In the period from January to June 2024, the Bundesbank removed significantly more counterfeit money from circulation in Germany than in the six months prior, detecting around 38,600 counterfeit euro banknotes with a nominal value of €2.4 million. This was 29% more than in the second half of 2023. Meanwhile, the total loss arising from counterfeit banknotes was only slightly up, by just under 5%. The increase was driven by easily identifiable counterfeits, especially of €10 and €20 banknotes, said Burkhard Balz, the Bundesbank’s Executive Board member whose remit includes cash management.

Die Bilanzsumme der Deutschen Bundesbank ist in der Corona-Pandemie erheblich gewachsen. Diese Ausweitung ist Ausdruck der starken geldpolitischen Unterstützung in der Krise und dürfte die Bilanz auf absehbare Zeit maßgeblich beeinflussen. Insofern ist die Bilanz einer Notenbank nicht zuletzt auch Spiegelbild ihrer geldpolitischen Aktivitäten.

By 2020, the Bundesbank intends to store half of Germany’s gold reserves in its own vaults in Germany. The other half will remain in storage at its partner central banks in New York and London