Raiffeisenverband Südtirol

Raiffeisenverband Südtirol (also known as Raiffeisenverband Bozen) is the umbrella association and legally recognized audit body for the Raiffeisen cooperative network in South Tyrol, an autonomous province in northern Italy. Headquartered in Bolzano (Bozen), the association represents, protects, advises, supports and promotes its member cooperatives, which span finance, energy and water, consumer goods and services, agriculture, and social and non-profit sectors. Its stated purpose is to strengthen the performance and development of member cooperatives rather than to pursue capital or profit speculation, aiming instead to create and increase benefit for cooperative members and the local community. The association traces its origins to autumn 1919, when the "Revisionsverband der Raiffeisenvereine und landwirtschaftlichen Genossenschaften Bozen" was founded shortly after South Tyrol was annexed by the Kingdom of Italy. It was dissolved by the fascist government in 1935, and the cooperative movement entered its most difficult period. After World War II, reconstruction began: in early 1946 the "Hauptverband Landwirtschaftlicher Genossenschaften" and the "Verband der Raiffeisenkassen" were re-founded. Following Regional Law No. 7 of 1954, the "Landesverband der Südtiroler Landwirtschaftlichen Genossenschaften" was established the same year. In 1960, the merger of the Verband der Raiffeisenkassen with the Landesverband der Südtiroler Landwirtschaftlichen Genossenschaften created the Raiffeisenverband Südtirol, which also introduced the gable cross (Giebelzeichen) as the official symbol for itself and its member cooperatives. The Raiffeisenhaus in Bolzano was inaugurated in 1968 and has since formed the center of the growing Raiffeisen network in South Tyrol. The Raiffeisenverband operates as an interest association, an audit body, and a specialist association for the Raiffeisenkassen (rural credit banks). Its services include cooperative auditing, statutory financial audits, special audits and expert opinions, commissioned audit work, training and education programs for employees, managers and board members, marketing and communication support, legal and labor-law advice, and assistance with general assemblies. The association also runs a news portal and, in the 2025 International Year of Cooperatives, launched a podcast to tell stories from the world of South Tyrolean cooperatives. The Raiffeisen brand in South Tyrol is anchored by the Giebelzeichen, a stylized gable cross made of two crossed horse heads, which together with the wordmark "Raiffeisen" forms the traditional core brand of the Raiffeisen cooperatives. The logo is registered as a trademark and protected internationally as a goods and services mark. Members of the Raiffeisenverband Südtirol may use the mark under defined conditions. The association remains a central institution of the South Tyrolean cooperative movement, which is a distinctive feature of the province's economy and society.

The Raiffeisenverband Südtirol traces its origins to autumn 1919, immediately after the annexation of South Tyrol by the Kingdom of Italy, when the "Revisionsverband der Raiffeisenvereine und landwirtschaftlichen Genossenschaften Bozen" was founded. This early association served as an audit and umbrella body for the Raiffeisen associations and agricultural cooperatives of the region. In 1935, however, the association was dissolved by the fascist government, beginning a dramatic decline and what the association describes as the most difficult period for the South Tyrolean cooperative system. Reconstruction began immediately after the end of World War II. In early 1946, the "Hauptverband Landwirtschaftlicher Genossenschaften" (Main Association of Agricultural Cooperatives) and the "Verband der Raiffeisenkassen" (Association of Raiffeisen Banks) were newly founded. Following the enactment of Regional Law No. 7 of 1954, the "Landesverband der Südtiroler Landwirtschaftlichen Genossenschaften" (Provincial Association of South Tyrolean Agricultural Cooperatives) was established in the same year. A decisive turning point came in 1960, when the Verband der Raiffeisenkassen merged with the Landesverband der Südtiroler Landwirtschaftlichen Genossenschaften to form the "Raiffeisenverband Südtirol". At the same time, the new association introduced the Giebelzeichen (gable cross) as the official symbol for itself and its member cooperatives. In 1968, the Raiffeisenhaus in Bolzano was inaugurated, and it has since formed the center of a successful and steadily growing Raiffeisen network in South Tyrol. The Giebelzeichen itself is a stylized gable cross made of two crossed horse heads. Together with the wordmark "Raiffeisen", it forms the traditional and deeply rooted core brand of the South Tyrolean Raiffeisen cooperatives. The logo is registered as a trademark and is protected internationally as a goods and services mark. Members of the Raiffeisenverband Südtirol receive the right to use the mark after appropriate approval. In the decades after 1960, the Raiffeisenverband developed into the central institution of the South Tyrolean cooperative movement, which encompasses credit cooperatives (Raiffeisenkassen), energy and water cooperatives, consumer and service cooperatives, agricultural cooperatives, and social and non-profit cooperatives. The association's purpose is to represent, protect, advise, support and promote its member cooperatives and the cooperative system in general. As a legally recognized audit body under the regional cooperative law, it monitors member cooperatives, and it also acts as a specialist association for the Raiffeisenkassen. Its work is oriented toward creating and increasing benefit for cooperative members rather than pursuing capital or profit speculation. In 2025, the International Year of Cooperatives, the association launched a podcast to tell stories from the world of cooperatives that shape life in South Tyrol, and it operates a news portal providing current and broad information about Raiffeisen cooperatives, their activities and cooperative topics in general.

