Emphasising togetherness

R+V’s motto “You are not alone” is not an empty marketing claim, but a recurring theme influencing every step on the way. The basic idea that issues can be better managed with a communal approach is reflected in the term “cooperative”. A cooperative is a collective in which people work together to achieve a social or economic benefit for the members. Business is conducted jointly.

Many small forces create great things!

“What one cannot do alone, many can.” This is probably the most widespread quote from the cooperative’s founder, Friedrich Wilhelm Raiffeisen. As simple as the statement is, it also stands for an outstanding characteristic of the cooperative idea- the power of community. Many small forces can create great things! Together! Raiffeisen recognized this early on, long before there was talk of “synergy effects”. Cohesion, solidarity, equality characterise the communities according to Raiffeisen’s idea and also according to the ideas of the second great cooperative founder, Hermann Schulze-Delitzsch.

A model for a social market economy

Together with Hermann Schulze-Delitzsch, Friedrich Wilhelm Raiffeisen created a model that can be regarded as a prime example of the social market economy: Achieving more for each individual through joint action. Customer proximity, reliability and competence have been the strengths of cooperative banks for more than 150 years.

There is no doubt that, speaking in modern terms, Friedrich Wilhelm Raiffeisen is also one of the inventors of community banking and crowdfunding, which are currently gaining traction again. Raiffeisen’s credo continues to be lived out in cooperative banks on a daily basis.

Sustainable responsibility

R+V is forward-looking when it comes to insuring renewable energy systems. Here, R+V has established itself as one of the largest insurers of renewable energy plants and has over 30 years of experience in this field.

Sustainability is not seen as a destination but as a path at R+V. With the #MissionMiteinander (mission together) R+V allocated 1.6 million euros to support sustainable and social projects. With its own designed Tiny House, R+V drove through Germany to visit projects that offer solutions to elementary problems of our time. “We can look back on 100 years of community, cooperation and support,” says R+V CEO Norbert Rollinger. “But we are looking ahead. Because we want to shape the future together.”