Ten trillion euros sit idle in European bank accounts.

Omissions

• The figure refers specifically to retail/household savings in bank deposits, not all bank accounts (corporate deposits would add substantially more).
• The term 'idle' is a policy characterization: these are low-yield deposits (often overnight or short-term) that still serve as bank funding. They are not literally unused or frozen.
• Only secondary sources were found confirming the figure; primary ECB statistical data on the exact euro-area or EU-wide total of household deposits could not be directly accessed in this verification.
• The exact amount may be higher: EU Commission Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen has referenced EUR 11 trillion in largely idle EU household savings, and Commissioner Dombrovskis said 'more than' €10 trillion.

Sources

• PrimaryECB Data Portal — DepositsThe ECB Data Portal confirms that detailed deposit statistics for households and corporations in the euro area are available, with data extending to April 2026. The portal serves as the authoritative primary source for euro-area deposit data but the specific aggregate figure of €10 trillion was not directly extracted during this verification.
• SecondaryEunews.it10 trillion euros sitting idle in citizens' bank accounts, capital that could provide the boost the EU is desperately looking for to relaunch the economy. The article reports on the Connact initiative and the EU's push to mobilise these savings.
• SecondaryGIS ReportsThe argument is that this idle cash in bank deposits should be put to more productive use – generating returns on households' savings while also boosting the EU economy. Discusses the Savings and Investment Union initiative and the rationale around mobilising EU household deposits.