Norisbank
German retail and direct bank operating as a subsidiary of Deutsche Bank.
Last updated October 16, 2026
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Overview
Norisbank is a German retail banking brand headquartered in Bonn and owned by Deutsche Bank. Its origins lie in the consumer-finance activities associated with the Quelle mail-order group. From 1954, Quelle offered customers financing for purchases through the Noris purchase-aid business. The banking entity Noris Kreditbank GmbH was established in Nuremberg in 1965 to broaden financing across Quelle and related businesses. In 1969, the operation adopted the Noris Bank name and expanded beyond purchase finance into conventional banking products, including current and savings accounts. The brand developed through a series of combinations and ownership changes. In 1984, Norisbank merged with Hamburg Verbraucherbank GmbH, an institution associated with early German self-service banking. Verbraucherbank had introduced customer self-service facilities in 1975, installed one of the early generations of automated teller machines in 1977, and offered an early form of online banking in 1980. The combined business remained connected to the Quelle Group until the late 1990s. In 1997, it was sold to Bayerische Vereinsbank and combined with Franken WKV Bank. Hypo Service Bank, founded in 1991, was integrated into Norisbank AG in 1999. Norisbank pursued consumer lending and distribution innovation during the 2000s. In 2000, it described itself as the first bank on the Internet to offer loans using an online instant-approval process. From 2005, it distributed its easyCredit consumer-loan offering through dedicated installment-credit outlets in city centres, shopping malls and major roads. This approach brought in hundreds of thousands of additional customers, although not all borrowers became broader banking customers. Ownership changed again in 2003, when DZ Bank acquired Norisbank AG after a period of uncertainty about its future within HypoVereinsbank. In 2006, Deutsche Bank acquired the Norisbank brand, customer base and branch network. The former Norisbank AG was renamed TeamBank AG Nürnberg, while a newly established Norisbank GmbH continued the consumer-banking brand. The transaction placed Norisbank within Deutsche Bank Group and led to changes in its service model, branch infrastructure and access to banking networks. After the acquisition, Norisbank operated as a hybrid institution: customers could receive advice in branches while obtaining conditions associated with direct banking. Branch-based services were progressively reduced. Traditional teller operations ended at the start of 2008, leaving advisory offices and self-service facilities. The headquarters moved to Berlin in October 2008. On 27 July 2012, all remaining branches were closed and Norisbank became a pure direct bank. Customers thereafter primarily used internet banking, telephone banking and self-service facilities in Deutsche Bank branches. Former branch employees were transferred to Postbank within Deutsche Bank Group rather than being dismissed. Since December 2014, Bonn has been the bank's registered seat. Norisbank remains focused on the German retail market, with its services delivered through digital channels and infrastructure shared with or provided by Deutsche Bank Group.
History
Norisbank's history begins in the consumer-finance operations of Quelle, the German mail-order company. In 1954, Quelle started financing customer purchases through a business known as Noris purchase aid. The activity was formalized on 4 June 1965 with the creation of Noris Kreditbank GmbH in Nuremberg. Its original purpose was to finance the wider range of goods sold by Quelle and affiliated businesses, including activity connected with the stationery sector. In 1969, Noris purchase aid was renamed Noris Bank GmbH, and its scope expanded to include ordinary banking services such as current and savings accounts. A major structural step came in 1984, when Norisbank GmbH merged with Hamburg Verbraucherbank GmbH. The merger added a business with a notable history in German banking technology. Verbraucherbank had introduced customer self-service in 1975, followed this with one of the early ATM deployments in 1977, and offered an early online-banking service in 1980. The resulting Noris Verbraucherbank GmbH remained part of the Quelle Group until the end of 1997. On 19 June 1997, it was sold to Bayerische Vereinsbank and combined with Franken WKV Bank, an institution founded in 1950. Hypo Service Bank, founded in 1991, was incorporated into Norisbank AG in January 1999. During the 2000s, Norisbank expanded its consumer-credit proposition and experimented with new distribution channels. In 2000, it offered an internet-based instant loan process. In July 2005, it began selling its easyCredit installment-loan product through dedicated credit outlets located in urban centres, shopping malls and major roads. The