For our daily purchases we can withdraw cash from our bank account. But where do the banks get this cash from? What happens to the cash after we have paid with it? And who makes sure that there is always enough cash where it’s needed, when it’s needed? The following film gives an overview.

Note: Croatia joined the euro area on 1 January 2023 as well as Bulgaria on 1 January 2026. Therefore, the euro area currently comprises 21 countries.