Bürgschaftsbank Baden-Württemberg GmbH

What Bürgschaftsbank Baden-Württemberg GmbH does

Bürgschaftsbank Baden-Württemberg GmbH is a non-profit-oriented state promotional institution (Förderinstitut) founded in 1971, headquartered in Stuttgart, and operating as the largest guarantee bank in Germany by volume and activity. It issues default guarantees (Ausfallbürgschaften) that substitute for missing collateral on SME loans, typically covering 70% of credit risk for established companies and up to 80% for startup ventures, with a maximum guarantee amount of €2.0 million per borrower. The institution addresses a well-defined credit-access gap for Baden-Württemberg Mittelstand borrowers, serving entrepreneurs at four lifecycle stages: business founding (Gründen), succession (Nachfolgen), growth (Wachsen), and stabilization (Stabilisieren), plus dedicated agricultural lending (Agrar-Bürgschaft) and liberal professions.

The core product set consists of default guarantees priced at a typical 1.0% one-time processing fee (minimum €200) and a 1.0% annual guarantee commission on outstanding credit balance. Complementing guarantees, the affiliated subsidiary MBG Mittelständische Beteiligungsgesellschaft Baden-Württemberg GmbH provides mezzanine equity through silent participations. Combined offerings include the L-Bank-Kombi-Bürgschaft50 product with risk-based pricing (RGZS) and the ERP-Förderkredit Gründung und Nachfolge, which relieves banks of 100% of credit risk on founding and succession loans. Digital infrastructure is limited to a Finanzierungsportal for online applications and basic valuation calculators (Eigenkapital-Rechner, KMU-Rechner), with no proprietary technology platform or AI/ML capabilities.

The business model is distributed exclusively through partner channels: applications cannot be submitted directly by borrowers but must be routed through the Hausbank (Sparkassen, Volksbanken/Raiffeisenbanken, commercial banks) or leasing companies. The supervisory board is composed of representatives from LBBW, DZ BANK, SVBW, and BWGV, structurally embedding the institution into the regional banking network. Ownership is held collectively through five Kreditgarantiegemeinschaften covering crafts, trade, industry/transport/hospitality, liberal professions, and horticulture. Revenue derives from guarantee fees on a high-volume, low-margin book, with an annual approval volume of €702.3 million in 2020 and over €322 million in H1 2025 (14.6% YoY growth) across 1,517 accompanied transactions in FY2025. Geographic scope is restricted to Baden-Württemberg, with no expansion beyond the state.

Name

Bürgschaftsbank Baden-Württemberg GmbH

Legal name

Bürgschaftsbank Baden-Württemberg GmbH

Website

https://buergschaftsbank.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Bürgschaftsbank Baden-Württemberg GmbH is Germany's largest guarantee bank, providing default guarantees and mezzanine capital to SMEs in Baden-Württemberg for business founding, succession, growth, and stabilization, distributed exclusively through partner banks and Sparkassen.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

SME Guarantee Banking

NAICS

Sales Financing (52222)

SIC

Miscellaneous Business Credit Institution (6159)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Guarantee banking
• SME financing
• Credit guarantees
• Business succession financing
• Startup financing

Headquarters

HQ city

Stuttgart

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. Guarantee Fees: The Bürgschaftsbank generates revenue through guarantee fees. For default guarantees (Ausfallbürgschaften), there is a one-time processing fee of typically 1.0% of the approved guarantee amount (minimum €200), and an annual guarantee commission of typically 1.0% of the outstanding credit balance due January 1st each year. The bank explicitly states it operates non-profit-oriented, which means fees are kept low.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Bürgschaftsbank Baden-Württemberg GmbH is a non-profit-oriented guarantee bank providing default guarantees (Ausfallbürgschaften) that substitute for missing collateral, enabling SMEs in Baden-Württemberg to access bank financing. The guarantees typically cover 70% of credit risk (up to 80% for startups), with a maximum guarantee amount of €2.0 million per borrower. It also offers specialized financing products including agricultural guarantees, ERP promotional loans, and combined guarantee products with L-Bank, plus equity participation through its subsidiary MBG.

Product overview

Bürgschaftsbank Baden-Württemberg GmbH operates as a non-profit-oriented guarantee bank providing SME financing support in Baden-Württemberg. The core offering consists of Ausfallbürgschaften (default guarantees) that replace missing collateral for credit access, typically covering 70% of credit risk (up to 80% for startups). Related offerings include Beteiligungskapital through affiliated MBG for equity participation, specialized financing products like ERP-Förderkredit and Agrar-Bürgschaft, and digital tools including a Finanzierungsportal, Eigenkapital-Rechner, and KMU-Rechner. Supporting services include Unternehmens Check-up consulting. The organization serves as a risk partner for banks while maintaining regulatory oversight under BaFin.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ausfallbürgschaften (Default Guarantees)
• ERP-Förderkredit Gründung und Nachfolge (ERP Promotional Loan for Founding and Succession)
• Agrar-Bürgschaft (Agricultural Guarantee)
• L-Bank-Kombi-Bürgschaft50 (Combined Guarantee with L-Bank)
• Beteiligungskapital (Equity Capital via MBG)
• Unternehmens Check-up (Business Check-up)
• Finanzierungsportal (Financing Portal)

