Bürgschaftsbank Schleswig-Holstein GmbH

Bürgschaftsbank Schleswig-Holstein GmbH was founded in 1949 at the initiative of the state of Schleswig-Holstein and the credit institutions operating in the state, and acts as an economic promoter for the North German SME sector. As a guarantor without its own bank counter, it assumes default guarantees of up to 80% of the loan amount and a maximum of 2.0 million euros per borrower unit vis-à-vis house banks, in order to enable small and medium-sized enterprises, start-ups, successors, and freelancers in Schleswig-Holstein to gain access to loans. With a broad range of programs – from express to classic to special guarantees – it supports economically viable investment and working capital projects, construction financing, as well as business succession. Business initiation takes place digitally via the house banks; conditions and forms are available online. Shareholders are the state of Schleswig-Holstein and cooperative as well as private-sector banks; supervision is carried out by the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin).

The Bürgschaftsbank Schleswig-Holstein sees its mission in strengthening the medium-sized business location of Schleswig-Holstein by securing corporate credit projects as a neutral risk partner, thereby creating financial leeway. With expertise and efficiency, we promote start-ups, business successions, as well as growth and innovation projects by removing the final hurdle for credit decisions. Our actions are competition-neutral, sustainable, and oriented towards the economic opportunities of our clients.

The target group of the funding programs comprises small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as well as freelancers with their registered office or significant investment location in Schleswig-Holstein. Funding is provided to start-ups, business successors, and established companies from all sectors that plan economically viable projects—such as investments, working capital financing, construction projects, or real estate acquisitions—and whose house banks require collateral to realize their projects.