For the first time in nearly three years, the German banks responding to the Bank Lending Survey (BLS) did not tighten their credit standards for loans to enterprises further in the third quarter of 2024, but eased them marginally instead. On the other hand, they once again tightened their credit standards for loans to households for house purchase and for consumer credit and other lending to households For the fourth quarter, banks are planning to tighten their credit standards for loans to enterprises again, partly owing to pessimistic market and economic expectations.

The Bundesbank has been collecting annual statistics on foreign direct investment stocks (DI) in accordance with the provisions of the Foreign Trade and Payments Regulation (Außenwirtschaftsverordnung) since 1976 and publishes aggregated results in the Bundesbank's Special Statistical Publication 10.

The banking stress test just conducted jointly by BaFin and the Bundesbank has shown that the profitability of small and medium-sized banks and savings banks in Germany improved significantly in 2023. Institutions have emerged from the interest rate reversal with stronger profitability and a higher capital base, and are also prepared for a severe crisis scenario. At a joint press conference in Frankfurt, Raimund Röseler, Chief Executive Director of Banking Supervision at BaFin, and Michael Theurer, the Bundesbank Executive Board member responsible for banking supervision, presented the results of the “LSI stress test”.

In early September, a delegation from the Deutsche Bundesbank travelled to Istanbul to discuss aspects of central bank digital currencies (CBDC) with the Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye (TCMB) and other stakeholders. Read more below about the exciting insights gained and how collaboration will be intensified.

Sustainable Finance refers to the integration of environmental, social and governance aspects into the decision-making of financial players.

on the subject of Balance of payments

Change of office ceremony in Johannesburg: Jens Fuhrmann takes over from Dr Eugen Cleveland as the Bundesbank’s new representative in South Africa. Read more on how close collaboration with the region’s central banks is being continued and expanded.