Efficient and secure payment systems are the foundation of a stable financial system. The Bundesbank secures and monitors cashless payments in Germany as a financial centre, provides settlement and clearing services and plays an active role in the further development of the single European payment system.

In an interview with FOCUS online, Bundesbank Executive Board member Burkhard Balz explains why the digital euro is necessary and the challenges involved. Our objective as Eurosystem central banks is to launch a pilot operation in mid-2027. As before, we still expect the digital euro to go live in 2029, Mr Balz said.

Britta Weinmann is the Bundesbank’s new representative at the German embassy in Moscow. Ms Weinmann, who worked in banking supervision at the Bank’s Regional Office in Hesse prior to this, took over her new role on 1 August from Sven Redel

Germany’s current account recorded a surplus of €8.3 billion in August 2025, down €7.3 billion on the previous month’s level. This was mainly caused by the smaller surplus in the goods account and the shift to a deficit in invisible current transactions, which comprise services as well as primary and secondary income. 

After a break of three years, the bilateral meeting, the 16th of its kind, took place with colleagues from the Bank of Korea in Frankfurt on 3 and 4 November 2022.