The GLS Bank eG (Gemeinschaftsbank für Leihen und Schenken) is a cooperative bank, member of the Federal Association of German Cooperative Banks (BVR) and its protection scheme. The bank’s headquarters is located in Bochum, offices are in Munich, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Freiburg, and Berlin.
The GLS Bank was founded in 1974 and was the first bank that operates according to socio-ecological principles. The GLS Bank was founded by Anthroposophists sees itself not only as of the Bank of anthroposophy.
The Bank supports more than 11,000 companies and projects per year, which are active in areas such as free schools and kindergartens, renewable energy, disabled facilities, housing, sustainable building and living in old age. As part of the corporate philosophy, the bank sees the transparency in their lending.
For transparency and participation is one that customers can determine when opening an account where their money should be created.
The deposits can be introduced in the following industries:
- Organic Farming
- Sustainable Building
- Housing projects
- Renewable Energies
- Organic sector and other companies
- Free schools and kindergartens
- Health
- Facilities for the disabled
- Life in Old Age
- Culture
Since 2012, it is now possible that the co-operative bank distributes a portion of the net income to its members. The amount of the dividend will be decided at the annual general meeting.
The company is certified to Stop Climate Change, in order to improve the carbon footprint steadily, and regularly publishes the environmental impact of its activities. It also acts as a trustee for climate compensation as part of the Stop Climate Change program.
Business Data:
- Balance sheet total: € 3.23 billion
- Deposits: 2.81 billion euros
- Customer loans: 1.65 billion euros
- Employees: 450
- Offices: 7
- Members: 32,400