The European Central Bank (ECB) is the central bank for the euro area, the group of European Union countries that use the euro as their currency. Based in Frankfurt, Germany, it was established as part of the European System of Central Banks alongside the national central banks of member states.

The ECB's main job is keeping prices stable across the euro area, so money holds its value over time. It sets interest rates and other monetary policy tools, with decisions made by its Governing Council. Beyond monetary policy, it supervises euro area banks to keep the financial system sound, oversees the payment infrastructure that lets money move smoothly between banks and across borders, issues and helps design euro banknotes, and monitors risks to overall financial stability.