Berlin is an important center for the banking and insurance industry

Berlin is a metropolis with global reach. For many years, the capital has been an important location for large banks and savings banks, as well as for investors, the stock exchange, funds and insurance companies. The central organizations of the financial sector are also represented in Berlin. In addition to traditional financial services, Berlin is an international FinTech location and is driving the digitalization of the industry, setting itself apart from other financial locations. The digital finance industry of tomorrow is emerging in Berlin.

Financial services in the capital region

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Interactive Map

FinTech in Berlin

Berlin has been the No. 1 FinTech ecosystem in Germany and Europe for years. Of the approximately 900 FinTechs in Germany, more than 300 are based in Berlin. In 2021, six out of seven German FinTech unicorns came from the capital. The FinTech industry is developing rapidly and is becoming an ever stronger economic and job creator for the capital. The ecosystem is already attracting countless skilled workers to Berlin. The high investments and VC rounds bring fresh capital for strong growth of the company. In 2021 alone, investments in Berlin FinTechs reached a total of 3.8 billion Euro.

Two initiatives, the de:hub FinTech Berlin and the Berlin Finance Initiative (BFI), have set themselves the task of expanding and networking the Berlin FinTech ecosystem. They promote the innovation potential of the FinTech players and negotiate topics that are important for the location, such as diversity, sustainability and skilled workers. Together they offer a range of events, initiatives and publications on the topic of FinTech in Berlin.

Banking location Berlin

652 companies providing financial services with around 13,500 employees and an annual turnover of € 3.95 billion
28 central banks and credit institutions with approx. 11,700 employees and an annual turnover of € 3.35 billion
454 affiliated companies with around 300 employees and an annual turnover of € 51.55 million
43 trust and other funds with approx. 90 employees and an annual turnover of €215.39 million
Concentration on the districts of Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf and Mitte
Headquarters of central banking associations (e.g. BdB, DSGV, VÖB, BVR)

(Source: Office for Statistics Berlin-Brandenburg, Status: Company register 09.30.2020)

Bank employees in Berlin:

Deutsche Bank AG with Postbank	approx. 4,660 employees
Commerzbank	approx. 1,670 employees
Berliner Volksbank AG	approx. 1,820 employees

(Source: Berliner Morgenpost, June 2022)

Banks in Berlin

Banks with headquarters in Berlin (selection):

Further major banks with branch offices in Berlin (selection):

Innovation Labs & Hubs of financial service providers (selection):

Foreign banks in Berlin (selection):

Insurance companies in Berlin (selection)

Berlin is the fifth largest insurance center in Germany in terms of turnover. 26 insurance companies have their headquarters in the city, and all the major German companies in the industry are represented in Berlin, which strategically coordinate their activities from here, including in the new Federal states.

32 insurance service providers (legal entities) with over 1,660 employees generate an annual turnover of about 1.18 billion Euro, of which:

26 insurance companies
1 reinsurance company
5 pension funds and pension schemes

(Sources: GDV 2022; Office for Statistics Berlin-Brandenburg, Status: Company register 09.30.2020)

Insurance companies in Berlin (selection)

Venture capital location Berlin

As a leading science location in Europe with numerous innovative company start-ups and settlements, the capital is also the top location in Germany for venture capital. In 2022, 4.9 billion Euro of risk capital was invested in young Berlin companies. The Berlin start-up scene therefore claimed nearly 50 percent of the total venture capital invested in Germany.

(Sources: EY Startup Barometer Germany, 2023)

Berlin offers a large network of venture capitalists who take on the financing needs in all phases: Venture capitalists, Business angels, in-house and university-related accelerators and incubators. Important financial conferences on private equity are held in Berlin, such as the German Equity Forum or the German Equity Day.

over 190 VCs
more than 360 Business angels
over 70 accelerators

Venture capital companies in Berlin (selection)

Associations and networks

As the Federal capital and seat of government, Berlin is an important meeting place for German and international lobbyists. Accordingly, business associations and institutions have their headquarters in Berlin. There are also many specialized auditors, law firms and management consultancies there.