Commerzbank grew in northern Bavaria last year. In economically uncertain times, the business figures presented on Thursday are at the same time a look at the mood of the medium-sized companies that shape the corporate landscape in Mainfranken.
The eight branches that the Frankfurt Commerzbank has in northern Bavaria and which are managed from Würzburg are also supported by medium-sized companies. Because 9,500 of the 10,000 business customers are companies with annual sales of up to 15 million euros, so they can be considered small or medium-sized businesses. The rest are big companies.
7.8 percent more loans from Commerzbank
“You’re investing again,” said Commerzbank division head Wolfgang Bauer on Thursday, summing up the mood of the medium-sized companies he looks after. The volume of loans issued to such companies in 2021 increased by 7.8 percent to EUR 331 million compared to the previous year.
When presenting the annual figures for the branches in Würzburg, Schweinfurt, Bad Kissingen, Wertheim, Bamberg, Coburg, Forchheim and Sonneberg, Bauer and his colleague Holger Perrey, who is responsible for major customers, emphasized that the companies were cautiously optimistic.
And suddenly companies are finding warehousing attractive again
The corona pandemic and the nationwide delivery bottlenecks led to a rethinking last year: While warehousing was previously considered expensive and parked capital in the economy, increased investments are now being made in warehouses. And those who invest usually need credit.
Despite the confidence and full order books in many places, “we see a lot of uncertainty” among business customers, Perrey said. This also explains the urge to keep your own stock – according to the motto “I have what I have”. For Perrey it has become clear: “It is important for companies to have calculation security.”
Commerzbank: Demand for shares is increasing
The figures for Commerzbank’s private customer business in northern Bavaria, which Michael Krauß presented as the head of the division, also give a glimpse into the soul of the average consumer. Key message: People in the region are increasingly finding equities attractive as an investment and value sustainability.
The number of securities savings plans increased by 16 percent year-on-year. According to Krauss, 80 percent of this went purely to stocks. With an average savings of EUR 250 per month, Commerzbank customers in northern Bavaria are above the industry average.
The volume of custody accounts managed by Commerzbank in the region has also grown: 3.1 billion euros and thus 19 percent more than in 2020. In times of low and negative interest rates, it is therefore evident, according to Krauss: “Our customers are increasingly daring to do this topic of investment.”
Sustainability in construction is in demand
The fact that the 85,400 private customers in Northern Bavaria are obviously also sharpening their eye for sustainability can be interpreted from Commerzbank’s construction financing. According to the information, the proportion of loans for environmentally conscious projects was 28 percent last year (2020: 20 percent).
The volume of total mortgage lending rose year-on-year to EUR 1.43 billion, an increase of 18 percent. In other words: In northern Bavaria, people have an increased desire to have their own four walls – and to do it as ecologically as possible.
In the course of the nationwide restructuring of the Commerzbank Group, branch offices are being closed. According to bank information, the branch in Wertheim (Main-Tauber-Kreis) will be closed this year. Bad Kissingen, on the other hand, will remain, Krauss countered rumors to the contrary.
Commerzbank: How to proceed with branches
All in all, 111 people (previous year: 124) are currently working in the eight northern Bavarian branches. Important business figures of a bank are usually the interest and commission income. However, there is no data broken down for the region, it said on Thursday.
Two weeks ago, Commerzbank in Nuremberg caused a stir because a letter there burst into flames in the course of blackmail. A bank employee was injured, the perpetrator is unknown. On Wednesday, police warned that more such cases could occur.
According to division manager Krauss, business operations in the northern Bavarian branches are “not affected”. Anyone who sees suspicious mail should contact the police.
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