The structural diversity of the German banking market and the associated variety of business models is thought to have been an important factor in the stability of the German banking market in recent decades. This diversity is manifested both in the three-pillar structure of the German banking...

Im Jahr 2006 hat sich die Stimmung in der deutschen Kreditwirtschaft deutlich verbessert. Die Geschäftsentwicklung übertrifft zum Teil sogar die Erwartungen (vgl. Sachverständigenrat zur Begutachtung der gesamtwirtschaftlichen Entwicklung 2006: 234). Mittlerweile ernten viele Kreditinstitute...

The analysis highlights the aspects of diversified market structures and of local, low-distance banking as advantageous for financial stability. Heterogeneity protects from uniform market behaviour. Local banking can better overcome the problem of asymmetric information, particular in SME...