New austerity course in Berge: VR-Bank opens modern self-service branch after demolition!

New austerity course in Berge: VR-Bank opens modern self-service branch after demolition!

On November 11, 2024, an incident occurred in the small town of Berge in Prignitz that alarmed the residents. An ATM at Volks- und Raiffeisenbank was badly damaged by an explosion early in the morning around four o'clock. The explosion took place in the parking lot at Nahkauf and left the machine and the adjacent container with little more than rubble. However, this explosion was not the first of its kind in Berge; An ATM was blown up here in January 2015, and this time too the perpetrators escaped undetected. It remained unclear whether money was stolen during the blast, although thankfully no injuries were reported.

Ingo Schlender, a board member of VR-Bank, was woken up by the noise and immediately made his way to the scene of the damage. When asked what would happen next with the location, the answer was clear: Despite the previous attacks, the VR Bank, together with Mayor Susanne Scherfke-Weber and the community, was looking for a new location. While other banks withdrew from the region, VR-Bank was optimistic about the future and opened a new self-service branch in the Anger building at the beginning of 2025, directly opposite Nahkauf.

New branch and modern services

The new self-service branch offers the citizens of Berge and the neighboring villages close access to banking services. It includes a modern ATM, a scanner and a statement printer, all of which have been technically upgraded. The scanner allows you to send transfers and transmit messages or contracts. At the opening, Schlender not only thanked the customers for their understanding during the difficult time after the demolition, but also the craftsmen and service providers who made a significant contribution to setting up the new branch.

Mayor Scherfke-Weber expressed her relief at VR-Bank's decision to give up its location in Berge. Their emphasis on the importance of reopening to local infrastructure shows how much a bank branch contributes to the quality of life of its residents.

A look at ATM explosions in Germany

The blowing up of ATMs is a growing problem in Germany, as [bka.de](https://www.bka.de/DE/ UnserAufgabe/Deliktsbereich/Geldautomaten Sprengungen/geldautomaten Sprengungen_node.html) reports. Perpetrators often use technological devices and explosive materials to carry out these attacks. While gas mixtures were often used in the past, solid explosives now dominate. The attacks are usually directed against isolated machines and often occur at times when customer traffic is low. Not only is property at risk, but also the lives of residents, as became clear in Berge.

In 2021, 392 ATM explosions were recorded in Germany, a decrease of 5% compared to the previous year. Interestingly, fraudsters often use high-powered vehicles to escape and are characterized by reckless behavior. The crowding out effect is particularly noticeable in the Netherlands, where more intensive prosecution and prevention measures led to a decline in such acts.

The incidents in Berge are therefore not just a local problem, but are in the context of a Germany-wide development that is constantly being monitored by the security authorities. With its decision to maintain its location in Berge, VR Bank is sending a strong signal of confidence in the regional community, while at the same time increasing the focus on the security situation of ATM traffic.