Germans are earning money while borrowing them 
Why does this surprise you? In an uncertain world, the Germans (and the UK and US) offer certainty that you will get 98% of your money back. Where else can you get that certainty?
Speaking of certainty.In UK,the law says that in the event of a bank going under,the first £85,000 of your money stored (per institution) in a bank account will be protected.If you have more than this,issues arise unless you store the extra money in a different banking institution.Read here for more info: http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/savings/safe-savings
But if you have £850,000, do you want to manage 10 bank accounts with little to no interest, or buy a couple bonds that guarantee 98% of your money?
Is there not a restriction? That only individuals are covered? I seem to remember several charities bankrupted and local authority pension plans damaged when IceSave went down in 2008.