Disruptions to the financial and monetary system can stunt economic growth, reduce employment and strain government budgets. The Bundesbank observes the financial and monetary system, analyses systemic risks and plays an active role in national, European and global committees and institutions in order to identify threats in a timely manner and avert financial crises through risk-based measures and regulation.

BaFin has issued a general administrative act regarding the domestic countercyclical capital buffer rate. The rate is to be raised from 0 percent to 0.25 percent as of 1 July 2019. This increase is a preventive measure intended to enhance the resilience of the banking system.

In its meeting on 27 May 2019, the German Financial Stability Committee (G-FSC) decided to submit a recommendation to the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin).

The financial crisis sparked reforms in the international financial markets. The Financial Stability Board now reviews the impact of those reforms. The Bundesbank and the Leopoldina took this as an opportunity to invite experts from academia and administration to exchange their views on policy evaluation. The results have now been published.

Times of strong growth and low interest rates have seen vulnerabilities build up in the German financial system. In addition, the probability of an economic downturn has increased. “Now is the time to build up sufficient capital and strengthen the financial system’s defences,” said Bundesbank Vice-President Claudia Buch at the press conference on the publication of the new Financial Stability Review.

The G7 finance ministers and central bank governors have adopted fundamental elements for third party risk management and for penetration testing to further promote cybersecurity in the financial sector.

The Bundesbank brings its expertise to numerous European and international bodies and organisations in which issues concerning financial stability and the financial and monetary system are analysed and policy measures are coordinated.