6  BIS Review 22/2004  Conclusion In closing, Mr. Chairman, let me reiterate that the past decade has been one in which the banking industry has recorded persistent record profits while providing an ever-wider range of products and services to much more diverse groups.
Central banks play a key role in addressing challenges facing society. They ensure that currencies and financial markets remain stable. Monetary stability and financial stability are two sides of the same coin. We must guarantee both of these in Europe. For this reason, important strategic decisions were taken in the Eurosystem in 2021, in which the Bundesbank was heavily involved.