Every customer of a German bank agrees to its general terms and conditions. At Deutsche Bank, the terms first oblige the bank to keep silent about all facts and assessments that concern the customer. They then allow one exception, the Bankauskunft, the bank reference. It contains only general statements about the customer’s financial situation. It never gives amounts for account balances, savings or deposits. And the bank gives it only to its own customers and to other banks, and for private customers only with their consent.