Finance
UniCredit CEO Says Has 'relatively Constructive' Approach to Digital Euro
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 18, 2026
1 min readLast updated: March 18, 2026
Global Banking & Finance Review®
Company
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 18, 2026
1 min readLast updated: March 18, 2026
UniCredit CEO Andrea Orcel said the upcoming digital euro could reduce banks’ liquidity and squeeze profit margins by drawing away retail deposits, but noted UniCredit is working closely with the ECB and remains “relatively constructive.” ECB research shows such a move could shift significant deposi
MILAN, March 18 (Reuters) - The introduction of the digital euro will have a negative impact on banks' liquidity and profit margins by taking away a portion of retail deposits, which are the cheapest source of funding, UniCredit CEO Andrea Orcel said.
Speaking at a Morgan Stanley conference in London, Orcel said UniCredit was interacting "significantly" with the ECB to ensure that the central bank can pursue its monetary sovereignty goals through the digital euro without an excessively negative impact on banks.
"We're relatively constructive" Orcel said.
(Reporting by Valentina Za, editing by Gavin Jones)
UniCredit is concerned the digital euro will negatively affect banks’ liquidity and profit margins by reducing retail deposits.
UniCredit and its CEO Andrea Orcel are engaging with the ECB to minimize potential negative impacts on banks.
The digital euro could take away a portion of retail deposits, which are a cheap source of funding for banks.
UniCredit describes its approach as 'relatively constructive,' aiming to work with the ECB to balance interests.
Explore more articles in the Finance category