Preventive Measures by Regional Banks to Increase the Resilience of the Local Population Against Natural Hazards in Germany

Remarkable examples like the flood in July 2021 in Germany showed that regional banks (savings and cooperative banks) and their strong local network were central pillars for the local population. Regional banks have provided financial aid, resources, and pragmatic solutions in response to the disaster. At the same time, it became visible that the measures implemented were reactive rather than preventive. This aspect has received minimal consideration in scientific discourse. The study addresses two research questions by conducting a comprehensive literature review and employing an exploratory qualitative approach: the role of regional banks in disaster risk reduction in Germany and bank-specific services, which should be organised in a more preventative manner to increase the population's resilience to disasters. Semi-structured interviews, followed by qualitative content analysis are used to gather expert opinions. Eleven representative experts from regional banks, banking associations, and the disaster risk management sector were interviewed between July 2023 and March 2024. The results confirm that regional banks have been primarily reactive to disasters. At the same time, the study indicates that regional banks should be more involved in disaster risk prevention because of their local networks, material and immaterial resources, and their central role as local financiers. The study contributed substantially to the academic debate and generated practical insights for regional banks and disaster prevention in Germany.