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The Berner Kantonalbank AG (BEKB) (in French: Banque Cantonale Bernoise SA (BCBE)), operating under the brand name "BEKB | BCBE" and based in the Swiss canton of Bern, is a public limited company under private law founded in 1834 as one of the first cantonal banks of its kind, serving Switzerland's 26 cantons. At the end of 2020, the total financial assets of BEKB were valued at 36.4 billion Swiss francs[2] with their staff comprising approximately 1,230 employees (or 1,000 full-time equivalents).
As the majority shareholder, the Canton of Bern retains 51.5% of the company's shares, while also guaranteeing their stability, in accordance with the same Canton's constitution. This establishes BEKB as one of the largest cantonal banks in Switzerland. Berner Kantonalbank doesn't have state guarantee of its liabilities.[1]
History
The Cantonal Bank of Bern was founded in 1834 as one of the earliest cantonal banks, following the adoption of a liberal state constitution in the canton of Bern three years prior. This new political arrangement gave citizens the freedom to engage in trade and commerce, leading to the establishment of the Cantonal Bank, which supplied the funds necessary to finance these endeavours. In its early stages, this institution provided services to an extensive demographic and helped encourage economic growth in the region. Over the course of its history, the Cantonal Bank has continued to expand its range of offerings to clients.
It opened its first three branches in 1858 in Saint-Imier, Burgdorf, and Biel/Bienne, and in 1958 the balance of the bank exceeded one billion.[citation needed]
In 1991, the "Cantonal Bank of Bern" and the "Hypothekarkasse des Kantons Bern" merged to form the Berner Kantonalbank. The newly formed institution was mandated to serve as a modern universal bank, fulfil economic and social tasks in the interests of the public and the state, and compete and adapt to new developments in the market with flexibility.[citation needed]
In 1979, four branches of the newly formed cantonal bankBanque cantonale du Jura were transferred and the Berner Kantonalbank had to realign its business and credit policy at the beginning of the 1990s due to the real estate crisis. To separate the recovering bank from the then-founded Dezennium-Finanz AG (DFAG), assets that did not comply with the Berner Kantonalbank’s new business and credit policy were transferred to DFAG in 1993. In order to support the restructuring of their bank, the canton of Bern allocated a total of CHF 1.45 billion over the subsequent years.[citation needed]
Since 1996, the Berner Kantonalbank (BEKB) has operated under the short or brand name of "BEKB | BCBE".
In 1998, BEKB became the first cantonal bank to be converted into a private stock corporation, with a new "Law on the Berner Kantonalbank Stock Corporation" passed to separate the responsibilities of the owner and the management. The canton of Berne's initial majority shareholding was gradually reduced to 51.5 per cent over the subsequent years, with BEKB having paid out around CHF 1.8 billion in dividends and taxes since this time.[citation needed]
In 1999, following the dissolution of the Solothurner Kantonalbank, the BEKB opened its first branch outside the canton of Solothurn. The same year, it became the first cantonal bank organized under private law to have its registered shares listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange in Zurich.[citation needed]
In 2022, the IT subsidiary which had grown from the original DXC was given the designation Aity.[3]
At the beginning of January 2024, Ekkehard Werner succeeded Beatrice Kern as CFO, who joined the management of the parent company.[4]
Services
As a financial institution, Berner Kantonalbank offers services including:
investments & investment advice
savings
credit cards
mortgages
business financing
real estate financing
asset management
securities trading
It also provides shareholder, youth, educational and SME savings accounts; deposit, current, rental, payment, pension and client funds accounts; investment products; bank cards and credit cards; and pension products.[5]
Corporate Structure
CEO
Armin Brun is the Chief Executive Officer of the Swiss bank Berner Kantonalbank AG, taking up this role from July 2019. In 2018, he was appointed Head of the bank's Retail and Corporate Banking divisions. In 2017, he joined the bank's Management Board.[6]
Board Members
Antoinette Hunziker-Ebneter: Independent President of the Board of Directors
Christoph Lengwiler: Independent Vice President of the Board
Gilles Frôté: Independent Director
Annelis Hammerli: Independent Director
Pascal Sieber: Independent Director
Stefan Bichsel: Director
Danielle Villiger: Director
Reto Heiz: Director
Hugo Schurmann: Director
Management
Alois Schärli: Deputy CEO
Beatrice Kern: Member of Management Board
Marcel Oertle: Member of Management Board
Mark Haller: Member of Management Board
Domenico Sottile: Member of Management Board
Dagmar Fässler-Zumstein: Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications
Thomas Gosteli: Head of Human Resources & Training
