Volksbank Forchheim EG

What Volksbank Forchheim EG does

VR Bank Bamberg-Forchheim eG (formerly Volksbank Forchheim EG) is a member-owned cooperative bank (eingetragene Genossenschaft) headquartered in Forchheim, Bavaria, serving retail customers (Privatkunden), small and mid-sized businesses (Firmenkunden), and wealth management clients (Vermögensmanagement) across the Bamberg-Forchheim region. The bank operates 37 physical branches distributed between Zapfendorf and Nürnberg-Nord, supplemented by a digital banking stack built on the VR Banking App, OnlineBanking, the VR SecureGo plus authentication app, and a virtual Beratungszimmer (consultation room) with Video-Legitimation for remote KYC. The bank is part of the Genossenschaftliche FinanzGruppe cooperative network, which provides access to partner products from DZ Bank, Union Investment, R+V Versicherung, Bausparkasse Schwäbisch Hall, TeamBank, GENO Broker, and DZ Privatbank. Notable proprietary features include the VR-KlimaSofortkredit (a fixed 3.15% p.a. climate-purpose loan for energy-efficient investments, EUR 5,000–70,000, 12 months–10 years), the SanierungsGuide digital renovation planning tool, the VermögenPlus wealth management concept, and integration of Wero instant payments developed within the European Payments Initiative.

The bank generates revenue through four primary streams: net interest income from loans (mortgages, consumer credit, the Unternehmerkredit up to EUR 100,000 for businesses, and the VR-KlimaSofortkredit); account and transaction fees (e.g., VR-BusinessProfi at EUR 24.95/month, paper-based transfers at EUR 3.50, electronic transfers at EUR 0.15, premium cards EUR 42–102/year); distribution commissions from partner insurance (R+V), investment funds (Union Investment), consumer credit (TeamBank), and building society products (Bausparkasse Schwäbisch Hall); and ancillary services including the Gewinnsparen prize-linked savings program (approximately EUR 2.8 million in annual prizes) and the biannual Journal Börse customer magazine.

The go-to-market is a hybrid advisory model: dense local branch presence with named corporate advisors (e.g., Werner Schulz, Head of Corporate Clients Forchheim) and wealth advisors (Lara Käding, Johannes Sponsel) supported by virtual consultation, plus digital self-service for routine transactions. The customer base is highly distributed across retail, Mittelstand, tradespeople, freelancers, and affluent segments, with no large enterprise anchor customers disclosed. The institution has been recognized as Branchensieger in both the 10th Bamberger Kundenspiegel and 10th Forchheimer Kundenspiegel and holds a 4.7/5 rating from over 670,000 VR Banking App reviews.

Name

Volksbank Forchheim EG

Legal name

VR Bank Bamberg-Forchheim eG Volks- Raiffeisenbank

Website

https://volksbank-forchheim.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

VR Bank Bamberg-Forchheim eG is a member-owned German cooperative bank serving retail customers, small and mid-sized businesses, and wealth management clients across the Bamberg-Forchheim region of Bavaria through 37 physical branches, a digital banking platform (VR Banking App, OnlineBanking, Video-Legitimation), and partner product distribution within the Genossenschaftliche FinanzGruppe cooperative network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cooperative Retail Banking

NAICS

Savings Institutions and Other Depository Credit Intermediation (52218), Depository Credit Intermediation (5221), Finance and Insurance (52)

SIC

Savings Institutions, Not Federally Chartered (6036)

akta.pro primary industry

Account & Balance Services (Operating accounts, statements, eBAM) (FSABAIAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Invoicing, Billing & Accounts Receivable Automation (FSAGAJAC), Customer Experience & Engagement (CRM, Support, Rewards, Loyalty) (FSAGAAAM)

Keywords

• Retail banking services
• Cooperative banking
• Mortgage lending
• Business banking
• Wealth management

Headquarters

HQ city

Forchheim

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Interest Income: Core banking revenue from interest rate spreads on loans (including VR-KlimaSofortkredit, entrepreneur credits up to €100,000, and mortgage lending) and savings products. The bank offers construction financing, consumer loans, and business credit facilities generating interest income.
2. Account and Transaction Fees: Monthly account maintenance fees (VR-BusinessProfi at €24.95/month), transaction fees ranging from €0.15 per electronic booking to €3.50 per branch transaction, and card issuance fees (girocard Debit Mastercard at €1.00/month per card, BusinessCard Classic at €42.00/year, BusinessCard Gold at €102.00/year).
3. Insurance Products: Distribution of insurance products including R+V accident insurance, travel health insurance, liability, household, building, legal protection, and gap insurance through the bank's advisory network. Commission income from partner R+V Versicherung.
4. Asset Management and Investment Products: Wealth management services including Vermögensverwaltung, Anlageberatung, Nachhaltige Geldanlage (sustainable investing), and swiss gold plus precious metals products. Sale of investment funds including Firmenkunden-Fonds for business assets.
5. Real Estate Services: Immobilienmanagement for property sales and management, Immobilienfinanzierung (mortgage lending), and SanierungsGuide advisory tool driving VR-KlimaSofortkredit referrals.
6. Partner Product Distribution: Distribution of third-party financial products including Allianz insurance, Bausparkasse Schwäbisch Hall building society, Union Investment funds, TeamBank consumer credit, and GENO Broker investment services, earning distribution commissions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Volksbank Forchheim EG, operating as VR Bank Bamberg-Forchheim eG, is a German cooperative bank providing retail and business banking services including current accounts, savings and investment products, mortgage and consumer lending (including a climate-focused instant loan), business financing, payment processing (card terminals, business credit cards), insurance distribution through R+V, and wealth management. Services are delivered through 37 physical branches across the Bamberg-Forchheim region complemented by digital channels (VR Banking App, OnlineBanking, virtual consultation, video-based identity verification).

