CFS Survey: ‘The Future of Retail Banking in Germany’
The German financial sector believes that retail banking is on the verge of significant change: competition is intensifying. New entrants are putting pressure on the established players.
CFS Index: Financial institutions see revenue and earnings growth nosedive
The CFS Index signals a slightly more subdued but still stable state of the German financial sector in the first quarter of 2026. Expectations for revenue, earnings and employment in particular are more cautious.
CFS survey: “Do we need a digital euro?”
German financial sector largely sees no necessity. Negative impacts on profitability expected.
CFS index: Sales growth slows, previous year’s levels are maintained
Revenue and earnings growth in the German financial sector remain stable compared to last year, while service providers report significant declines. Slightly positive signals are emerging in workforce growth, though expectations for the upcoming quarters remain mixed.
CFS Survey on “The Current Economic Policy of the New Federal Government”
Germany’s financial sector still sees considerable need for action in the government’s economic policy. Expectations remain low, especially regarding bureaucracy reduction and pension reform.
CFS survey: “What does Trump’s election victory mean for economic relations between the EU and the US?”
Donald Trump’s return to the White House poses explosive questions for transatlantic economic relations. 80% of experts expect trade conditions to deteriorate, while European companies are likely to increasingly invest in the US. At the same time, looser US financial market regulation and the growing influence of crypto markets are expected. The EU faces the task of securing its competitiveness — a decisive phase for business and politics.
CFS index at its lowest level since the pandemic
In the fourth quarter of 2024, the CFS index fell to its lowest level since the second quarter of the pandemic year 2020 at 4.4 points. Financial service providers are particularly affected, recording significant declines in turnover, earnings and investments and taking measures to reduce their workforce. Despite these challenges, the international importance of Germany as a financial centre remains stable.
CFS index rises slightly thanks to strong employee growth
In the first quarter of 2024, the CFS index rose by +1.2 points to 108.4 points. The financial sector recorded strong employee growth and higher investments among service providers, but declining sales and earnings. Financial institutions remain cautious, while service providers are optimistic about the current quarter.
CFS Index remains stable thanks to good results in the last quarter
In the fourth quarter of 2023 at +0.8 points, the CFS Index shows almost unchanged stability in the German financial sector. Despite positive results, expectations for the first quarter of 2024 are significantly more pessimistic, particularly among service providers.
Optimistic expectations in the financial sector keep CFS Index level unchanged despite lower values in third quarter
The CFS index, which assesses the state of the German financial sector on a quarterly basis, remains virtually unchanged at 106.5 points (-0.1 points) – even though the financial sector reported declining figures in the third quarter. Find out more about the background in this article.
