German non-financial corporate time deposit transactions
German non-financial corporate time deposit transactions stood at -0.3 EUR billion in Q1 2026, according to Deutsche Bundesbank. It is one of the indicators in the Non-financial corporations' financial accounts table (Value · Quarterly), with a complete series running from Q1 1999 to Q1 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Non-financial corporations' financial accounts table
| Indicator | Q1-2026 | Q4-2025 | Q3-2025 | Q2-2025 | Q1-2025 | Q4-2024 | Q3-2024 | Q2-2024 | Q1-2024 | Q4-2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time deposits2 | -0.3 | 4.4 | 14.8 | -15 | -3.9 | 2.7 | 9.8 | -12.9 | 17.3 | 1.2 | |
| Short-term time deposits | -0.4 | 5.1 | 14.9 | -13.8 | -5 | 3.6 | 8.8 | -13.3 | 18.1 | 2.4 | |
| Long-term time deposits | 0.1 | -0.7 | -0.1 | -1.2 | 1.1 | -0.9 | 1 | 0.4 | -0.8 | -1.2 |
Understanding german non-financial corporate time deposit transactions
Agreed-tenor bank deposits placed for predetermined investment intervals are isolated within this transaction line. The series measures non-financial corporations' net quarterly investments and withdrawals across bank deposits that carry an agreed maturity date, spanning both short-term facilities up to one year and long-term commitments exceeding one year. It differs from sibling savings deposits, which rely on notice periods rather than contractual maturity dates, and from non-negotiable savings certificates. Demand accounts used for daily operational clearing are also excluded, centering this measure on deliberate corporate yield capture.
Substantial period-on-period volatility characterizes time deposit flows, as corporate treasurers park surplus cash between major capital projects, tax obligations, or acquisitions, liquidating funds upon contract expiration. Consequently, quarter-on-quarter shifts reflect tactical liquidity management and contract maturity timings rather than fundamental financial trajectory changes. Year-on-year comparisons provide a far clearer indicator of whether enterprises are expanding their medium-term term deposits over time. The data are revised as credit institution statistical returns are finalized. Analysts must be cautious not to count interest accruals within these flows, as figures isolate pure transaction volumes.
Frequently asked questions
- What distinguishes time deposits from savings deposits?
- Time deposits have a legally agreed expiration date before which funds cannot normally be withdrawn, whereas savings deposits are open-ended but subject to formal notice periods.
- Can time deposit transactions be negative while corporate balances remain large?
- Yes, negative flows mean that redemptions of maturing time deposits exceeded new placements during the quarter, regardless of the remaining balance on deposit.
- Are foreign-currency denominated time deposits captured in this flow?
- Yes, transactions in foreign-currency term deposits are included, with exchange-rate revaluations stripped out so only genuine placements and withdrawals appear.