photo collage: historic photo of an office scene (left) and a hand in security gloves holding a can with crystals (right)
75 years of KfW

75 years of KfW

The 1970s

Back then

The 1970s
Oil crisis

The German economy is in jeopardy. Two oil crises and a sustained period of high interest rates are causing considerable economic upheaval. The readjustments needed to maintain Germany's international competitiveness demand fresh approaches, including for promotional policy. Energy-saving and innovation are the order of the day. People are clamouring for KfW and its loan programmes.

Further information

The export of German machinery and systems has been considered particularly worthy of economic promotion since the beginning of the Federal Republic of Germany. Export financing is therefore even anchored in the KfW Law. In the 1970s, “Made in Germany” was boosted by KfW loans.

Today, KfW IPEX-Bank is an expert in tailored export and project finance around the world. It also possesses many years of expertise in financing that has a positive effect on the environment and climate, and also finances solutions for the mobility of the future.

Today

Innovation

The world's greenest battery

Northvolt wants to become Europe's leading battery manufacturer - with the help of KfW IPEX-Bank, which is co-financing the expansion of its cell production. On 25 March 2024, Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck and KfW CEO Stefan Wintels broke ground for the new GigaFactory in Heide/Schleswig-Holstein.