Minimum reserves and liquidity

These data refer to minimum reserve requirements and liquidity conditions in the euro area, i.e. the Eurosystem’s supply of liquidity in euro, and credit institutions’ demand for this liquidity. These statistics may be of use to treasurers, money market analysts and researchers.

Euro area banks are required to hold minimum reserves in their current accounts at their national central bank. A bank’s minimum reserve requirement is set for six-week maintenance periods. The  level of reserves is calculated on the basis of the bank’s balance sheet before the start of the maintenance period.

The annual and quarterly data on minimum reserve requirements refer to averages of the last maintenance period of the year/quarter. As of 10 March 2004 maintenance periods start on the settlement day of the main refinancing operation (MRO) following the Governing Council’s assessment of the monetary policy stance.

Minimum reserves and liquidity reports 

Report sheets

Time series

For further information on daily liquidity conditions, autonomous liquidity factors and benchmark allotment amounts, please refer to the ECB website's pages on Minimum reserve and liquidity.