Civic Engagement

DZ BANK fulfils its responsibility to society and the common good in a variety of ways. We are committed to sustainable development in our environment, for example through donations, our foundations and charitable projects.

The image shows multiple people playing string instruments, such as violins and cellos, in what appears to be an orchestral setting.

Our Engagements

Find out more about the activities of DZ BANK.

The image shows a group of people sitting in what appears to be a lecture hall or classroom setting. All individuals are seated at desks and some are wearing casual clothing, such as plaid shirts and sweaters. The back of the classroom is visible where people are facing forward towards an unseen instructor or presentation.

The DZ BANK Group is actively promoting financial education in Germany. The Group has been providing the local cooperative banks with comprehensive knowledge of the fundamentals of financial markets and investments since 2022, with the aim of educating the younger generation of investors in particular about long-term wealth creation. Target group-specific offers such as the Instagram account @dzbank_wertpapiere, YouTube videos on investment education and the podcast ‘Fit4Trading’ expand knowledge about capital markets. In addition, the ‘DZ Research Podcast’ presents well-founded analyses of the economy, capital markets, currencies and commodities for an informed and interested public.

DZ BANK uses donations for charitable purposes to support projects in the fields of science, education, social affairs, art and culture. Another focus is on strengthening the Frankfurt am Main location.

Our donations are linked to socially necessary goals: We want to promote achievement, contribute to openness in society, and help shape a sustainable community. Our donation guidelines stipulate that DZ BANK's social commitment should focus on the areas of science and education, social affairs, and art and culture.

Within the social sphere, the focus of our support is on the Childaid Network foundation, which many of our employees also support with donations and, in some cases, as volunteer helpers. The organisation is committed to helping children and young people in India who would otherwise have no access to education. For many years, DZ BANK employees have been donating to the Childaid Network foundation as part of a Christmas campaign. DZ BANK regularly tops up the amount donated. Committed employees maintain close contact with the children's homes in Northeast India.

Another focus of the social commitment of the Cooperative Financial Network is the Active Citizenship Foundation. DZ BANK also supports this foundation and is a member of the foundation council. The aim of the foundation is to provide information and advice on civic engagement and to train and educate committed individuals, multipliers and sponsors.

The image shows multiple people gathered around a water pump in an outdoor setting. One of them is using the pump to wash another person's hair with soap. They seem to be interacting with the pump directly to draw water for cleaning purposes, against a backdrop of a red wall and some shadowing from nearby trees or structures.

The Active Citizenship Foundation is an additional focus of the social engagement of the Cooperative Financial Network. DZ BANK also supports this foundation and is a member of the foundation council. The foundation aims to provide information and advice on active citizenship, as well as to educate and train committed individuals, multipliers and sponsors.

One of the special projects of Active Citizenship is ‘sozialgenial – Schüler engagieren sich’. It was created in 2009 on the initiative of WGZ BANK (now DZ BANK) to promote educational opportunities and the willingness of young people to get involved in social projects. Students get involved with their fellow peers and society – regardless of their school type and social background. The volunteering projects are integrated into the timetable and help to foster democratic skills and perspectives in children and young people. For example, students support refugees, organise reading afternoons in kindergartens, or work with nature conservation organisations to protect the environment in their region. At school, they systematically combine their civic engagement with the content of various subjects. Since 2009, more than 100,000 students at 770 schools have been involved. sozialgenial is sponsored by DZ BANK and supported by the Ministry of Education and School of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia and the Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs of the State of Hesse.

The image depicts a modern art gallery showcasing contemporary art pieces. The scene in the photo includes:

1. **Overall Setting**:
- The spatial environment suggests it is an indoor location, likely an art exhibition or gallery room.
- The flooring is reflective, grey, and polished, typical of contemporary gallery setups.

2. **Artworks Displayed**:
- **On the Right Wall**: A large sectioned artwork composed of multiple panels. The patterns within the frames appear abstract with a mix of dark and vibrant colors, possibly depicting an abstract mosaic or a stylized interpretation.
- **On the Left Side Wall**: Two smaller artworks mounted on the wall. They share a similar abstract style involving dark, earthy tones.

3. **Background Environment**:
- **Far Left Wall**: Displays more artworks arranged to cover a significant portion of the wall, possibly indicating a curated collection of various artists.
- The lighting appears strategic to illuminate the artwork with spotlight fixtures.
- The setting is sparse, with minimal furniture or visible decor, emphasizing simplicity and focus on the art itself.

4. **Viewer's Perspective**:
- The perspective offers a view across different walls of the gallery space, providing a glimpse into different installations.
- The layout is conducive for exploration, inviting visitors to move from one corner to another while absorbing the displayed art pieces.

Overall, the image portrays a serene, aesthetically pleasing art space aiming to draw the visitor's attention to the visual appeal of the modern art within.

DZ BANK Art Collection

The DZ BANK art collection, founded in 1993, focuses on contemporary photographic art and integrates works of art selected by employees into workspaces for inspiration and communication. With over 10,000 works of art by over 950 artists, it is one of the largest of its kind and, since 2021, has been managed by DZ BANK Kunststiftung gGmbH (DZ BANK Art Foundation), which also maintains a partnership with the Städel Museum in Frankfurt and offers extensive educational programmes.

More about the DZ BANK Art Foundation

Helping out at the 'Frankfurter Tafel'

Twice a month, our junior employees actively participate on-site at the 'Frankfurter Tafel'. They assist with unpacking, sorting, and distributing food. As the organization relies on volunteers, the Tafel staff are happy about every helping hand. The junior employees coordinate and rotate shifts among themselves to ensure that there are always two of them on duty.

DZ BANK supports this initiative by allowing young employees to carry out their valuable work during working hours. Moreover, our involvement extends beyond Frankfurt. In Hanover, our colleagues expand the initiative by organizing clothing donations for 'Diakonie', which take place twice a year.