Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/168023 
Year of Publication: 
2017
Series/Report no.: 
SAFE White Paper No. 48
Publisher: 
Goethe University Frankfurt, SAFE - Sustainable Architecture for Finance in Europe, Frankfurt a. M.
Abstract: 
The German savings and cooperative banks of the 19th century were precursors of modern microfinance. They provided access to financial services for the majority of the German population, which was formerly excluded from bank funding. Furthermore, they did this at low costs for themselves and affordable prices for their clients. By creating networks of financially viable and stable financial institutions covering the entire country, they contributed significantly to building a sound and "inclusive" financial infrastructure in Germany. A look back at the history of German savings and cooperative banks and combining these experiences with the lessons learned from modern microfinance can guide current policy and be valuable for present and future models of microfinance business.
Subjects: 
Microfinance
German savings banks
German cooperative banks
Inclusive Finance
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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