DekaBank

DekaBank’s main activity is asset management and the provision of financial services. DekaBank offers a wide range of products and services, including investment fund management, portfolio management, retirement solutions, as well as banking and financial services for institutional and individual clients. It primarily targets the German market, especially savings banks (Sparkassen), but also institutional and private investors. DekaBank acts as a center of expertise in asset management and financial services for the German savings banks group, offering investment, financing, and risk management solutions tailored to its clients’ needs.

DekaBank, officially DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale, is the central bank of the German savings banks (Sparkassen) and one of the largest asset managers in Germany. Its history dates back to 1918, the year it was founded under the name Deutsche Girozentrale, with the initial mission of supporting savings banks in interbank payment processing and liquidity management.

Over the decades, DekaBank has experienced several key stages of development:

• 1918: Creation of Deutsche Girozentrale in Berlin, to centralize payment operations for savings banks.
• 1956: Launch of the first fund management activities, marking the entry into asset management.
• 1999: Merger of Deutsche Girozentrale and DekaBank, giving rise to DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale, thus strengthening the bank’s position as the “Wertpapierhaus der Sparkassen” (securities house of the savings banks).
• 2000s: Development of new financial products, including investment funds, pension products, and innovative savings solutions.
• Strategic partnerships: DekaBank works closely with the Sparkassen network, allowing it to distribute its products on a large scale in Germany.
• Acquisitions and expansion: DekaBank has strengthened its presence in the European market through targeted acquisitions and the expansion of its product range, particularly in ETFs and institutional management.
• Recent strategic changes: The bank has committed to the digitalization of its services, the development of sustainable and responsible solutions, and the adaptation of its offering to the new needs of retail and institutional clients.
• Awards: DekaBank has received numerous awards, including the “Goldener Bulle” as “Fondsgesellschaft des Jahres” (Fund Company of the Year) and the “Top-Fondsgesellschaft” distinction by Capital magazine.

Today, DekaBank is a major player in asset management and financial services in Germany, recognized for its innovation, solidity, and strong ties to the savings bank network. It offers a wide range of products: investment funds, ETFs, pension solutions, institutional management, and is strongly committed to sustainable finance.

DekaBank, founded in 1918, is the investment bank of the German savings banks group (Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe). Since its creation, DekaBank has been mainly financed by the German savings banks, who are also its main shareholders. It has not undergone traditional fundraising rounds like start-ups or private companies, as its capital is held by the public and semi-public entities of the Sparkasse network. Capital increases or additional financing therefore come from its institutional shareholders, not from private investors or venture capital funds. There is no history of fundraising with external investors at specific dates, as DekaBank’s structure is that of an institutional bank integrated into the German public banking system.