Spuerkeess - Your bridge to life

Mayday! Mayday! The moment Sophie has been dreading has arrived: from 31 December 2024, it will no longer be possible to access S-Net without using Luxtrust Mobile! That gives her six months to convince her dad to accept the technology and replace his physical Token with the Luxtrust Mobile app. And if you’d had dealings with her dad, you’d know that’s no easy task!

What are the major issues regarding CSR and sustainability in Luxembourg, and what specific obstacles do the country’s economic players face when they seek to establish sustainable communities? In this interview, Laetitia Georgel and Sophie Öberg from IMS Luxembourg tell us about the involvement of Luxembourg companies in the field of corporate social responsibility and sustainability, and offer five practical tips for building sustainable communities.

Private asset funds in general and their ancillary entities have gained a strategic importance within Luxembourg's financial ecosystem and lending to the fund industry is playing a growing role on the financial place. In the context of these market dynamics, Spuerkeess completes its product offering to the Luxembourg fund industry with two main lending products: Equity bridge financing (EBF) to Luxembourg alternative funds and other liquidity credit facilities to mainstream / alternative funds. In setting up a new Luxembourg fund or in driving growth for existing ones, why not taking advantage of such facilities, should the structuring and risk profile match the risk appetite of the bank? In this first article, Paolo RADAELLI, Team Manager Lending-Fund Finance and Yves WAMPACH, IRM – Lending-Fund Finance at Spuerkeess introduce the EBF product offered by the bank.

As a transition enabler, Spuerkeess plans to contribute to the national target of electrifying 49% of Luxembourg’s car fleet by 2030. Thus, since 2018, the Bank has included electric vehicles in its Lease Plus offer, and these now account for 80% of the leases taken out by the Bank's customers. This very strong interest in electric cars is partly due to the desire to "consume better and more sustainably", but is also due to our attractive Lease Plus offers. Emir Mustafic, Business Developer - Private Lease at Spuerkeess, gives us the criteria to be taken into account when buying or leasing an electric vehicle.

How can financial institutions leverage technology and data analytics to mitigate environmental risks within their investment portfolios? What are the strategies adopted by banks to align their financial services with sustainable development goals and how they can incentivise customers to adopt eco-friendly banking habits? In this interview, Julien Froumouth, Sustainable Finance Adviser at ABBL, addresses the role of Luxembourg's banks in financing renewable energy projects and supporting the transition to a low-carbon economy. Furthermore, Julien provides five tips for readers to assess a bank's corporate behaviour regarding environmental responsibilities.

In this interview, Mariana Ruiz, Senior Social Development specialist at the European Investment Bank, tells us how banks can promote social justice by integrating human rights considerations into their lending practices and investment decisions. Do not miss Mariana’s five useful tips to make informed choices that align with your human rights principles.

Originally from Canada and an expatriate, Kasia has plenty of creative ideas when it comes to getting involved in ecological projects. After a baby and a pandemic, her desire to help others was too strong not to embark on an entrepreneurial project. What steps did she take to set up her own business? In this article, she explains her journey. Happy reading!

Financial incentives encourage companies to adopt more environmentally-friendly practices. Both governments and the private sector play a crucial role in this dynamic. Luxembourg is implementing legislative measures to reduce the amount of plastic waste, while providing practical advice on concrete actions at a local level. Charles-Albert Florentin, Cleantech Cluster Manager at Luxinnovation, shares his expertise on sustainable innovation in Luxembourg, with a focus on the global impact of financing to combat plastic pollution.

Looking back to the events of early 2022 and the developing global crisis and challenges, the real estate market in Luxembourg has known some changes: price adjustments, decrease of new constructions and high interest rates have taken their toll. We spoke to Andrea Maramotti, CEO of Immotop.lu about the actual situation.

When you are self-employed, an SME, an association or a large company, you may need to pay for certain products and services by means other than by bank transfer. Some stores will agree to give you the invoice at the same time as your goods, but others don't have that option, which can make an ordinary purchase more complicated than expected for your financial management. A business bank card is a good way to resolve this kind of situation. Discover what Spuerkeess can offer for your business in this article. Enjoy your reading!

The new government has stated its intention to boost the housing sector and made this an urgent priority for its administration. Measures have been announced and changes are under way. How does this affect mortgages? We interviewed our expert Michel Marx, Team Manager Retail Banking at Spuerkeess, to find out the situation with regard to investments and the financing of buy-to-let properties. Happy reading!

Rising interest rates, a crisis-ridden construction sector, falling property prices: that's the current situation on the property market. But what does this mean for private individuals looking to buy a property in 2024? We spoke to Claude Hirtzig, Head of Retail & Professional Banking, at Spuerkeess, to find out more about the development of the real estate market and housing financing.