Accelerating regulatory readiness and operational resilience at Sparkasse Leverkusen

The challenge

As part of a group-wide initiative, new DORA regulatory requirements are being prepared for implementation across the organization. The solutions have to be individually evaluated by the regional savings banks and implemented taking into account their specific framework conditions. Depending on the existing structures and level of maturity, the adaptation effort and the complexity of implementation vary considerably. At the same time, compliance with the specified deadlines – especially for the register of information and with regard to announced audits – is mandatory.

In order to implement the regulatory requirements efficiently, on time and effectively, external expertise is required to draw on a broader wealth of experience and ensure implementation with limited internal resources.

The approach

At Eraneos, we take a pragmatic and effective approach to consulting. That was a great fit for the culture of the Savings Bank.

The internal colleagues received both expertise and methodological support from our consultants, starting with a concretization of the central gap analysis. After approval of the project plan by the board of directors, we accompanied the project management from the project set-up to the end of the project and worked together with the internal colleagues of the Sparkasse in all sub-projects.

Together, we have achieved strong results, including:

And, thanks to quick decisions, also implemented immediately. So we were able to meet the DORA time frame and also had a lot of fun in the project.

The results

The joint project enabled the savings bank to efficiently tackle the implementation of the new DORA requirements without placing an excessive burden on internal colleagues and thus cutting back on day-to-day business. Together, we achieved the timely implementation of the applicable regulatory requirements by 17 January 2025 and a complete submission of the information register by the deadline.

As sparring partners for our internal colleagues, our experts shared their experience and together we also initiated further optimizations over the course of the project.
In the phase after 17.01., measures to operationalize the new requirements were completed together with internal colleagues.

About the client

As the market leader, Sparkasse Leverkusen maintains 14 branches in its business area and employs over 500 people. Through its public mandate, the Savings Bank is obliged to promote the economic and social progress of the people in the region, their financial provision and personal responsibility as well as the regional medium-sized economy. Sparkasse Leverkusen reported total assets of €4.446 billion in the 2024 financial year and customer deposits of €3.45 billion. Every year, it supports more than 400 individual cultural, social, sporting and societal measures in its business area with approx. 1.4 million Euro, runs a foundation for the elderly and, together with the city of Leverkusen, the non-profit community foundation Leverkusen.