In collaboration with Barkow Consulting – a leading financial research and advisory firm – UnitPlus Business has developed the first representative Corporate Cash Index in Germany.
The UnitPlus Corporate Cash Index provides a first-of-its-kind, data-driven overview of the average interest rates paid on corporate cash holdings over the past 20 years. It enables companies to better evaluate and benchmark current interest rate offers.
Business interest rates have been falling since September 2024
1.20%
*
Current average interest rate on corporate overnight deposit accounts
As the European Central Bank (ECB) has cut interest rates multiple times – currently down to 2.00% – banks have continued to pass on less and less of these rates to their business clients.
Corporate cash interest rates at their lowest level since July 2023
Overnight deposits, Germany, interest rate, businesses, by month, in % p.a.
Source: BC Data, Barkow Consulting
Banks pass on only about half of possible interest earnings to businesses
A long-term view of the data shows that banks have only partially passed on rising interest rates to corporate clients since 2022. According to the UnitPlus Corporate Cash Index, German banks currently pass on just over 50% of the potential interest income to business customers. The rest remains with the banks as margin.
Long-term trend
Overnight deposits vs €STR, Germany, interest rate, businesses & individuals, by month, in % p.a.
Source: BC Data, Barkow Consulting
Over €800 billion in corporate bank deposits in Germany
The insufficient pass-through of interest rate increases by banks becomes particularly striking when looking at the development of corporate balances in current, savings, and term deposit accounts. As of September 2025, German companies hold €854 billion in bank deposits — substantial funds that are not being used for operational purposes.
Companies with liquid assets of >€800 billion.
All bank deposits, Germany, portfolio, companies, by month, in € billion.
Quelle: BC Data, Barkow Consulting
Neue Anbieter ermöglichen auch Mittelständlern den Zugang zu Marktzinsen
Während der Zugang zu marktgerechten Zinssätzen wie dem €STR früher fast ausschließlich Großbanken und institutionellen Investoren vorbehalten war, machen neue Anbieter wie UnitPlus Business diesen Zinssatz für KMU und GmbHs zugänglich.
Damit investieren Unternehmen direkt am Geldmarkt, um diese Zinslücke zu schließen und von einer werktäglichen Zinsgutschrift sowie dem maximalen Zinseszinseffekt zu profitieren.
