OVERVIEW German savings banks are continuing to strengthen their capitalization despite earnings pressure from ultra-low interest rates. They are also benefitting from sound economic conditions in Germany, leading to low credit losses and a strong inflow of stable retail deposits. We are affirming our ratings on members of regional subgroups of savings banks in Westphalia-Lippe, and in Hesse and Thuringia including the central bank Landesbank Hessen-Thueringen, and on DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale. The outlook on DekaBank remains positive, reflecting the potential for stronger integration into the German savings banks. The outlooks on the other entities are stable. FRANKFURT (S&P Global Ratings) Aug. 19, 2016--S&P Global Ratings today affirmed its ratings on two regional subgroups of Germany's savings banks sector, including their
