Which institution has served as Germany’s central bank since its establishment in 1957?

Deutsche Bundesbank has served as Germany’s central bank since its establishment in 1957.

The bank was created by the Bundesbank Act of 1957, replacing the Bank deutscher Länder, which had operated in West Germany since 1948. Its headquarters are in Frankfurt, a major European financial centre.

The Bundesbank remains Germany’s national central bank, but monetary policy for Germany is now decided within the Eurosystem by the European Central Bank and the national central banks of euro-area countries. The Bundesbank therefore implements Eurosystem decisions in Germany and performs important domestic duties.

A common mix-up is calling the Bundesbank Germany’s currency issuer in isolation. Germany uses the euro, whose banknotes are issued within the Eurosystem, while the Bundesbank contributes to production, distribution, banking supervision, payment systems and financial stability work.