Germany Launches the National Cash Forum to Stabilise the Cash Cycle

The Bundesbank (BBk) has established a National Cash Forum to allow cash cycle stakeholders to exchange information on cash issues. The BBk wants the Forum to increase cooperation and pool interests for stakeholders in order to prepare initiatives to improve and stabilise the cash cycle. In itself, the creation of the Forum signals that the BBk and stakeholders support cash.

The first meeting, in mid-February, set up the framework for the work of the Forum. It is expected to meet twice a year, with a number of working groups focusing on specific technical issues concerning cash management. Stakeholders include associations representing the banking industry, retail trade and consumer protection, along with the CIT industry and vending machine operators.

Germany is the largest issuer of euro banknotes in the Eurosystem, reflecting both its size and its culture of cash usage. The BBk is concerned about both cash availability and cash acceptance in the future. The Forum will study efficiency, sustainability, security, digitalisation, emergency and crisis preparedness, and cross border cooperation.