ECB deposit facility rate in August 2026 — it was 2.25%, and nothing changed that month
The ECB did not change rates in August 2026. The deposit facility rate was 2.25% all month, set on 17 June and unchanged until 16 September 2026, when it rose to 2.50%.
★★The short answer: 2.25%
**Throughout August 2026 the ECB deposit facility rate was 2.25%.** ★**There was no change during that month.** The ECB’s own table of key interest rates lists the rate as taking effect at **2.25% from 17 June 2026**, and the next entry is **16 September 2026**. **August falls between the two.**[1]
The other two policy rates were likewise unchanged through August: **main refinancing operations at 2.40%** and the **marginal lending facility at 2.65%**, both in force from 17 June 2026.[1]
★"With effect from" is not the decision date
The ECB table is headed **"Date (with effect from)"**. ★**That column gives the date the rate starts applying, not the date the Governing Council decided it.** A decision is typically announced before it takes effect, so **the two dates differ by days.**[1]
This matters for a question phrased by month. **A decision taken in one month can take effect in the next**, so "what was the rate in August" and "did the ECB decide anything in August" are **different questions**. ★**This page answers the first one**, using the effective-date column.[1]
★What changed on either side of August
**Before**: the 2.25% deposit rate took effect on **17 June 2026**, up from **2.00%** which had been in force since **11 June 2025**.[1]
**After**: with effect from **16 September 2026** the deposit facility rate is **2.50%**, main refinancing operations **2.65%** and the marginal lending facility **2.90%** — **a 25 basis point rise across all three.**[1][2]
★**So a reader looking for "the August 2026 rate" needs the June figure**, and one looking for the current figure needs the September one. **Quoting 2.50% for August would be wrong by one rate step.**[1]
★Which of the three is "the ECB rate"
The ECB sets **three** rates, and the table lists them side by side: **deposit facility**, **main refinancing operations** and **marginal lending facility**. Reports that say "the ECB rate" without naming one usually mean the **deposit facility rate**, which is why that is the figure given first here.[1]
★**The table also carries a column that is now empty.** Main refinancing operations is split into **"Fixed rate tenders / Fixed rate"** and **"Variable rate tenders / Minimum bid rate"**, and recent rows show **"-"** in the variable-rate column. ★**This page does not explain why**, because **the table does not say.**[1]
★About the sources
The figures here are read directly from the **ECB’s "Key ECB interest rates" table** and cross-checked against the ECB’s **monetary policy decisions** page. ★★**Both are the ECB’s own publications**, so **nothing on this page is corroborated outside the institution** — though **for an institution publishing its own administered rates, that is the primary record.**[1][2]
★**Not established here**: the reasoning behind any decision, the vote, staff projections, or what the Governing Council discussed at its **23 July 2026** meeting. **The press releases for individual meetings were not opened for this page**; only the rates table and the decisions index were read.[1][2]
Verified facts
Cross-checked against 2+ independent sourcesThis section contains facts cross-checked against multiple sources.
The deposit facility rate was set at 2.25% with effect from 17 June 2026 and next changed with effect from 16 September 2026.[1][2] 2 sources
With effect from 16 September 2026 the deposit facility rate is 2.50%, the main refinancing operations rate 2.65% and the marginal lending facility 2.90%.[1][2] 2 sources
Reported, not confirmed
Not cross-checked — do not read as factFrom here on: claims and speculation that are not cross-checked.
The ECB’s key interest rates table lists no rate change dated in August 2026; the entries either side are 17 June 2026 and 16 September 2026.[1] single-source ×1 · Reading of the ECB key interest rates table
With effect from 17 June 2026 the three rates were 2.25% (deposit facility), 2.40% (main refinancing operations) and 2.65% (marginal lending facility).[1] single-source ×1 · ECB key interest rates table
Timeline
- 2026-06-17
Deposit facility rate takes effect at 2.25%, main refinancing at 2.40%, marginal lending at 2.65%.[1]
- 2026-08-01
Start of August 2026 — no rate change is listed for this month, so the June levels remain in force.[1]
- 2026-09-16
Deposit facility rate takes effect at 2.50%, main refinancing at 2.65%, marginal lending at 2.90%.[1][2]
- Model
- claude-opus-5
- Time
- 09/19/2026, 01:40
- Tokens
- 9,000
- Sources
- 2 sources adopted
- Model
- operator
- Time
- 09/19/2026, 01:40
- Tokens
- 0
- Verdict
- Passed
Show revision history (2)
| 09/19/2026, 09:00 | First authored (claude-opus-5) | Created |
| 09/19/2026 | First authored | Updated |
Frequently asked
What was the ECB deposit facility rate in August 2026?
2.25%. It took effect on 17 June 2026 and was not changed again until 16 September 2026.[1]
Did the ECB change rates in August 2026?
The ECB key interest rates table lists no change with an August 2026 effective date. The entries either side are 17 June and 16 September 2026.[1]
What are the current ECB rates?
With effect from 16 September 2026: deposit facility 2.50%, main refinancing operations 2.65%, marginal lending facility 2.90%.[1][2]
Does "with effect from" mean the decision date?
No. That column gives the date the rate starts applying. The announcement comes earlier, so the two dates differ.[1]
What were the other two rates in August 2026?
Main refinancing operations 2.40% and marginal lending facility 2.65%.[1]
Official links
- Official ECB — Key ECB interest rates
Sources
- [1] Key ECB interest rates primary
- [2] Monetary policy decisions primary