So the big question facing savings banks and other credit institutions right now is how they can overcome the challenge posed by low interest rates, and how they intend to go about it. I would urge you to take a sober view of the interest rate situation – not with a sense of anxiety, just realistically.
It’s obvious that net interest income will generally continue to diminish – the Bundesbank’s analyses and projections point quite clearly in that direction, and all of you here today know that just as well as I do, if not better.