The success of the institutions in the Cooperative Financial Network heavily depends on its employees and their ability and dedication. The Cooperative Financial Network seeks to empower employees to unlock their full potential and carry out their work even in challenging business conditions. The loyalty and close bond that exists between employees and their company is reflected in the long periods of service at the member institutions.

As can be seen from the chart around 64 percent of employees in the cooperative banks and at DZ BANK have been working at these organizations for more than 10 years and one in three employees has been with their bank for more than 25 years. Internal surveys confirm that the absolute majority of the employees who participated in these surveys are very satisfied with their job and regard it as important.

Strengthening the culture of learning and offering high-quality training are key pillars of the Cooperative Financial Network’s HR strategy. In 2024, the institutions supported their employees’ personal development by offering a variety of continuing professional development (CPD) activities alongside training courses that are mandatory due to regulatory requirements. The CPD opportunities for employees are complemented by a wide range of training and development activities offered by regional auditing associations and academies, including initial vocational training, advanced vocational training geared to current demands, and personal development.

The mission for the institutions within the Cooperative Financial Network is to adapt their HR management to changes in the wider environment in order to make it fit for the future. In light of the shortage of skilled workers, new employer branding requirements, and shifting expectations regarding leadership and collaboration, HR management needs to be modernized in a way that is strategically sound and in touch with the reality of the workplace.

Against this backdrop, the initiative to draw up the strategic vision for HR was launched in 2023. In 2024, this vision was formulated in more detail and organized in three key pillars: employer branding, employees as the key to success, and HR effectiveness. The goal of the initiative is to enhance the degree of strategic control within the HR function, to structure key action areas more clearly, and to support the institutions within the Cooperative Financial Network with their individual implementation challenges by providing practical tools. At the heart of all this is the firm belief that the HR strategy must be a core component of strategic bank management. It needs to be embedded for the long term, follow a data-driven approach, and be practically applicable in everyday scenarios.

In 2024, the OCI (Organizational Commitment Index) score was used for the cooperative banks for the first time in the context of surveys within the network. The OCI comprises five dimensions: overall satisfaction, willingness to recommend the employer to others, willingness to take another job with the employer, personal commitment, and employer competitiveness. It is designed to help address specific qualitative action areas in an effective and targeted manner and to facilitate tracking of relative year-on-year changes over time.

In light of the wider demographic trend, attracting talented young prospects and skilled employees remains a central plank of HR work, with an ongoing strategic focus on recruiting trainees and students, including those pursuing combined work and degree courses. This is reflected, for example, in the trainee statistics. In 2024, the ratio of trainees to other employees in the cooperative banks and at DZ BANK rose from 6.7 percent to 7.3 percent.

The BVR believes that university graduates – particularly those who studied a business-related subject – view the cooperative banks as an attractive employer. The proportion of trainees undertaking degree apprenticeships combining work and study stood at 9.9 percent as at the reporting date. The proportion of employees with a degree increased to 15.1 percent (2023: 13.9 percent).

Further success in the School Leavers Barometer, a survey carried out by Trendence Institut GmbH, confirms the strong appeal of the institutions in the Cooperative Financial Network. For the 19th time in succession, the cooperative banks were once again among Germany’s best 100 employers, as chosen by schoolchildren, and received the ‘2024 employer of choice’ seal of approval. With more than 15,000 participants, the School Leavers Barometer is one of the biggest surveys regarding schoolchildren’s career goals and preferred employers.

The number of employees in the Cooperative Financial Network rose from 171,689 to 173,489 in 2024, confirming the positive trend from the previous year.