Banking industry in Germany - statistics & facts

The banking industry in Germany presents a dynamic landscape characterized by a unique three-pillar structure. This three-pillar system consists of commercial banks, the public banking sector (comprising savings banks and state banks), and cooperative banks. The decentralized network of independent regional commercial and savings banks, known as Sparkassen, plays a vital role in serving local communities, while state banks, known as Landesbanken, operate at the state level. Savings and cooperative banks cover large sections of the market, with their total assets exceeding 25 percent of the whole industry’s. In 2022, there were 722 cooperative banks and 362 savings banks active in the country.

Banking system stability and efficiency

Over the past decades, the German banking sector witnessed a continuous decline in the number of banks. Notwithstanding this significant decrease, Germany maintains a more active banks than any other European country. Despite the exceptionally high number of banks, however, it only holds the second position in terms of total banking assets in Europe. In 2022, France boasted more than twice the assets held by German banks, even though Germany had approximately 1,000 more banks in operation within its borders. The substantial number of banks does not guarantee a highly stable and efficient banking system. In the first quarter of 2023, Germany reported the third highest cost-to-income ratio in Europe – an efficiency indicator that measures operating costs as a percentage of operating income. Historically, the ratio fluctuated between 70 and 75 percent, a relatively high range for the European average. In addition, the return on equity was 6.5 percent in early 2023, the second lowest in Europe.

Germany’s growing neobank success: The rise of N26

Although the German banking industry may not be ranked among the most efficient ones, it is home to one of the most prominent neobanks in Europe, namely N26. The Berlin-based online bank had roughly eight million customers in 2022, outranked only by Revolut and Wise, and it was also among the most widely downloaded European neobanks. Though N26 has yet to experience a profitable year, its total assets have increased significantly since 2016, reaching almost one billion euros in 2021.
This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.
Published by Statista Research Department, Dec 21, 2023

Key insights

Number of banks
1,458
Bank assets as a share of GDP
173.59%
Largest cooperative bank
Deutsche Apotheker- und Ärztebank
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Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Total assets of the banking industry in Germany from 2000 to 2022 (in billion euros)

Banks

Total assets of the banking industry in Germany 2000-2022

Average inflation rate and European Central Bank (ECB) interest rate in the Germany from January 2018 to October 2023

Banks

Monthly inflation rate and central bank interest rate in Germany 2018-2023

Leading banks for large corporations in Germany in 2023, by market penetration rate

Banks

Market penetration of banks for German large corporations in 2023

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