For Marko Mühlbauer, Chief Executive Officer at Sparkasse Vogtland, the Return from Bavaria could not be topped emotionally.

Marko Mühlbauer was celebrating one evening in 2013 his return from Bavaria to his adopted homeland in West Saxony becoming a member of the board at Sparkasse Vogtland on January 1st 2014. The party was considerably modest and down-to-earth, not what you would expect from the head of a financial institution with a sum of 3 billion Euros in total assets. He claimed the following year that the celebration would never be topped emotionally.

When he first started to commute between his birthplace Schönwald in Upper Franconia to Oelsnitz in Vogtland everything was in an exciting transition: not just the Sparkasse where he was responible for the credit office but the entire region.

“It was an outstanding time”, remembers the 49 year old.

“Everything was new and free of restrictions, the opportunities were sensational.”

Years later, the Vogtlandian Sparkassen merged and Marko Mühlbauer’s office then got moved to Auerbach. In 2001 he moved again into the recently inaugurated head office at the Komturhof in Plauen.

The spatial changes do not mean any noteworthy adjustments. The old friendships from childhood through his youth remain intact seem to promise a certain ease of gaining new lasting relationships at his new homebase.

“I was warmly welcomed again now just as I was during the 90ies. The great openness and loyalty of people here and their firm roots in the region are seem to resonate with my personality.”

In 2008, Marko Mühlbauer was already a fully integrated Vogtlandian. However, in his logical career move switching to the management board of Sparkasse Oberpfalz Nord where he spendt 60% of his time in Weiden made his way to work much longer. As one of the board members Marko Mühlbauer managed the business control, the credit department, the revision office and the coordination devision. In 2013, the German Savings Bank Association (DSGV) which ranks more than 400 banks published that the institution in Weiden with its balance sum of 1.4 billion Euros received a middle ranking. Whereas the Vogtland Sparkasse was closer to entering the Top 100 (2013: place 109) and announced an open position in their management.

At that point it was not just the occupational development offered that convinced him to apply for this position. The return to his adopted homeland added to it so it felt like “winning the lottery jackpot”. Marko Mühlbauer started his new job at the familiar headquarters on January 1st 2014 and was appointed chairman of the board only six months later.

“This is where I am at home.”

The Vogtland people would say he is “completely in his element”. He simply summarizes it with the words “This is where I am at home.”

“We have topnotch educated skilled personnel, a fantastic location, well-established commercial areas and outstanding companies with sensational stories about thier remarkable development.

Personal details Marko Mühlbauer

• born in Schönwald / Upper Franconia
• Certified Banking Administrator
• 1992 to 2007 employed at Sparkasse Vogtland
• 2008 to 2013 board member at Sparkasse Oberpfalz Nord
• since 2014 Chairman of the board of Sparkasse Vogtland