Where are the interest rates? These complaints are piling up among savers – after a good while in which the savings were of no use at all or still cost "custody fees". Banks and savings banks are often under general suspicion of simply pocketing the money instead of rewarding loyal customers and savers at least in such a way that the devaluation of money due to inflation is somewhat lower.
Commerzbank is tackling this accusation with a level of transparency that is unparalleled in the world of German banking and, above all, savings banks. On a whole slide, CFO Bettina Orlopp explained how much of the interest she receives from the European Central Bank is also passed on to savers: On an annual average, it should be 30 percent, i.e. about 1 percent. That doesn't sound like much.
The reason, however, is that many customers also leave higher amounts in the current account without interest, without transferring it to overnight or even fixed-term deposits, which brings almost three times the interest. Orlopp's transparency should motivate savers to think twice: What amount do I really need in my current account? That brings money.