strategy reportedly attracted approximately 500,000 new customers over time, although the bank found that some borrowers did not become regular customers for other banking services. By August 2006, the bank had approximately 650,000 customers. Norisbank's ownership changed in response to strategic uncertainty. In 2002, HypoVereinsbank considered whether Norisbank should be integrated into its own branch network. The decision was instead made to sell the bank, and on 1 October 2003 DZ Bank became the new owner. On 3 August 2006, DZ Bank sold the Norisbank brand, customer base and 98 branches to Deutsche Bank. The transaction separated the continuing Norisbank consumer brand from the former legal entity: Norisbank AG, based in Nuremberg, was renamed TeamBank AG Nürnberg, while a newly established Norisbank GmbH continued operating the brand. Under Deutsche Bank ownership, Norisbank adopted a hybrid model combining direct-bank economics with branch advice. Customers could visit branches for selected investment, retirement and other consultations while receiving the same conditions as customers using direct channels. The model was gradually streamlined. Norisbank reduced self-service infrastructure, discontinued certain services such as online foreign transfers, and no longer accepted coins at counters. Traditional counter service ended on 1 January 2008, leaving advisory offices and self-service zones. The headquarters moved to Berlin in October 2008. The decisive transformation occurred on 27 July 2012, when all Norisbank branches were closed and the brand became a pure direct bank. Banking was thereafter conducted principally through the internet, telephone banking and self-service terminals in Deutsche Bank branches. Around 400 former branch employees were transferred to Postbank, another Deutsche Bank subsidiary, without layoffs. Norisbank also changed its position within Germany's ATM-sharing arrangements during the transition: following the Deutsche Bank acquisition, it left CashPool on 31 October 2006 and returned to Cash Group, a network with which it had previously been associated before 2003. Since December 2014, Bonn has been Norisbank's seat. The brand now represents a Germany-focused retail and direct-banking operation within Deutsche Bank Group, supported in part by group infrastructure and personnel rather than by an independent branch network.
- 2014
Registered seat moves to Bonn
[1]Bonn becomes the seat of Norisbank from December.
- 2012
Conversion to a pure direct bank
[1]All branches close on 27 July and Norisbank shifts to digital, telephone and self-service distribution.
- 2008
Headquarters move and end of teller banking
[1]The headquarters moves to Berlin, while traditional counter transactions are discontinued.
- 2006
Deutsche Bank acquisition
[1]Deutsche Bank acquires the Norisbank brand, customer base and branch network from DZ Bank.
- 2003
DZ Bank becomes owner
[1]DZ Bank acquires Norisbank AG following strategic uncertainty under HypoVereinsbank.
- 1999
Hypo Service Bank integration
[1]Hypo Service Bank is integrated into Norisbank AG.
- 1997
Sale to Bayerische Vereinsbank
[1]The Noris Verbraucherbank business leaves Quelle ownership and is sold to Bayerische Vereinsbank.
- 1984
Merger with Hamburg Verbraucherbank
[1]Norisbank merges with Hamburg Verbraucherbank, bringing together their retail-banking operations and self-service capabilities.
- 1969
The Noris Bank name is adopted
[1]Noris purchase aid becomes Noris Bank GmbH and adds current and savings accounts to its offering.
- 1965
Noris Kreditbank GmbH is established
[1]The Nuremberg-based company is founded to expand financing across Quelle and associated businesses.
Products and positioning
A German mass-market retail and direct bank emphasizing accessible everyday banking and consumer lending, with distribution increasingly centered on online, telephone and self-service channels.
Retail banking · 1969
Current accounts
Current accounts became part of Norisbank's offering when the former purchase-finance business broadened into general banking in 1969. They represent the everyday transactional banking side of the brand and are serviced primarily through the bank's direct channels following the closure of its branches.
Savings · 1969
Savings accounts
Savings accounts were added alongside current accounts when Norisbank expanded beyond financing Quelle purchases. They form part of the brand's traditional retail-banking range, although the available contemporary product configuration is not specified in the supplied reference material.
Consumer finance · 1954
Consumer and installment loans
Consumer credit has been central to Norisbank since its origins in Quelle purchase financing. During the 2000s, the bank expanded installment lending and distributed the easyCredit product through dedicated outlets in shopping centres, city locations and roadside retail areas. The brand later emphasized direct distribution for lending and other retail services.
