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October 1, 2026
Deutsche Bank sets Guinness World Record – and donates to Save the Children
More than 30,000 employees from 50 countries collectively logged over 300 million steps in a single day – enough to circle the Earth over five times.
Deutsche Bank has set a Guinness World Record. On September 24, 30,034 employees from 50 countries logged a total of 304,883,456 steps. Together, they covered 217,991.671 km – enough to circle the Earth over five times. In light of the event’s success, the bank is donating 500,000 euros to Save the Children. The achievement was officially recognised yesterday by Guinness World Records for the most participants in a remote “Around the World” distance team challenge in 24 hours. In light of the event’s success, the bank is donating 500,000 euros to Save the Children.
The collective achievement reflects the culture of collaboration that underpins Deutsche Bank’s Global Hausbank strategy.
“Progress comes from setting ambitious goals and striving to achieve them together. This challenge gave us the opportunity to do exactly that," says Christian Sewing, CEO. "By coming together across businesses, functions and regions, we demonstrated the strength of our global organisation and showed what is possible when thousands of colleagues rally behind a common objective.”
Some employees clocked up their steps individually, while many formed teams and devised creative activities – from art and architecture tours, walking meetings and scavenger hunts to networking walks.
Employees had already reached the original target of 56 million steps – equivalent to the Earth’s 40,075-kilometre circumference – by mid-morning in Germany. The final step count represents roughly half the distance to the Moon.
The record in numbers
What was the Deutsche Bank World Record Challenge?
A 24-hour global employee initiative designed to connect colleagues across multiple regions and time zones around one shared objective: to set a Guinness World Record walking more than 40,000 km in one day, enough to circle the Earth once. For the attempt to count, at least 10,000 colleagues needed to take part, tracking their steps using an authorised app.
Why did Deutsche Bank organise the challenge?
The challenge brought together colleagues from across the bank, spanning different businesses, functions and locations. Every step counted, and reaching the goal depended on everyone playing their part. That same spirit of collaboration, of working together across boundaries is at the heart of Deutsche Bank's Global Hausbank strategy.
What Guinness World Records title was achieved?
Deutsche Bank achieved the Guinness World Records title for “The most participants in a remote ‘Around the World’ distance team challenge in 24 hours”, following independent verification by Guinness World Records.
What was the connection between the World Record Challenge and Save the Children?
In light of Deutsche Bank employees successfully setting the world record, the bank is donating 500,000 euros to the global Children’s Emergency Fund (CEF), which helps Save the Children’s teams to quickly provide access to protection, food, clean water, healthcare and education to children affected by conflicts, natural disasters or other emergencies.
Further links on the topic
Volunteering
Save the Children
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