European central banks recommend cash reserves for crisis situations

European financial institutions are highlighting the importance of maintaining a small reserve of physical cash to ensure financial security during technical failures, power outages, or telecommunication disruptions. While electronic payments are standard, experts warn that reliance on internet banking, card terminals, and ATMs can become a liability during infrastructure crises.

Specific recommendations vary by country. In the Netherlands, the central bank, De Nederlandsche Bank, suggests households keep enough cash to cover essential expenses—such as food, water, medicine, and transport—for the first 72 hours of a crisis. This equates to approximately 70 euros per adult and 30 euros per child. Similarly, Sweden’s Riksbank has recommended households hold about 1,000 kronor per adult.

The European Central Bank (ECB) notes that cash serves as a vital emergency payment method. While there is no unified EU-wide mandate, countries like Austria and Finland also provide guidance for securing basic needs during short-term disruptions. In Poland, the National Bank of Poland (NBP) emphasizes the importance of cash accessibility but has not issued a specific official amount for citizens to keep at home.