Product overview

VR Bank Bamberg-Forchheim eG operates as a cooperative bank (Volksbank) offering a comprehensive digital banking platform centered on the VR Banking App and OnlineBanking, supplemented by the VR SecureGo plus App for secure transaction authorization. The bank serves retail customers (Privatkunden) and business customers (Firmenkunden) across 37 branches between Zapfendorf and Nürnberg-Nord. The product portfolio spans account management (Girokonto), credit cards (GoldCard, BusinessCard), fixed-term deposits (VR-Festzins), and specialized loans including the VR-KlimaSofortkredit for energy-efficient investments and the Unternehmerkredit for business financing up to 100,000 EUR. Insurance products are offered through R+V partnership, including accident and travel insurance. Business services include three account tiers (VR-BusinessBasic, VR-Business, VR-BusinessProfi), payment terminals, and foreign payment services. Wealth management services encompass Vermögensverwaltung, Anlageberatung, nachhaltige Geldanlage, and the Journal Börse publication. Digital tools include the SanierungsGuide for energy renovation planning and Gewinnsparen for savings with prize opportunities. The bank has a 4.7/5 star rating from over 670,000 customer reviews.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• VR-BusinessBasic: Business account model for price-conscious business customers
• VR-Business
• VR-BusinessProfi
• VR-KlimaSofortkredit
• VR-Festzins
• VermögenPlus
• R+V Unfallversicherung

