KfW Ends 2024 in Strong Financial Position, Ready to Support German Growth Plans

At the annual results press conference in Frankfurt, KfW's CEO Stefan Wintels announced that the bank concluded the 2024 financial year in a robust financial position. KfW stated it is well-equipped to support the new German federal government in its strategic objectives to bolster Germany as an economic center.

Wintels highlighted KfW's extensive expertise in key future-oriented areas identified by the government. He noted that the bank's significant financial strength provides ample room for maneuver and will be deployed to enhance Germany's competitiveness and resilience. By the end of the year, the bank's capital base strengthened, with its tier 1 capital ratio rising to 30.2 percent.

In 2024, KfW Group reported a profit of EUR 1.4 billion. While slightly below the previous year's figure, it remains in line with the five-year average. The bank allocated approximately EUR 500 million of its own funds to improve promotional program conditions, the highest amount in over a decade. Key areas of focus included support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), digitalization, and environmental initiatives.

The bank's promotional business remained strong in 2024, with new business volume close to EUR 112.8 billion. Domestic promotional activities grew slightly to EUR 79.0 billion, driven by increased demand from private clients and the customized finance segment. In export and project finance, new commitments reached EUR 23.9 billion. Support for developing countries and emerging economies amounted to EUR 10.3 billion.

KfW began 2025 with a solid start, registering new business totaling EUR 11.2 billion by the end of February. The slight increase was primarily due to domestic promotional business, with a notable rise in demand for SME loan programs and financing for renewable energy projects. This indicates KfW's continued role as a key facilitator for the German economy.