Deutsche Bank posted losses of $2.045 billion during the fourth quarter last year due to high legal expenses.

Reuters analysts expected the loss to total approximately $1.248 billion, although total provisions cost $8.18 billion.

In the last two months of 2016, the bank agreed to pay $8 billion to close litigation pending with the United States Department of Justice.

By comparison, Deutsche Bank increased its earnings 7.5 percent -- from $7.103 billion to $7.641 billion -- during the same time period in 2015.