Volksbank im Rheinland reports record growth and leadership shake-up in 2025
With confidence and seasoned expertise, Fred Hendricks, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, presided over this year's general meeting—his final one in that role. Over many years, Hendricks has profoundly shaped and guided the bank's development.
Volksbank im Rheinland reported highly positive results for the 2025 financial year. Despite a persistently challenging economic environment, the bank demonstrated stability and a growth-oriented trajectory. Its balance sheet total rose to approximately €2.79 billion, while its managed customer volume grew to over €6 billion. This progress underscores the trust of its customers and the strength of the cooperative business model.
The Executive Board—Carsten Thören, Franz Meurers, and Volker Klemm—presented a successful financial year and the bank's sustainable growth. The general meeting approved the Board's and Supervisory Board's proposal for the allocation of net income, unanimously adopting a four percent dividend.
Membership figures also remained stable, with around 28,500 members, cementing Volksbank im Rheinland's position as one of the largest people's associations in Mönchengladbach and the surrounding region.
A key milestone was reached with the formal approval of the annual financial statements: the merger with VR-Bank Region Aachen is now officially complete. The technical integration of systems is scheduled for June. The general meeting's approval marked the final formal step in the entire merger process.
A central focus of the meeting was the changes to the Supervisory Board, including the farewell and recognition of long-serving members. With the end of their terms, Chairman Fred Hendricks, his deputy Karl Peter Kürten, and Philipp Mansour are stepping down due to age limits, while Heinz Theißen is leaving the board at his own request after many years of service.
Reflecting the bank's expanded size, the Supervisory Board will now be restructured. Representatives from the former VR-Bank Region Aachen, along with employee representatives, will join the body, ensuring compliance with legal requirements and the bank's growing significance.
The outgoing Supervisory Board members were honored for their long-standing commitment and contributions to the bank's development. Katja Lewalter-Düssel, a member of the Genossenschaftsverband (Cooperative Association) Executive Board, presented the awards, highlighting their pivotal roles in the bank's success and the merger process.
Heinz Theißen, a Supervisory Board member since 1991, received the Cooperative Association's Golden Honor Pin. Over more than three decades, he played a key role in the bank's strategic decisions, championing its sustainable growth and deep regional roots with great dedication.
Karl Peter Kürten, a long-serving deputy chairman, was also awarded the Golden Honor Pin. As a certified auditor, he brought invaluable expertise in audit and governance matters, making significant contributions to the bank's strategic evolution, particularly during mergers.
Fred Hendricks, the long-standing Supervisory Board Chairman, received a special distinction: the Golden Honor Pin of the German Cooperative and Raiffeisen Confederation (DGRV), the highest accolade in Germany's cooperative sector. Over decades—more than three of them as chairman—he shaped the bank's trajectory with unwavering commitment, professional expertise, and strategic vision, actively steering it through numerous mergers. The general meeting paid tribute to all departing members with deep gratitude, recognizing their enduring impact on the success of today's Volksbank im Rheinland.
Volksbank im Rheinland eG continues to position itself as a dependable partner in the Mönchengladbach, Erkelenz, Willich, and Meerbusch regions, with Aachen soon to be added. As one of Germany's largest cooperative banks and a major regional player in western Rhineland, it has consistently achieved steady growth and successful expansion in recent years. With a solid asset base and strong earnings, the bank is well-equipped for the future and poised for further growth.
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