Negative Rates in Germany?

http://www.economist.com/news/finance-and-economics/21631140-interest-rates-turn-negative-some-worse-nothing

What we have discussed in class is unfolding dramatically in Germany. To decrease savings, banks not only have lower interest rates than inflation, they are applying negative interest to sums greater than $625,000 (500,000 Euros). They are doing this to increase investing in longer term more liquid investments because the bank can make more money from this.

Some worry that the negative rates will encourage lending too much and without economic reform, we could see a very unstable system. As the German's struggle to figure out their lack investing issues, the world sits back and watches as the Euro falls and the Dollar gains value.