Bundesbank President Jens Weidmann has called on the euro-area countries to embrace fiscal prudence, arguing in a speech in Hamburg that the tighter the fiscal space, the more central banks will come under political pressure to stabilise economic activity in the short run – even if that does mean compromising on price stability.

The low interest rates are imposing a heavy burden on the 1,555 small and medium-sized credit institutions operating in Germany. This is the finding of a recent survey conducted by the Bundesbank and the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin). Even so, many banks and savings banks are taking countermeasures, for example by raising fees.

The Bundesbank has completed the transfer of its gold reserves from New York and Paris to Frankfurt am Main three years ahead of schedule. This means that the objective of its gold storage plan, which was set out in 2013, has been achieved well in advance. More than half of Germany’s gold reserves are now located in Germany.

The Bundesbank celebrated its 60th anniversary by hosting an open day in Frankfurt am Main on 1 and 2 July. Around 28,000 visitors eager to gather their own impressions of the Bundesbank flocked to the bank’s Central Office and its Regional Office in Hesse to experience a rich variety of informative and entertaining attractions.

Speaking at an event to mark the Bundesbank's 60th anniversary, Bundesbank President Jens Weidmann underscored the institution's importance for the stability culture in Germany and Europe. "Over the last 60 years, the Bundesbank has not been afraid to ruffle a few feathers if it sees stability risks," he said in Stuttgart. That had not damaged its reputation among the general public.

The Bundesbank has held a colloquium in memory of its former President Hans Tietmeyer. Bundesbank President Jens Weidmann paid tribute to Mr Tietmeyer, calling him "the president who ensured that European monetary union was designed with the Bundesbank's tradition of stability in mind".

To mark its 60th anniversary, the Bundesbank held a high-level symposium in Frankfurt am Main on the future of central banking. During the course of the event, participants highlighted the benefits and constraints associated with non-standard monetary policy measures, the economic consequences of interaction between central banks and governments and the impact of new financial technologies.

Growing numbers of consumers in Germany are using electronic payment methods, says Bundesbank President Jens Weidmann.

Although central bank reserves have gone up sharply in the past few years, broader money has grown only moderately. In the April issue of the Monthly Report, the Bundesbank's authors look at the role of banks, non-banks and central banks in the money creation process and also explain how non-standard monetary policy measures impact on money growth.

Bundesbank Executive Board member Andreas Dombret has indicated at the Bundesbank symposium on banking supervision that he is open to compromise on the revision of the international capital rules for banks. He added that it was not a question of reaching an agreement at any price, however – any compromise would have to be palatable to all.