Electronic money

Electronic money (e-money) is broadly defined as an electronic store of monetary value on a technical device that may be widely used for making payments to entities other than the e-money issuer. The device acts as a prepaid bearer instrument which does not necessarily involve bank accounts in transactions. The dataset covers the euro area as a whole and euro area Member States.

Monetary financial institution (MFI) balance sheet items (BSI) statistics are compiled by the ECB and include monthly and quarterly data. The MFI sector includes central banks, credit institutions, money market funds (MMFs), and e-money institutions and deposit-taking corporations other than credit institutions that are covered under the MFI definition.

Electronic money (e-money) is broadly defined as an electronic store of monetary value on a technical device that may be widely used for making payments to entities other than the e-money issuer. The device, which can be hardware-based or software-based, acts as a prepaid bearer instrument which does not necessarily involve bank accounts in transactions.Aggregated euro area issuance of e-money is available on a monthly basis, while data for individual euro area countries are only released annually. The statistics do not distinguish between hardware-based and software-based e-money.

BSI statistics are based on either the aggregated or the consolidated balance sheet of the monetary financial institutions (MFI) sector. The aggregated balance sheet is the sum of the balance sheets of all MFIs resident in the euro area. The consolidated balance sheet is obtained by netting the aggregated balance sheet positions between MFIs in the euro area. The consolidated balance sheet provides the basis for the regular analysis of euro area monetary aggregates and counterparts.

BSI statistics comprise:

1. Monetary aggregates and counterparts
2. MFI balance sheets
3. Credit institutions and money market funds
4. Electronic money
5. Estimated MFI loans to NFCs by economic activity (NACE)

Data Structure Definition of the BSI Dataflow is available here.
 

All MFIs (see ECB website for a precise definition and a list of MFIs) in the euro area are legally obliged to report data from their business and accounting systems to the national central banks of the Member States where they reside. These in turn report national aggregates to the ECB.

Data collection is based on a census rather than a sample. Nonetheless, national central banks can, at their discretion, offer MFIs exemptions from full reporting on a national basis, provided that the MFIs supplying a full statistical return make up at least 95% of the total national MFI balance sheet (modified census).

Some monetary assets/liabilities of central government (post office,treasury) are also included in this dataset.