ECB Deposit Rate: Stable at 2.00% in May 2026, Down 11% Year-on-Year

ECB Key Interest Rate, a Benchmark for Savings and Credit

The European Central Bank maintains its deposit rate at 2.00% in May 2026, unchanged from the previous month. Year-on-year, this rate shows a decline of 11.11%, compared to 2.25% a year ago. The ECB deposit rate is the rate at which commercial banks place their excess liquidity with the central bank; it directly influences the cost of credit and the remuneration of savings in the eurozone. According to data published by the European Central Bank, this level of 2.00% is part of a stability phase, with the rate having recorded no increases and only one decrease over the past twelve months. The current cycle thus marks a significant inflection from the higher levels observed in 2024-2025.