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The German Banking Industry Committee

The German Banking Industry Committee (GBIC) is the voice of the leading German banking-sector associations. These are the National Association of German Cooperative Banks (BVR), the Association of German Banks (BdB), the Association of German Public Banks (VÖB), the German Savings Banks Association (DSGV), and the Association of German Pfandbrief Banks (vdp). GBIC superseded the Zentraler Kreditausschuss (ZKA) in August 2011, carrying on the latter’s work.

GBIC develops common banking-industry positions on issues relating to banking law, banking policy and banking practice. These cover, in particular, supervisory, securities and tax legislation. GBIC also drafts standardised rules for the payments sector, including card payment schemes. 

GBIC adopts its positions unanimously and sets these out in written comments or statements. It conveys the banking industry’s common standpoints to legislators, the government, authorities, as well as banking and financial-sector institutions at national, European and international level. In addition, it informs the press and the public.

The association chairing GBIC is responsible for preparing and circulating comments or statements and press releases. The GBIC chair rotates annually between the Association of German Cooperative Banks, the Association of German Banks and the German Savings Banks Association.