Reisebank

Reisebank AG is a German specialist bank whose business is centered on travel-related payments and physical-cash services rather than conventional lending and deposit banking. Its principal activities include foreign-currency dealing, the sale and purchase of precious metals, travel-money services and traveler's checks. The bank also provides related services for other financial institutions, particularly banks within Germany's cooperative banking network. The business originated in the foreign-exchange operations of Deutsche Verkehrs-Kredit-Bank (DVB). In 1996, those operations were separated into a dedicated company, Reisebank AG. Existing DVB foreign-exchange offices, many of them located at major railway stations, were converted into Reisebank branches. This gave the new institution a location strategy closely tied to passenger traffic: airports, railway stations, major bus terminals, border crossings and selected city-center sites. A major ownership change took place on 1 January 2004, when Reisebank was sold to DZ Bank during the restructuring of DVB and its subsidiaries. It subsequently became a wholly owned DZ Bank subsidiary and part of the German Cooperative Financial Group, giving it a role beyond its own retail outlets. Reisebank supplies currencies, precious metals and traveler's checks to commercial banks, especially cooperative banks, and therefore operates both as a customer-facing specialist and as an infrastructure provider within the financial network. Its other activities have included international cash transfers carried out as a Western Union agent, the operation and servicing of automated teller machines, and the operation of toll-collection stations for Toll Collect, which it has done since 2005. These activities reflect a service-provider model built around cash handling, payment access and transaction processing rather than balance-sheet lending. In 2007, the bank considered extending ATM servicing to external customers, indicating an interest in using its operational capabilities beyond its own branch network. Reisebank expanded its product range in the 2010s. In February 2012 it introduced a reloadable Mastercard that customers could purchase and use directly through its branches after presenting an identity document or passport. From January 2014, the bank also offered precious metals, travel money and traveler's checks through an online shop. The traveler's-check business later became more limited: from the beginning of 2016, the online offering was restricted to purchasing American Express traveler's checks, while Reisebank discontinued their sale. As of 31 December 2014, the bank reported 93 offices and 300 proprietary ATMs positioned in travel-intensive and central locations. Its public-facing proposition has therefore combined accessibility at transport hubs with specialist expertise in foreign cash, international payments and precious metals. Reisebank is best understood as a focused German travel-payment and cash-services institution within the DZ Bank group, rather than as a universal retail bank.

Reisebank was established in 1996 after Deutsche Verkehrs-Kredit-Bank separated its foreign-currency dealing operations into a dedicated institution. The predecessor business operated exchange offices, particularly at major railway stations. During the creation of Reisebank, these offices were converted into bank branches, establishing the transport-hub network that became central to the brand's identity. The institution's activities were designed around travelers and cash-intensive payment services. Rather than operating as a conventional universal bank, Reisebank concentrated on foreign-currency exchange, travel payments, traveler's checks and precious metals. It also developed capabilities in ATM operation, cash logistics and international money transfer. The bank became a Western Union partner and operated toll-collection stations for Toll Collect from 2005 onward. Ownership changed during the restructuring of DVB and its subsidiaries. Reisebank was sold to DZ Bank with effect from 1 January 2004. It thereby became a wholly owned subsidiary of DZ Bank and part of Germany's cooperative financial network, which includes more than one thousand cooperative banks. This ownership structure supported a dual role: Reisebank continued to serve travelers directly while also supplying currencies, precious metals and traveler's checks to other banks, especially institutions in the cooperative sector. The bank explored additional infrastructure opportunities during the 2000s. In 2007, it considered providing ATM servicing for external parties, building on its experience operating its own machines. In the following decade, it introduced more directly branded payment products. A reloadable Mastercard became available in February 2012 through Reisebank branches, subject to presentation of an identity document or passport. The product extended the bank's offer beyond physical foreign cash into prepaid or stored-value travel payments. Reisebank also added electronic distribution to its branch model. Beginning in January 2014, its online shop offered precious metals, travel money and traveler's checks. The traveler's-check business was subsequently narrowed: from the beginning of 2016, the bank retained the option to purchase American Express traveler's checks but stopped selling them. This change reflected a more limited role for that product within the bank's portfolio. The scale of the branch and ATM network was documented at the end of 2014, when Reisebank had 93 offices and 300 of its own ATMs. Locations included airports, railway stations, large bus terminals, border crossings and city centers. These sites gave the bank proximity to international travelers and customers requiring immediate access to foreign cash or related services. Across its development, Reisebank has remained a focused service institution within the DZ Bank group. Its business combines specialist retail services with wholesale support for banks and operational services involving cash, ATMs, money transfers and toll collection. The available reference material does not provide sufficient information to describe later ownership changes, current financial performance, current branch numbers or named management, so those details are not stated here.

• 2016

  Traveler's-check services are narrowed

  [1]Reisebanken.wikipedia.org

  From the beginning of 2016, Reisebank retained the purchase of American Express traveler's checks but discontinued their sale.

