28.01.2019
The Future is Yours: "200 years ago, we fundamentally changed life"
The Austrian savings bank group enters its third century. A time in which everything will change much more quickly than in the two unbelievably eventful centuries before.
The first savings bank in Central Europe was founded in 1819 as the "Erste oesterreichische Spar-Casse". 200 years later, Erste Group spread the idea of savings banks to seven Eastern European countries.
The Austrian savings bank group enters its third century. A time in which everything will change much more quickly than in the two unbelievably eventful centuries before.
The first savings bank in Central Europe was founded in 1819 as the "Erste oesterreichische Spar-Casse". 200 years later, Erste Group spread the idea of savings banks to seven Eastern European countries.
The basic idea behind the foundation is now more relevant than ever: to create financial independence and thus the basis for prosperity. “Erste has pursued this goal for all people, regardless of age, gender, status or nation. By establishing this principle, we fundamentally changed social life 200 years ago. Such an undertaking was absolutely unique at the time, given that the majority of the population lived in poverty and there was no opportunity for them to develop financial independence," says Andreas Treichl, CEO of Erste Group. The disruptive invention of 1819: a savings book. And it was a first small step towards greater prosperity for the population. Prosperity grows where people believe in the power of their ideas, in their abilities and in their future. And companies must be able to develop their full potential on the basis of this belief. Treichl: "We are the savings banks – and we have believed in the abilities of the people and businesses in our country for 200 years. Without us, medium-sized companies would not have been able to develop in Europe.”
The Future is Yours
The basic idea behind the foundation is now more relevant than ever: to create financial independence and thus the basis for prosperity. “Erste has pursued this goal for all people, regardless of age, gender, status or nation. By establishing this principle, we fundamentally changed social life 200 years ago. Such an undertaking was absolutely unique at the time, given that the majority of the population lived in poverty and there was no opportunity for them to develop financial independence," says Andreas Treichl, CEO of Erste Group. The disruptive invention of 1819: a savings book. And it was a first small step towards greater prosperity for the population. Prosperity grows where people believe in the power of their ideas, in their abilities and in their future. And companies must be able to develop their full potential on the basis of this belief. Treichl: "We are the savings banks – and we have believed in the abilities of the people and businesses in our country for 200 years. Without us, medium-sized companies would not have been able to develop in Europe.”
The Future is Yours
The motto for the anniversary year 2019 was deliberately chosen to be future-oriented: "The Future is Yours". It is all about assessing people's future correctly, doing the right things and translating the founding idea into the digital age. "Technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics or blockchain will dramatically change the banking industry in the coming decades. But they will not change the purpose of a savings bank to bring prosperity to people in the regions," says Gerhard Fabisch, President of the Austrian Savings Banks Association. Andreas Treichl is convinced that the Sparkassen Group is stronger than ever before. "We are focused on supporting the financial well-being of all people. That was revolutionary 200 years ago and will continue to be so in 200 years' time. We have survived two world wars and numerous catastrophes. Today, we as a group are much stronger than we were then. I am not worried about the future, because believing in yourself is what the future starts with – and that's what we do as Erste Bank und Sparkassen."
For the Sparkassen Group, "The Future is Yours" also means seeing digital change as an opportunity to realise the future. Accordingly, the George Labs staff is consistently working on the future of financial services and the Group continues to invest heavily in the further development of George. With four million users, George is already the largest pan-European banking platform. But we are also convinced that in an increasingly digital world, the human component will once again become more important. Accordingly, further investments are being made - in more time to be there for people, in the training of consultants and in modern, contemporary branches that are available to people for their changing needs.
The motto for the anniversary year 2019 was deliberately chosen to be future-oriented: "The Future is Yours". It is all about assessing people's future correctly, doing the right things and translating the founding idea into the digital age. "Technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics or blockchain will dramatically change the banking industry in the coming decades. But they will not change the purpose of a savings bank to bring prosperity to people in the regions," says Gerhard Fabisch, President of the Austrian Savings Banks Association. Andreas Treichl is convinced that the Sparkassen Group is stronger than ever before. "We are focused on supporting the financial well-being of all people. That was revolutionary 200 years ago and will continue to be so in 200 years' time. We have survived two world wars and numerous catastrophes. Today, we as a group are much stronger than we were then. I am not worried about the future, because believing in yourself is what the future starts with – and that's what we do as Erste Bank und Sparkassen."
For the Sparkassen Group, "The Future is Yours" also means seeing digital change as an opportunity to realise the future. Accordingly, the George Labs staff is consistently working on the future of financial services and the Group continues to invest heavily in the further development of George. With four million users, George is already the largest pan-European banking platform. But we are also convinced that in an increasingly digital world, the human component will once again become more important. Accordingly, further investments are being made - in more time to be there for people, in the training of consultants and in modern, contemporary branches that are available to people for their changing needs.
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