• 2025

  In the International Year of Cooperatives, the association launches a podcast to tell cooperative stories.

• 1968

  The Raiffeisenhaus in Bolzano is inaugurated, becoming the center of the Raiffeisen network in South Tyrol.

• 1960

  Merger of the Verband der Raiffeisenkassen with the Landesverband der Südtiroler Landwirtschaftlichen Genossenschaften creates the "Raiffeisenverband Südtirol"; the Giebelzeichen is introduced as the official symbol.

• 1954

  Following Regional Law No. 7, the "Landesverband der Südtiroler Landwirtschaftlichen Genossenschaften" is founded.

• 1946

  Reconstruction begins: the "Hauptverband Landwirtschaftlicher Genossenschaften" and the "Verband der Raiffeisenkassen" are newly founded in early 1946.

• 1935

  The association is dissolved by the fascist government, beginning the most difficult period for the South Tyrolean cooperative system.

• 1919

  Founding of the "Revisionsverband der Raiffeisenvereine und landwirtschaftlichen Genossenschaften Bozen" in autumn, shortly after South Tyrol's annexation by Italy.

Umbrella association, statutory audit body and specialist association for the Raiffeisen cooperative network in South Tyrol, focused on member benefit rather than profit speculation.

• Cooperative revision (Genossenschaftsrevision)

  Auditing to ensure cooperatives meet legal, financial and organizational obligations transparently and properly, covering both Raiffeisenkassen and goods and services cooperatives.

• Statutory financial audit (Gesetzliche Rechnungsprüfung)

  Legally required financial audit services for member cooperatives.

• Special audits and expert opinions (Sonderprüfungen und Gutachten)

  Special audit engagements and expert opinions for cooperatives.

• Commissioned audit work (Auftragsbezogene Prüfungstätigkeit)

  Audit activities carried out on a commissioned basis.

• Training and further education (Weiterbildung)

  Seminars, courses and programs for employees, managers and board members of cooperatives across all sectors, including individual training concepts, cooperative-focused training, sector-specific courses, and personal development seminars.

• Marketing and communication services

  Support for marketing strategies, communication concepts, websites, social media presence, communication materials, event management, media planning, public relations, press reviews, and member loyalty strategies.

• Legal and labor-law advisory services

  Comprehensive advice, support and training on legal questions relating to personnel and labor law.

• Assistance with general assemblies

  Support services for cooperative general assemblies.

1. 1Raiffeisenverband Südtirol: Raiffeisenverband Südtirolraiffeisenverband.it
2. 2Raiffeisenverband Südtirol: Geschichteraiffeisenverband.it
3. 3Raiffeisenverband Südtirol: Der Raiffeisenverband Südtirolraiffeisenverband.it
4. 4Raiffeisenverband Südtirol: Unsere Dienstleistungenraiffeisenverband.it
5. 5Raiffeisenverband Bozenwikidata.org