financing for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), startups, freelancers, and business successions. Its core product, the Ausfallbürgschaft, typically covers up to 80% of a credit institution's default risk (capped at €2.0 million per company), allowing applicants who lack sufficient collateral to access Hausbank financing at improved terms. The bank serves four lifecycle stages—Gründen (foundations), Nachfolgen (successions), Wachsen (growth), and Stabilisieren (stabilization)—and runs specialized programs including Agrar-Bürgschaft (agricultural guarantees up to €1.5M), guarantees for gemeinwohlorientierte Unternehmen (social enterprises), and betriebliche Mitarbeiterwohnungen (employee housing).

The technology layer consists of digital workflow platforms rather than a customer-facing product: the Ermoeglicherportal for online guarantee inquiries and applications, the eAntrag system for partner-bank electronic submissions, the sidoku-based Service-Portal (Bankpostfach) for encrypted mail and document exchange, an Upload-Portal for secure inbound transmissions, and supporting calculators (Unternehmenswertrechner, Eigenkapitalrechner). Integrations include bank core systems OKP and OSPlus, rapidmail for newsletters, eTracker for web analytics, and MS Outlook / Lotus Notes connectors via Secure Mail. The bank is GDPR-compliant, supervised by BaFin and Deutsche Bundesbank, and operates as a Selbsthilfeeinrichtung der Wirtschaft owned by the state of Schleswig-Holstein together with regional credit institutions and chambers.

BB-SH's go-to-market is exclusively channel-partner driven: it has no retail counter, and all applications flow through the applicant's Hausbank among the full Sparkassen, Genossenschaftsbanken, and commercial bank networks operating in Schleswig-Holstein. Revenue derives primarily from low Bürgschaftsentgelte (guarantee fees) calibrated to credit volume and risk profile, plus ancillary fees from KfW ERP-Förderkredit co-processing. The bank operates on a non-profit basis with no profit motive, supervised under public mandate. In 2025, it issued 91M EUR in new guarantees to 325 SMEs, maintained a 457M EUR portfolio across 2,586 companies, enabled 254M EUR in investment volume, and contributed to 8,197 jobs created or secured—ranking 2nd nationally for jobs secured via guarantees.

Name

Bürgschaftsbank Schleswig-Holstein GmbH

Legal name

Bürgschaftsbank Schleswig-Holstein GmbH

Website

https://bb-sh.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Bürgschaftsbank Schleswig-Holstein GmbH is a state-backed German guarantee bank in Kiel that issues up to 80% default-risk guarantees (capped at €2M) to enable SME, startup, freelancer, and business-succession financing through partner banks in Schleswig-Holstein.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Development Banking / SME Guarantee Banking

NAICS

Nondepository Credit Intermediation (5222)

SIC

Miscellaneous Business Credit Institution (6159), Short-Term Business Credit Institutions (6153)

akta.pro primary industry

SME Term Loans & Growth Capital (FSAKAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

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

Keywords

• SME credit guarantees
• Guarantee bank services
• Development banking
• Loan collateral support
• Business financing guarantees

Headquarters

HQ city

Kiel

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Bürgschaftsentgelte (Guarantee Fees): BB-SH charges fees for guarantees, kept low to effectively support SMEs. The bank operates on a non-profit basis and does not seek to generate high profits. The guarantee fee is calculated based on the credit volume and risk profile.
2. Risk Sharing with Banks: BB-SH typically covers up to 80% of the default risk for banks, enabling banks to provide credit to SMEs that lack sufficient collateral. Banks retain at least 20% of the risk.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Bürgschaftsbank Schleswig-Holstein GmbH (BB-SH) is a state-supported guarantee bank that issues credit guarantees (Ausfallbürgschaften) to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Schleswig-Holstein that lack sufficient collateral. The guarantees are issued in cooperation with the SME's Hausbank (lead bank), which retains the remaining credit risk and extends the loan. The bank offers standard guarantees, agricultural guarantees (Agrar-Bürgschaft), microloans (Mikrokredit/Mikrodarlehen), and guarantee support for company succession (Unternehmensnachfolge).

