Raiffeisenkassen#
Raiffeisenkassen; the first Raiffeisenkasse bank in Austria was founded in 1886 in Muehldorf (Lower Austria), and was based upon the ideas of the German social reformer, F. W. Raiffeisen (1818-1888). In 1898 the 400 Raiffeisenkasse banks in Lower Austria formed a central institution (Zentralkasse), and by 1930 their number had increased to 564. Today there are 672 local Raiffeisenkasse banks with 2,370 branches (as of January 1, 1998) forming the grassroots level of the Raiffeisen Bank Group (RBG). The Raiffeisenkasse banks of the provinces are joined in voluntary provincial associations (Raiffeisenlandesbanken) which are part of the national institution Raiffeisen Zentralbank Oesterreich AG. In Austria Raiffeisenkassen banks have the densest network of branches (almost 20 % of all Austrian bank branches). The clients of the Austrian Raiffeisenkasse banks come from all economic sectors (especially trade, tourism, agriculture, forestry, salaried employees). In 1997 Raiffeisenkasse Bank Group's consolidated balance sheet amounted to ATS 1,029.8 billion, deposits to ATS 543 billion (market share of 24.9 % in Austria). Direct financing amounted to ATS 546 billion (market share 20.5 %).