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,517 business foundations and successions accompanied in fiscal year 2025 (record)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers29 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Bundesverband Deutscher Kapitalbeteiligungsgesellschaften (BVK)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021MBG is a member of the German Private Equity Association, connecting with venture capital and private equity ecosystem for startup financing.
• nexxt-changeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2017nexxt-change is a succession exchange platform where business sellers and buyers can connect. The guarantee bank refers potential successors to this platform and accepts applications from platform users.
• Handwerkskammern Baden-Württemberg (HWK)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1971The eight craftsman chambers (Handwerkskammern) in Baden-Württemberg are key partners in referral and advisory. They help businesses access guarantee financing and provide consulting support through the Unternehmens Check-up program.
• Industrie- und Handelskammern (IHK) Baden-WürttembergcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1971Industry and trade chambers across Baden-Württemberg are partners in the advisory network, referring businesses to guarantee financing and providing consultation support through Beratungssprechtage and other programs.
• MBG Mittelständische Beteiligungsgesellschaft Baden-Württemberg GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1971MBG is the affiliated equity capital company that provides mezzanine financing alongside guarantee products. Together, Bürgschaftsbank and MBG form the core financing support system for Mittelstand in Baden-Württemberg. MBG provides silent participations and is managed alongside the guarantee bank.
• DEHOGA Baden-Württemberg (Hotel and Restaurant Association)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1971Hotel and restaurant association provides referral and consulting support, particularly for DEHOGA Gründungs-Orientierungstage (founder orientation days) helping hospitality businesses access financing.
• Verband Deutscher Bürgschaftsbanken (VDB)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1971The German association of guarantee banks provides coordination, best practice sharing, and collective representation. Bürgschaftsbank Baden-Württemberg is Germany's largest member and its Vorstand Guy Selbherr serves as VDB chairman.
• Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht (BaFin)coreOthers · 1 January 1971BaFin is the regulatory authority overseeing the guarantee bank's operations. The bank operates under regulatory supervision as a financial services institution.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Verband Deutscher Bürgschaftsbanken (VDB): Umbrella association of all 17 German regional guarantee banks; BB BW's Vorstand Guy Selbherr is VDB chairman. VDB sets common standards and policy advocacy; not a competitor but the most direct ecosystem comparator.
• L-Bank Baden-Württemberg: State development bank of Baden-Württemberg and a core BB BW partner (handles guarantees above €2.0M; co-develops Kombi-Bürgschaft50). Same state, partially overlapping mission, but a larger generalist development bank rather than a pure guarantee institution.

Direct peers

• Bürgschaftsbank Hamburg GmbH & Co. KG: Direct peer operating in Hamburg with the same guarantee-bank mandate, Sparkassen/Volksbanken distribution, and government counter-guarantee structure.
• Bürgschaftsbank Nordrhein-Westfalen GmbH: NRW regional guarantee bank — the third largest VDB member. Same operating model (default guarantees, partner-bank distribution, government back-stop) covering North Rhine-Westphalia's Mittelstand.
• Bürgschaftsbank Hessen GmbH: Regional guarantee bank for Hesse — another VDB sister institution with comparable SME guarantee products and government-backed structure.
• Bürgschaftsbank Bayern GmbH: Largest competing German regional guarantee bank (Bavaria), directly comparable to BB BW in mandate, structure (government-backed, non-profit), product set (Ausfallbürgschaften plus equity via affiliated MBG), and channel model (Sparkassen/Volksbanken distribution). Second-largest VDB member.
• Bürgschaftsbank Berlin-Brandenburg GmbH: Regional guarantee bank for Berlin-Brandenburg with identical non-profit, government-backed structure and Ausfallbürgschaften mandate. A sister institution within the VDB.
• Bürgschaftsbank Rheinland-Pfalz GmbH: Rhineland-Palatinate guarantee bank — VDB sister institution with identical non-profit, government-backed Ausfallbürgschaften model serving the Mittelstand.

Broad incumbents

• KfW Bankengruppe: Germany's national development bank, core partner of BB BW (BB BW provides counter-guarantees on KfW loans per Source). Comparable in mission (SME promotion, government-backed) but vastly larger and broader — covering all of Germany and offering loans, equity, and export financing.

Regional players

• Bpifrance: French national development bank providing guarantees, loans, and equity to SMEs — a direct mission-equivalent to BB BW at country scale, and fellow AECM member. Operates in a different geography but with highly comparable mandate and government-backed structure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=Qs8onFleVaE
• Instagraminstagram.com/buergschaftsbank
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/b%C3%BCrgschaftsbank-baden-w%C3%BCrttemberg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries7 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 Baden-Württemberg GmbH