Real Estate Turmoil Leaves German Banks Reliant on Covered Bonds

  • Covered bonds, deposits ‘critical’ for PBB, Aareal: Barclays
  • These lenders’ unsecured bonds have slumped in recent days

The headquarters of Deutsche Pfandbriefbank AG (PBB) in Garching, Germany, on Feb. 8.

Photographer: Michaela Stache/Bloomberg
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For German banks at the forefront of a spreading US commercial property downturn, covered bonds and deposits can offer a lifeline, according to Barclays Plc analysts.

Deutsche Pfandbriefbank AG and Aareal Bank AG have seen their unsecured borrowing costs grind higher as investors scrutinize their loan books for bad US loans. That makes it critical that they continue to be able to rely on more steady sources of funding.