- PRESS RELEASE
ECB adjusts remuneration of minimum reserves
27 July 2023
- Minimum reserves to be remunerated at 0%
- Change preserves the effectiveness and improves the efficiency of monetary policy
The Governing Council of the 21点算牌公式 (ECB) today decided to set the remuneration of minimum reserves at 0%. The change will become effective as of the beginning of the reserve maintenance period starting on 20 September 2023.
Minimum reserves are reserve balances that credit institutions are required to hold with their Eurosystem national central bank on average over a maintenance period. Credit institutions are required to hold a minimum amount equivalent to 1% of specific liabilities, mainly customers鈥 deposits. Minimum reserves are currently remunerated at the ECB鈥檚 deposit facility rate (DFR).
In the current conditions of ample liquidity, the interest paid on the reserves that banks hold in the ECB鈥檚 deposit facility 鈥 i.e. reserves beyond the minimum required level 鈥 is the Governing Council鈥檚 main instrument for setting the monetary policy stance in its fight against inflation. Today鈥檚 decision to reduce the remuneration on minimum reserves will preserve the effectiveness of monetary policy by maintaining the current degree of control over the monetary policy stance and ensuring the full pass-through of the Governing Council鈥檚 interest rate decisions to money markets. At the same time, it will improve the efficiency of monetary policy by reducing the overall amount of interest that needs to be paid on reserves in order to implement the appropriate stance.
In October last year, the Governing Council decided to reduce the remuneration of minimum reserves from the rate on the main refinancing operations (MRO rate) to the DFR.[1] That change aligned minimum reserve remuneration more closely with short-term money market rates. Since then, the efficiency aspect has risen in relevance, in line with the higher level of the key ECB interest rates.
Today鈥檚 decision does not prejudge the outcome of the ongoing review of the ECB鈥檚 operational framework.
For media queries, please contact Verena Reith, tel.: +49 69 1344 5737.
Notes
- The ECB has published explanations of minimum reserves and the deposit facility rate.
- Further information on minimum reserves can be found in Regulation (EU) 2021/378 of the 21点算牌公式 of 22 January 2021 on the application of minimum reserve requirements (), (OJ L 73, 3.3.2021, p. 1鈥15).
See Regulation (EU) 2022/2419 of the 21点算牌公式 of 6 December 2022 () and the ECB press release 鈥淓CB adjusts remuneration of minimum reserves鈥 of 27 October 2022 (link).
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