The basic rate of interest pursuant to the German Civil Code serves primarily as a basis for calculating default interest (Section 288(1) sentence 2 of the German Civil Code). It changes on 1 January and 1 July each year by the percentage points by which the reference rate has risen or fallen since the last change in the basic rate of interest. The reference rate is the interest rate for the most recent main refinancing operation of the European Central Bank prior to the first calendar day of the six-month period concerned.

The fixed interest rate for the most recent main refinancing operation of the European Central Bank on 30 June 2020 was 0.00%. The fixed interest rate has therefore remained unchanged since 1 January 2020, the relevant date for the last change in the basic rate of interest (the fixed interest rate for the last main refinancing operation in December 2019 also stood at 0.00%).

Beginning on 1 July 2020, this amounts to a basic rate of interest pursuant to the German Civil Code of -0.88% (previously -0.88%).

The new basic rate of interest will be announced in the Federal Gazette of 2 July 2020.