Germany non-financial firms short-term time deposits
Germany non-financial firms short-term time deposits stood at 273.5 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other deposits | 304.7 | 305.9 | 302.7 | 288.1 | 303.8 | 307.4 | 306.3 | 296.3 | 308.5 | 290.9 | |
| Time deposits | 294.6 | 295.6 | 291.5 | 276.7 | 292.5 | 296.3 | 295.1 | 285.5 | 298.2 | 280.9 | |
| Short-term time deposits | 273.5 | 274.5 | 269.8 | 255 | 269.2 | 274.4 | 270.8 | 262.2 | 275.4 | 257.3 |
Understanding germany non-financial firms short-term time deposits
Short-dated bank placements with an initial contractual duration up to one year are isolated in this sub-item. These positions include short-dated time deposits, term money market placements, and structured short-term deposit contracts held by non-financial companies. Time deposits with original durations exceeding one year are excluded, as are notice-period savings accounts and transactional overnight balances. The series isolates short-horizon yield-bearing placements from longer-term structural capital commitments within the time deposit category.
This maturity tier exhibits pronounced short-term turnover because corporate treasurers utilize short-term time deposits to park excess cash between investment milestones or ahead of scheduled dividend disbursements. Annual comparisons provide a clearer picture of structural liquidity shifts than quarter-on-quarter movements, which are distorted by corporate cash flow calendars. Valued at face value, holdings do not experience mark-to-market fluctuations, though foreign currency term accounts are affected by exchange rate movements. Banking sector reporting revisions can reallocate balances between short-term time deposits and transferable accounts. A common error is viewing an outflow from this row as corporate distress, when funds may simply have shifted to sight deposits to fund capital expenditure.
Frequently asked questions
- What defines the maturity threshold for short-term time deposits?
- The classification is determined by an original contractual placement duration of up to and including one year.
- Why do balances in this series change frequently between quarters?
- Enterprises routinely reallocate cash into short-dated term deposits to earn yield between seasonal tax payments, payroll obligations, and investment outlays.
- Are these deposits exposed to market price volatility?
- No, they are maintained at nominal face value, so asset price changes in broader financial markets do not affect the recorded balance.