Banks grant long-term loans funded by short-term customer deposits. This maturity transformation earns banks money because long-term interest rates are generally higher than short-term interest rates. At the same time, this exposes banks to the risk that interest rates will rise, forcing them to pay more for deposits in the short term already, whereas they only receive the higher interest on new loans. In the low interest rate environment which has prevailed over the past few years, the premium on assuming interest rate risk has trended downward. At the same time, banks with poor profitability have stepped up their maturity transformation and thus also this risk. This is potentially a sign of a search for yield.

The October 2021 edition of the Monthly Report contains an article on state government finances in 2020 from the perspective of the temporary impact of the pandemic on the deficit situation and the effect of escape clauses on the building of reserves. Another topic discussed is the development of the global economy during the coronavirus pandemic. The question of how households in Germany view the digital euro is also addressed, with a presentation of initial survey results and interviews. The report additionally features an article on the regulation of remuneration in credit institutions.