The German government has earned about €300m from its rescue of the country’s banks, according to a finance ministry estimate that could rekindle the debate about Berlin’s strategy in managing the financial crisis.

The ministry told the Financial Times that the government and Soffin, the agency that manages Germany’s €500bn bank rescue fund, had so far earned about €300m ($430m, £260m) in fees for credit guarantees granted to cash-starved banks at the height of the crisis.