Commitment to the region

Relevance of the topic

LUKB is the market leader and a major employer in the Lucerne economic region. It is conscious of its special responsibility and fulfils it actively, holistically and with a focus on the future. It is committed to sustainable development in the region and underlines its social responsibility by providing significant support to local companies, institutions, associations and events in the areas of culture, sport, education and business. In doing so, it contributes to prosperity and quality of life in the region while strengthening its market areas.

Principle

LUKB encourages its employees to make a personal contribution to the region, and actively fulfils its role as sponsor and patron. It is also committed to promoting financial literacy among the population.

Targets

LUKB also plans to maintain its annual seven-figure sponsorship and patronage contributions, and to further establish the LUKB ‘Zukunftspreis’ award for innovative and sustainable projects, which was presented for the first time in 2022.

Status in 2025

Voluntary personal commitment to the region

In addition to its own engagement as an attractive employer in the Lucerne economic region, LUKB has been encouraging its employees to make their own personal contribution for many years already. LUKB's programme of personal commitment comprises the following key elements:

  • Volunteering for non-profit organisations: ranging from work on programmes in the mountains and assisting with camps to caring for the elderly and people with dementia
  • Responsible commitment: Employees choose and organise their volunteering assignments independently.
  • Support through working hours: LUKB provides half a working day for volunteering assignments of up to two days and two working days for assignments of up to three days.

In 2025, a number of LUKB employees once again engaged in volunteering work for the benefit of the general public.

‘Lozärn verbonde’ – the anniversary gift to the public to mark the 175th anniversary of LUKB

In the past financial year, to mark its 175th anniversary LUKB thanked the people and businesses of the Canton of Lucerne under the motto ‘Lozärn verbonde’ (Lucerne brings people together) with five unique public events focusing on music, enjoyment, nature, culture and sport. All in all, ‘Lozärn verbonde’ offered around 30,000 Lucerne residents the opportunity to try out new things, find inspiration and connect with others. This was made possible by collaborating with around 40 Lucerne-based associations, 50 commercial enterprises and more than 1,500 volunteers, including many active and retired LUKB employees.

Sponsorship of 1.9 million Swiss francs

LUKB has a long tradition of sponsorship, showing its closeness and attachment to the market area and its people. In 2025, as in the previous year, LUKB disbursed a total of around 1.9 million Swiss francs in sponsorships in support of sport, cultural events, social initiatives and art.

Information on political donations and other forms of political support can be found in the ‘Business ethics and compliance’ section under the ‘Political donations and other support’ subsection of this report.

Partnership with the University of Lucerne

LUKB has been a partner of the University of Lucerne since 2022 and supports the further development of the university at a tertiary level with an annual contribution of 250,000 Swiss francs. Through a series of regular LUKB-sponsored lectures, the ‘LUKB Vorlesungsreihe’, the partnership gives the public regular access to academics who share their findings and comment on relevant social and economic issues. LUKB also benefits from access to the university's network and current research results, which provides valuable impetus for internal training and client events.

LUKB ‘Zukunftspreis’ worth a total of 150,000 Swiss francs

Every year since 2022, LUKB has supported projects in the Lucerne economic region that further sustainable social and environmental development. The LUKB ‘Zukunftspreis’1), with 150,000 Swiss francs in prize money, was once again awarded in 2025 by public voting after a committee created a project shortlist. For the first time, the population was able to vote separately in the following three categories:

  • Technology & Innovation
  • Social Commitment
  • Environment

The winners in each category receive up to 40,000 Swiss francs, and there is a jury prize of up to 30,000 Swiss francs.

First place in the ‘Technology & Innovation’ category went to the ‘SendMeBag’ project, a start-up for clever and environmentally friendly reusable packaging in online retail. The ‘Fitness Integration Perspektive’ project, which promotes the social integration of young asylum seekers, won in the ‘Social Commitment’ category. ‘Lentl’, a project promoting organic lentil cultivation in regional agriculture, won in the ‘Environment’ category. The jury prize was awarded to ‘UpGrid’, a start-up that makes renewable energies accessible via a digital platform.

LUKB will once again award the ‘Zukunftspreis’ in 2026, providing another 150,000 Swiss francs for sustainable and innovative projects in the economic region. The submission period runs from 2 February to 27 May 2026. Following pre-selection by the committee, nine projects will be presented for public voting from 12 to 26 October 2026. The award ceremony will take place on LUKB Entrepreneurs' Day on 23 October 2026.

1) https://www.lukb.ch/zukunftspreis (in German)

Promoting financial literacy

LUKB attaches great importance to financial literacy among young people. It is actively committed to training young people in money management and equipping them with the skills they need to make sound financial decisions. In doing so, LUKB believes it is particularly important to not offer any products that encourage consumer debt.

As a member of the Association of Swiss Cantonal Banks (ASCB), LUKB plays an active part in the ‘FinanceMission’ association. This association was founded in 2016 by the 23 cantonal banks and the teaching federations of German- and French-speaking Switzerland to teach young people about the importance of handling their finances responsibly and to improve their financial literacy.

FinanceMission provides an interactive and informative programme for school teaching that is tailored to the curriculum. At the heart of the offering is the ‘FinanceMission World’ e-learning environment, in which content on the cost of living, budgets, work and consumption, for example, is explained using a gamification approach. Young people, teachers, parents and anyone else who is interested can obtain the teaching materials free of charge at www.financemission.ch.

Since September 2021, the cantonal banks have been running the online magazine ‘jugendbudget.ch’, which offers parents ideas and help on how to discuss money issues with their children (www.jugendbudget.ch).

LUKB also holds annual budgeting advice sessions in schools in the Canton of Lucerne. The ‘Lehrplan 21’ curriculum has been in force in the Canton of Lucerne since the 2019/20 school year. This includes the following objective: ‘Students are able to develop a responsible approach to money.’ LUKB's budgeting advice is geared towards achieving this learning objective. The target group for budgeting advice is students who have completed upper secondary school or are attending bridge-year programmes in the Canton of Lucerne. Every year, around 90 to 100 school classes take advantage of LUKB's services and receive a 90-minute information session from selected client advisors on topics such as budget planning, debt and payment methods.

The ‘MoneyHaxx’ association helps young adults (18 to around 30 years old) master how to handle money – with practical and straightforward tips and tricks. MoneyHaxx events and learning videos explain key financial topics such as budgets, savings accounts, fund savings and pillar 3a in simple terms. The workshops are short, interactive and designed in the language of the target group. The first event was held in the LUKB flagship branch in Lucerne in 2024. Two further events followed in 2025, both of which were fully booked within a very short space of time. Two more events are planned for 2026. Further information: www.moneyhaxx.ch

National Future Day

National Future Day, which takes place every year in Switzerland, offers students in years 5 to 7 the opportunity to gain an insight into various professional fields. LUKB organises special programmes of supporting events and activities in which participants can find out about the world of banking.

On 13 November 2025, 70 students spent their Future Day at LUKB.

Collection of regional art

LUKB is committed to cultural diversity in central Switzerland – including beyond its sponsorship strategy. An internal art commission supports lesser-known artists in particular and has been building up a diverse collection of contemporary works since 1989. LUKB regularly invites visitors to opening events and exhibitions on its premises in order to make this art accessible to the general public.