Dr Joachim Wuermeling today took up office as a member of the Executive Board of the Deutsche Bundesbank. The Bundesbank's Executive Board has therefore reshuffled its areas of responsibility.

As at the end of December 2015, households' financial assets amounted to €5,318 billion; this figure was €105 billion (or 2.0%) higher than at the end of the third quarter.

German banks adjusted their credit standards chiefly by narrowing margins in the third quarter of 2016, as is revealed by the latest Bank Lending Survey (BLS) conducted among the participating banks domiciled in Germany.

The Deutsche Bundesbank is presenting Germany's multifaceted culture as part of the European Central Bank's European Cultural Days, a series of events which will be taking place between 17 October and 1 December 2016. Teaming up with cultural institutions from Frankfurt, the Bundesbank and ECB have put together a rich and varied programme ranging from classical orchestral concerts and modern dance to literature and contemporary art.

Given persistent global uncertainty, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is seeking to maintain its current lending capacity, which would have begun to diminish gradually beginning in October since the 2012 bilateral borrowing agreements – including the agreement with the Bundesbank – are scheduled to expire.