Direct banking · 2012
Online and telephone banking
Following the 2012 branch closures, online banking and telephone banking became the principal customer-service channels. Norisbank's direct-bank model also relies on self-service facilities, including terminals available through Deutsche Bank's branch infrastructure.
Brand decisions
2012
Conversion to a pure direct bankStrategyBackground
Norisbank's hybrid branch-and-direct model was being replaced by a lower-branch, digitally distributed retail-bank structure.
Action taken
On 27 July 2012, Norisbank closed all branches and shifted customer transactions primarily to internet banking, telephone banking and self-service terminals in Deutsche Bank branches.
Aftermath
Norisbank became a pure direct bank. Approximately 400 former branch employees were transferred to Postbank within Deutsche Bank Group.
2008
End of traditional branch-counter bankingStrategyBackground
Deutsche Bank ownership brought a restructuring of Norisbank's distribution model and reduced the role of physical branches.
Action taken
Norisbank ended classic counter service on 1 January 2008 and retained branches mainly as advisory offices with self-service zones.
Aftermath
The bank moved further toward a direct-bank model before closing all remaining branches in 2012.
2006
Sale of Norisbank to Deutsche BankM&ABackground
DZ Bank decided to sell Norisbank after the bank's ownership and strategic direction had been reconsidered during the preceding years.
Action taken
Deutsche Bank acquired the Norisbank brand, customer base and 98 branches. The former Norisbank AG was renamed TeamBank AG Nürnberg, and a new Norisbank GmbH was created to operate the brand.
Aftermath
Norisbank became part of Deutsche Bank Group, changed its ATM-network affiliation and progressively reduced branch-based and teller services.
Reported purchase price. EUR 420 million (3 August 2006 transaction)
2005
Dedicated retail distribution for easyCreditStrategyBackground
Norisbank sought to expand consumer lending beyond conventional bank branches and reach customers in high-traffic retail locations.
Action taken
Beginning in July 2005, the bank sold its easyCredit installment-loan offering through dedicated outlets in city centres, shopping malls and major roads.
Aftermath
The approach was reported to have attracted approximately 500,000 new customers over time, although not every credit customer became a regular customer for other banking services.
Recent events
- 2012
Norisbank becomes a pure direct bank[1]
Other
Norisbank closed its remaining branches and shifted customer transactions to internet banking, telephone banking and self-service facilities, including those in Deutsche Bank branches.
- 2008
Norisbank ends traditional teller services[1]
Other
The bank ended conventional counter transactions and converted its branches into advisory offices with self-service areas.
- 2006
Deutsche Bank acquires the Norisbank brand and branch network[1]
M&A
Deutsche Bank bought the Norisbank name, customer base and 98 branches from DZ Bank. The former Norisbank AG was renamed TeamBank AG Nürnberg, while a new Norisbank GmbH continued the brand.
- 2003
DZ Bank acquires Norisbank[1]
M&A
After strategic uncertainty under HypoVereinsbank, DZ Bank became Norisbank AG's owner.
- 2000
Norisbank promotes online instant loan processing[1]
Product launch · Product generation
Norisbank introduced an online loan process described in its historical account as an early internet-based instant-approval offering.
- 1999
Hypo Service Bank is integrated into Norisbank[1]
M&A
Hypo Service Bank, established in 1991, was integrated into Norisbank AG as part of the group's consolidation.
- 1997
Norisbank is sold to Bayerische Vereinsbank[1]
M&A
The Noris Verbraucherbank business left the Quelle Group and was sold to Bayerische Vereinsbank, later being combined with Franken WKV Bank.
- 1984
Norisbank acquires Hamburg Verbraucherbank[1]
M&A
The merger brought into Norisbank an institution associated with early German customer self-service, ATM and online-banking developments.
- 1965
Noris Kreditbank GmbH is founded[1]
Other
The company that expanded Quelle-related purchase finance into a broader banking operation was established in Nuremberg.
- 1954
Norisbank's banking roots emerge from Quelle purchase finance[1]
Other
Quelle began offering customers financing for its mail-order purchases through the Noris purchase-aid business, establishing the commercial roots of the later Norisbank brand.
Sources1 sources
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