Bundesbank President Jens Weidmann feels that the introduction of central bank digital currency (CBDC) needs careful consideration. The various risks suggest that a prudent design and cautious approach would be essential, he said at the Bundesbank’s virtual autumn conference. CBDC is not necessarily needed to provide the general public with quick, secure and cheap payment methods.

Cashless payment instruments in Germany were already being used more frequently in 2019, i.e. prior to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. This was evidenced by the latest figures of the Deutsche Bundesbank’s Statistics on Payments and Securities Trading, Clearing and Settlement.

In 2019, the trend towards cashless payments picked up. Even prior to the coronavirus pandemic, payments with debit cards (often issued in the form of "girocards" in Germany) gained ground in particular. Their usage increased by 20% on the year, with the cards being used ever more frequently for smaller transactions.

Die EZB wird nach der Bedeutungseinstufung, die aufgrund der Aufnahme einer engen Zusammenarbeit erfolgt, mit der direkten Aufsicht über fünf Banken in Bulgarien sowie acht Banken in Kroatien beginnen. Die EZB übernimmt zudem die direkte Aufsicht über eine weitere österreichische Bankengruppe.