About SONO Sterbegeld VVaG
A mutual insurance association with roots going back to 1846 — built by members, for members.
Providing Security When It Matters Most
SONO Sterbegeld VVaG was founded on a simple but profound principle: that every person deserves the dignity of a proper farewell, regardless of their financial circumstances. We exist to take that burden off the shoulders of grieving families.
As a Versicherungsverein auf Gegenseitigkeit (VVaG) — a mutual insurance association — we operate without outside shareholders. Our members are our owners, and every decision we make is guided by their best interests.
Today, with more than 90,000 members across Germany, we remain committed to our founding values: solidarity, reliability, and service delivered with care.
Values That Have Stood the Test of Time
Solidarity
From the beginning, SONO was built on the idea that a community can protect its members collectively. When one member faces hardship, the strength of the whole stands behind them.
Reliability
We make promises we keep. Our members know that when the time comes, the benefit they were promised will be there — paid promptly and without dispute.
Transparency
As a mutual association, our finances and governance are open to our members. There are no hidden agendas, no profit extraction — just honest administration on behalf of those we serve.
A Legacy of Community Protection
Our story began in the mid-nineteenth century, born out of the mutual aid movement that swept through industrial Germany. Working families banded together to ensure that death would not also mean financial ruin for those left behind.
SONO is established as a mutual insurance association in the industrial Ruhr region to help working families cover burial costs.
Membership expands significantly as trust in the association grows and the mutual model proves its resilience through social upheaval.
Responding to gaps in Germany's statutory health system, SONO introduces supplemental health insurance products to serve its growing membership.
SONO serves over 90,000 members across Germany from its headquarters in Bottrop, maintaining the community spirit of its founders.
What Is a VVaG?
A Versicherungsverein auf Gegenseitigkeit (VVaG) is a form of insurance organisation unique to the German legal tradition. Unlike a stock company (AG) or a GmbH, a VVaG has no external shareholders.
Democratic Governance
Major decisions require input from the membership. The association is governed through member-elected bodies, ensuring accountability to those it serves.
Surplus Retained for Members
Any operating surplus is retained within the association to strengthen reserves or benefit members — it is not distributed to outside investors.
Regulatory Supervision
Like all German insurance providers, SONO is subject to oversight by the relevant financial regulatory authorities, ensuring solvency and consumer protection.
Ready to Learn More?
Our team in Bottrop is happy to answer questions about our association, our products, and how membership works.
Contact Our Team