• 2014

  Online shop adds travel and precious-metals products

  [1]Reisebanken.wikipedia.org

  The online shop began offering precious metals, travel money and traveler's checks.

• 2014

  Branch and ATM network reaches reported scale

  [1]Reisebanken.wikipedia.org

  At 31 December 2014, Reisebank had 93 offices and 300 proprietary ATMs in transport hubs, border locations and city centers.

• 2012

  Reloadable Mastercard launches

  [1]Reisebanken.wikipedia.org

  Reisebank introduced a reloadable Mastercard available through its branches with identity verification.

• 2007

  External ATM servicing is considered

  [1]Reisebanken.wikipedia.org

  The bank considered offering ATM servicing to third parties in addition to operating its own machines.

• 2005

  Toll-collection operations begin

  [1]Reisebanken.wikipedia.org

  Reisebank began operating toll stations for Toll Collect.

• 2004

  DZ Bank becomes owner

  [1]Reisebanken.wikipedia.org

  Reisebank was sold to DZ Bank effective 1 January 2004 during the restructuring of DVB and its subsidiaries.

• 1996

  Reisebank is created from DVB foreign-exchange operations

  [1]Reisebanken.wikipedia.org

  Deutsche Verkehrs-Kredit-Bank's foreign-currency dealing business was separated into Reisebank AG, and many existing exchange offices at major stations became Reisebank branches.

A specialist German provider of travel payments, foreign cash, precious metals and cash-access infrastructure, serving both travelers and financial institutions.

• Travel payments · 1996

  Foreign currency exchange

  Foreign-currency dealing is Reisebank's foundational business. The service developed from exchange offices located at railway stations and remains closely associated with the bank's travel-oriented branch network. Reisebank also supplies currencies to other banks, particularly cooperative banks, making the activity both a direct customer service and a banking-network support function.

• Travel payments

  Travel money

  Travel money covers the provision of foreign cash and related payment products for customers preparing for or undertaking international travel. It is distributed through Reisebank's specialist offices and, from 2014, through its online shop. The offering is positioned around convenience at airports, stations, border crossings and other locations used by travelers.

• Travel payments

  Traveler's checks

  Reisebank has handled traveler's checks both for its own customers and as a supplier to other banks. Its online-shop role expanded in 2014, but from the beginning of 2016 the service was restricted to purchasing American Express traveler's checks, with their sale discontinued.

• Precious metals · 2014

  Precious metals

  Precious metals are one of Reisebank's specialist banking activities alongside foreign-currency dealing and travel payments. The bank made precious-metals products available through its online shop from January 2014, complementing branch-based services and broadening its offer beyond travel transactions.

• Payment card · 2012

  Reloadable Mastercard

  Introduced in February 2012, Reisebank's reloadable Mastercard was designed for travel and could be purchased and used through the bank's branches after presentation of an identity document or passport. It represented an expansion from foreign-currency services into a branded, reloadable card product.

• Money transfer

  International cash transfers

  Reisebank performs international cash-transfer services as an agent of Western Union. This activity complements its foreign-cash and travel-payment operations and gives the bank a role in remittance and cash-distribution services.

• Banking infrastructure

  ATM and cash infrastructure services

  The bank operates ATMs and has considered providing ATM servicing for other organizations. Its own network included 300 ATMs as of 31 December 2014. These capabilities form part of Reisebank's broader specialist service model built around cash access and transaction infrastructure.

• 2016

  Reduction of traveler's-check servicesStrategy

  Background

  The traveler's-check business was adjusted after the online-shop expansion.

  Action taken

  From the beginning of 2016, Reisebank discontinued selling traveler's checks and retained only the purchase of American Express traveler's checks.

  Aftermath

  Traveler's checks became a narrower part of the bank's travel-payment portfolio.

  Source

• 2014

  Expansion of online distributionStrategy

  Background

  Reisebank combined a transport-oriented physical network with digital sales channels.

  Action taken

  Beginning in January 2014, the bank's online shop offered precious metals, travel money and traveler's checks.

  Aftermath

  The product range became available beyond Reisebank's branch locations, although later changes reduced the traveler's-check offering.

  Source

• 2012

  Launch of reloadable MastercardProduct launch

  Background

  Reisebank sought to extend its travel-payment portfolio beyond foreign cash and traveler's checks.

  Action taken

  The bank introduced a reloadable Mastercard available through its branches subject to identity verification.

  Aftermath

  The product added a branded card capability to Reisebank's specialist travel-services offering.

  Source

• 2004

  Transfer of Reisebank to DZ BankM&A

  Background

  The transaction occurred during the restructuring of Deutsche Verkehrs-Kredit-Bank and its subsidiaries.

  Action taken

  DZ Bank acquired Reisebank effective 1 January 2004 and integrated it into the cooperative financial network.

  Aftermath

  Reisebank became a wholly owned DZ Bank subsidiary and continued operating as a specialist provider within the German Cooperative Financial Group.

  Source

1. 1Reisebanken.wikipedia.org
2. 2Reisebank official websitereisebank.de