Product overview

Bürgschaftsbank Schleswig-Holstein GmbH (BB-SH) is a state promotional bank (Förderbank) that provides guarantee products (Ausfallbürgschaften) to enable SME financing when companies lack sufficient collateral. The core offering consists of guarantee products supporting four business lifecycle stages: Gründen (startups), Nachfolgen (succession), Wachsen (growth), and Stabilisieren (stabilization). Specialized products include guarantees for agricultural operations (Agrar-Bürgschaft), employee housing, and socially-oriented enterprises. BB-SH's digital portfolio includes the Ermoeglicherportal for online guarantee applications, E-Antrag for bank electronic applications, Upload-Portal and Service-Portal for secure document exchange, plus financial calculators (Unternehmenswertrechner, Eigenkapitalrechner). The bank operates exclusively through partner banks (Hausbanken) as an intermediary, not directly with end customers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ausfallbürgschaft (Standard SME Default Guarantee) Credit default guarantee issued to the SME's Hausbank, covering the majority of the credit risk for loans to small and medium-sized enterprises lacking sufficient collateral. Used by SMEs in Schleswig-Holstein for investment, working capital, and start-up financing.
• Agrar-Bürgschaft (Agricultural Guarantee) Specialized credit guarantee for agricultural enterprises and agribusiness SMEs in Schleswig-Holstein, enabling financing for operating resources and investments in the agricultural sector.
• Mikrokredit / Mikrodarlehen (Microloan) Small-volume loan product for micro-enterprises and small self-employed professionals, processed in cooperation with IB.SH and GLS Bank as a guarantee-backed microloan channel.
• Unternehmensnachfolge-Bürgschaft (Business Succession Guarantee) Credit guarantee facilitating bank financing for business succession transactions (Nachfolge), enabling successors to acquire or take over SMEs when they lack sufficient equity or collateral.

Quantifiable outcome

• 8,197 jobs created or secured in Schleswig-Holstein in 2025 through guaranteed financing
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• IHK Schleswig-Holstein (Chamber of Industry and Commerce)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership with the Chamber of Industry and Commerce for Schleswig-Holstein to support business development and provide referral pathways for companies seeking financing support.
• Bürgschaftsbank BremenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional cooperation with neighboring Bürgschaftsbank for cross-regional business support and knowledge sharing within the northern German Bürgschaftsbank network.
• Bürgschaftsbank HamburgminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional cooperation with Hamburg Bürgschaftsbank for cross-regional business support and knowledge sharing.
• Bürgschaftsbank Mecklenburg-VorpommernminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional cooperation with MV Bürgschaftsbank for cross-regional business support and knowledge sharing.
• Bürgschaftsbank Niedersachsen (NBB Hannover)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional cooperation with Niedersachsen Bürgschaftsbank for cross-regional business support and knowledge sharing.
• Investitionsbank Schleswig-Holstein (IB.SH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey development bank partner of the state of Schleswig-Holstein, cooperating on financing programs and supporting the broader ecosystem of SME support in the region.
• KfW BankengruppecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal development bank partner providing ERP-Förderkredit Gründung und Nachfolge program, with BB-SH processing applications for this program.
• Mittelständische Beteiligungsgesellschaft Schleswig-Holstein (MBG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEquity participation company for Schleswig-Holstein SMEs, partnering with BB-SH for comprehensive financing solutions including both guarantees and equity capital.
• WT.SH - Wirtschaftsförderung und Technologietransfer Schleswig-Holstein GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEconomic development and technology transfer agency for Schleswig-Holstein, supporting company settlements, expansions, and the overall economic development of the state.
• Auftragsberatungsstelle Schleswig-Holstein e.V. (ABST SH)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness consulting and advisory service for companies in Schleswig-Holstein, providing referral pathways for financing support.
• perfakta.SH e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation providing trade and craft industry statistics and data, supporting economic analysis and business planning.
• RQP GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness consulting firm providing advisory services to SMEs, with referral relationships for financing support.
• Verband Deutscher Bürgschaftsbanken e.V. (VDB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational association of German guarantee banks, coordinating joint initiatives including the Handwerkspreis (Crafts Prize), Nachfolgemonitor study, and national policy advocacy.
• Creditreform Rating AGminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCredit rating agency cooperating on the annual Nachfolgemonitor study analyzing succession situations in German SMEs.
• KCE KompetenzCentrum für Entrepreneurship & Mittelstand (FOM Hochschule)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research center at FOM University cooperating on Nachfolgemonitor study and SME research.
• Sparkassen- und Giroverband für Schleswig-HolsteincoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAssociation of savings banks in Schleswig-Holstein, representing the largest channel partner for guarantee products.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@BurgschaftsbankSH
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/b%C3%BCrgschaftsbank-schleswig-holstein

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Bürgschaftsbank Schleswig-Holstein GmbH