In the first quarter of 2025, the German net international investment position (i.i.p.) decreased by €51 billion to €3.4 trillion; that equates to 79 % of gross domestic product (GDP). German claims on non-residents now stand at €13.8 trillion. This compares to German liabilities amounting to €10.3 trillion.

Banking supervision in Germany is carried out by the Bundesbank in cooperation with the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority and the Federal Ministry of Finance as well as external auditors and audit offices of the banking associations.

A well functioning economy requires a stable banking system. Banking supervision is therefore responsible for monitoring credit institutions’ business activity and maintaining investor confidence. In Germany, the task of banking supervision is shared by the Bundesbank and the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin). In particular, the Bundesbank is in charge of monitoring the credit institutions.

Anyone wishing to conduct one or more of the banking activities specified in the Banking Act on a commercial scale in Germany requires authorisation from the competent supervisory authority.

TIBER-DE (Threat Intelligence-based Ethical Red Teaming) is a framework for threat-led ethical hacking exercises to strengthen the cyber resilience of the German financial sector. Banks, insurance companies, financial market infrastructures and key service providers of the aforementioned can participate in TIBER-DE tests on a voluntary basis to perform a realistic assessment of their cyber resilience. Interested companies can obtain non-binding information about the modalities of the tests (contact see right column). Providers who offer Red Teaming or Threat Intelligence services according to the TIBER-DE framework can also approach us in order to introduce themselves.

With MACCs, the Deutsche Bundesbank offers its counterparties a modern and customer-friendly way to use credit claims as eligible collateral.

Macroprudential supervision lacks robust, timely and systematic data on the credit standards for mortgages granted to households. These data are vital for identifying risks to financial stability in good time. Following the entry into force of a statutory order in February 2021, the Bundesbank is now planning a data collection exercise aimed at closing these data gaps.