... employment and training and supporting cultural and social activities in the region through sponsorships, donations and pay-ment of foundation dividends. The distribution of profits to local ... return on equity, CIR and the operation profit) on the y-axis. The poorer a regions is, the more the regional indicator (x-axis) increases, and the more successful a savings bank, the more the ... develop their competitive strengths. Therefore, the unique system of savings banks in Germany on the one hand tends to support the ‘Lisbon Agenda’. On the other hand it also contributes to the...