Products and services

• VR Banking App Mobile banking application for retail and business customers bundling account overview, transfers, Wero instant payments, digital cards for contactless payment, ePostfach document storage, and multibank functionality across multiple banks.
• OnlineBanking Web-based digital banking platform enabling 24/7 account management, real-time transfers, standing order setup, and digital statement retrieval accessible via smartphone, tablet, or PC.
• VR-Festzins (Fixed-Term Deposit) Fixed-term deposit product offering secure and predictable returns for customers seeking predictable investment outcomes.
• VR-KlimaSofortkredit (Climate Instant Loan) Special-purpose loan for energy-efficient home investments (windows, heating systems, photovoltaic installations) with a fixed 3.15% p.a. interest rate, loan amounts from EUR 5,000 to EUR 70,000, and terms from 12 months to 10 years.
• GoldCard Premium credit card offering worldwide payment capabilities with extensive insurance benefits including travel insurance. Co-branded with DZ Bank.
• VR-BusinessBasic Entry-level business account designed for price-conscious business customers who actively manage their banking transactions with cost-effective pricing.
• VR-Business Mid-tier business account offering balanced price-to-performance ratio suitable for businesses with moderate transaction volumes.
• VR-BusinessProfi Premium business account with competitive transaction pricing for intensive daily usage. Monthly fee EUR 24.95, electronic transfers EUR 0.15 per entry, paper-based transfers EUR 3.50, girocard Debit Mastercard EUR 1.00/month, BusinessCard Classic EUR 42.00/year, BusinessCard Gold EUR 102.00/year.
• Unternehmerkredit (Business Loan) Business loan offering up to EUR 100,000 for company plans and projects, supporting entrepreneurs with growth financing needs.
• Kartenterminals (Card Terminals) Card payment terminals (POS) for businesses to accept card payments, enabling customers to pay contactlessly with girocard and credit cards. Provided in partnership with VR Payment.
• Firmenkreditkarte (Business Credit Card) Business credit card enabling worldwide cash withdrawals and cashless payments for business expense management.
• R+V Unfallversicherung (Accident Insurance) Private accident insurance covering leisure accidents not protected by statutory accident insurance, offering capital payments from 1% invalidity and accident pension from 50% invalidity. Distributed in partnership with R+V Versicherung.
• Auslandsreise-Krankenversicherung (Travel Health Insurance) Travel health insurance coverage protecting against high medical treatment costs abroad. Distributed through R+V Versicherung partnership.
• VermögenPlus (Wealth Management Concept) Investment concept for contemporary wealth management, offering professional portfolio management for customers seeking growth-oriented asset allocation. Offered in partnership with Union Investment.
• Gewinnsparen (Prize-Linked Savings) Monthly savings program combining savings with charitable giving and winning opportunities, with prizes totaling approximately EUR 2.8 million annually.
• Video-Legitimation (Video Identity Verification) Video-based identity verification service allowing new customers to complete KYC processes and account opening remotely via video call.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4.7 out of 5 stars based on over 670,000 customer reviews for VR Banking App
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• AllianzminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAllianz insurance products are distributed through the bank's website and advisory channels. Customers can process Allianz policy cancellations and contract management through the bank's partner portal.
• Bausparkasse Schwäbisch HallminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBuilding society products distributed through the bank's advisory services. The bank provides access to Schwäbisch Hall home savings and construction finance products as part of its integrated real estate and financing ecosystem.
• R+V VersicherungcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorR+V Versicherung is the primary insurance partner for accident, travel, liability, household, building, legal protection, and gap insurance products. The bank offers R+V products including the R+V Unfallversicherung with various premium tiers (HilfePlus, KinderPlus, RisikoPlus, PremiumPlus) and Cashback up to 10% for members.
• TeamBankminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTeamBank consumer credit products (easyCredit) distributed via the bank's website and branch channels, with contract management accessible through the bank's partner portal.
• Union InvestmentcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUnion Investment is the primary investment fund partner for the bank's wealth management and asset management services. Products include sustainable investment funds and the VermögenPlus concept for contemporary wealth management.
• GENO BrokerminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGENO Broker provides securities trading and brokerage services accessible through the bank's digital platforms. Contract management available via the bank's partner portal.
• DZ BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDZ Bank is the central institution of the German cooperative banking sector (Genossenschaftliche FinanzGruppe). It provides wholesale banking services, capital market products, and the GoldCard co-branded credit card featured on the bank's website for international payments with insurance benefits.
• DZ PrivatbankminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDZ Privatbank provides private banking and wealth management products including the swiss gold plus precious metals investment product and sustainable investment advisory, offered through the bank's wealth management division.
• VR PaymentcoreTechnology or IntegrationVR Payment provides payment processing infrastructure including card terminals (Kartenterminals) for business customers. The bank offers VR Payment terminals for merchants to accept card payments, a core payment infrastructure component.
• VR Banking App EcosystemcoreTechnology or IntegrationThe VR Banking App incorporates Wero instant payment functionality developed within the European Payments Initiative (EPI) framework, enabling cross-border instant payments in Germany and across Europe within the cooperative banking network.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Sparkasse Nürnberg: The Sparkasse for the Nürnberg metropolitan area, with deep branch coverage in the city and region. Competes for retail, business, and public-sector clients in the same corridor where the bank operates its Nürnberg-Nord branch.
• Sparkasse Bamberg-Forchheim: The local savings bank (Sparkasse) serving the same Bamberg and Forchheim districts, offering retail, business and municipal banking with a parallel branch network. It is the most direct head-to-head competitor for retail deposits, mortgages, and SME financing in the bank's home market.
• Volksbank Raiffeisenbank Bayern Mitte: A larger Bavarian Volksbank within the Genossenschaftliche FinanzGruppe, providing retail, business, and wealth management across central Bavaria. Comparable cooperative model and product line-up, with broader geographic reach.
• Sparda-Bank Nürnberg: Sparda cooperative bank serving the Nürnberg metro area, targeting retail and public-sector customers. Overlaps on retail deposits, giro accounts, and consumer credit within the bank's geographic corridor.
• PSD Bank Nürnberg: PSD cooperative bank in Nürnberg serving retail customers with checking, savings, and consumer credit. Overlaps on retail banking and member-owned cooperative structure within the bank's catchment area.
• VR Bank Nürnberg: A regional Volksbank/Genossenschaftsbank in the same Genossenschaftliche FinanzGruppe serving the greater Nürnberg area. Comparable cooperative model, product set, and digital platform (VR Banking App), competing in overlapping customer segments where the bank's footprint extends to Nürnberg-Nord.
• Raiffeisenbank in Oberfranken: A cooperative bank operating in Upper Franconia with a similar retail and business banking model. Competes directly in adjacent municipalities for member-owned deposit gathering and SME lending.

Broad incumbents

• DKB (Deutsche Kreditbank): Large direct bank with strong retail and SME banking presence in Germany, including giro accounts, brokerage, and consumer credit. Competes for the bank's digitally active retail and small-business clients across Germany.
• ING Germany: Major direct bank in Germany offering giro, savings, brokerage, consumer credit, and SME products. Represents the digital-first competitive threat to the bank's retail and small-business franchise.
• Sparda-Bank München: Largest Sparda cooperative bank in Bavaria, offering retail banking, investment, and insurance products. Comparable member-owned model and product suite, though operating on a larger Bavarian footprint.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/volksbank-forchheim-eg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Volksbank Forchheim EG