Fears mount at stand-off over German bail-out

Article reports that concern is mounting in Germany, November 2008, at the stand-off between the government and banks over their use – or non-use – of the €500bn bail-out package that Berlin has offered to stabilise the financial sector.

German banks have been slow to line up for the government bailout amid fears of stigmatisation, punishment by the stock markets and stringent conditions imposed by the government.

Commerzbank became the first major German private sector bank to tap the government's rescue fund on the 3 November 2008.

Deutsche Welle, 1.11.08: Merkel Urges German Banks to Tap Government Rescue Fund http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,3758582,00.html

Spiegel Online International, 3.11.08: Germany's No. 2 Bank Taps Government Rescue Fund http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,588050,00.html

Deutsche Welle, 3.11.08: Commerzbank to Tap Germany's Bank Bailout Fund http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,3761170,00.html

Deutsche Welle, 2.12.08: Merkel Seeks to Make Bank Bailouts More Attractive http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,3842229,00.html

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