Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Customer classification FAQ

Below you will find answers to frequently asked questions on customer classification. Please send us any additional questions by e-mail to kundensystematik@bundesbank.de. We are continuously expanding the list of questions on this page.

When do reports have to start being submitted under the new classification of economic activities WZ 2008?

The new customer classification is to be used for the first time in the banking statistics in the December 2008 reporting month. This means that all statistics (monthly balance sheet statistics, borrowers statistics, MFI interest rate and securities deposit statistics and banks' external status) will be converted at the same time.

How does the new classification differ from the old?

The main changes from the old customer classification are a more detailed breakdown of the services sector and the separate listing of what is known as ancillary business (repairs, installation and maintenance of capital and durable consumer goods) as autonomous branches. For instance, the activities contained in the old sectors "Other business services nec (74A)" and "Recreational, cultural and sporting activities (920)" are now broken down into 22 sectors in the new classification.

The changeover to WZ 2008 will entail not only an expansion of the sectoral breakdown but also two additional methodological changes. In cases of "vertical integration" (ie several stages of production are carried out in the same statistical unit), in which classification was hitherto according to the final product of this unit, the new system will assign the activity to the stage of production that makes the greatest contribution to gross value added (or to a suitable proxy).

Likewise, under NACE Rev 2 / WZ 2008, non-manufacturers who resell goods purchased from other entities on their own behalf and also own the industrial property rights to the goods will be classified in future under "Trade". These units were previously classified under "Manufacturers of goods".

Will the new classification of economic activities also entail changes in the sectoral breakdown of the customer classification?

The sectoral breakdown of the customer classification such as is used in the monthly balance sheet statistics, the MFI interest rate and securities deposit statistics and the banks' external status, will remain unchanged with one exception: supranational banks (such as the BIS and the IMF) are now classified as foreign banks, and internationally active development banks (such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the World Bank Group) as foreign financial enterprises (financial intermediation). Previously, these institutions were classified as international organisations in the "Foreign general government" sector.

Classification of local authorities and their special funds

Local governments, municipal departments (Regiebetriebe) and municipal special purpose associations (kommunale Zweckverbände) are assigned to the "General government / local government" sector.

Local government entities that are independently organised and whose budget shows only the net profit or loss (Nettobetriebe), by contrast, are assigned to those sectors to which their economic activities belong. Nettobetriebe include, in particular, publicly owned and operated municipal enterprises under the relevant laws, as well as public-law enterprises. Activities mostly include electricity, gas and water supply, refuse collection, the operation of sewage plants, local public transport, and the operation of hospitals, old people's homes and nursing homes and other healthcare and welfare institutions. Other activities include operating sports and recreational facilities, including outdoor and indoor swimming pools, mountain lifts and cable cars, green areas, parks and sites of historical interest. Public cultural tasks are also often awarded to publicly owned and operated enterprises, such as the operation of theatres, museums, libraries, archives and zoos.

Loans to these Nettobetriebe, even if they are taken up by the local authorities themselves, are to be assigned to those sectors in which these entities are active.

Classification of financial leasing enterprises

Factoring and financial leasing were integrated into the Banking Act (Kreditwesengesetz) upon implementation of the 2009 Annual Tax Act (Jahressteuergesetz). As of 2009, these transactions are regarded as financial services as defined in section 1 (1a) sentence 2 of the Banking Act and are therefore subject to supervision.

Owing to the change in the law, leasing companies, whose main business focuses on financial leasing as defined in the Banking Act will be listed in the customer classification under “Financial leasing (64F)”. This reclassification is effective from the reporting month December 2009. The changeover for all statistical surveys (monthly balance sheet statistics, borrowers statistics, interest rate and securities deposit statistics as well as banks' (MFIs') foreign status) is also effective as of December 2009.

More information can be found in the current Circular 18/2009 (German only).

Classification of the management of private limited companies (GmbH)

Managers of private limited companies (GmbH) are classified in the banking statistics as self-employed persons if they hold at least 50% of the shares or have a blocking minority or if, in the conduct of their business, they are independent of instructions from the partners in the GmbH.