Central Bank of Estonia sets 2026 budget with expenses rising 4.6% to EUR 33.5 million and a EUR 6.6 million investment plan

The Central Bank of Estonia published its 2026 budget plan, projecting expenses of EUR 33.5 million (up 4.6%) and revenues of EUR 70.9 million from monetary policy transactions and investment. Alongside its core work on cash circulation and payments, economic and financial sector analysis, and financial statistics, the bank flagged IT system upgrades, cybersecurity and crisis-readiness as key priorities for 2026. Spending plans include EUR 1.6 million for cash production, EUR 1.0 million for joint European Union central bank IT projects, and EUR 1.8 million for services provided to the Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (Finantsinspektsioon), while real-estate maintenance costs are set to fall mainly due to the sale of Maardu manor. Fixed-asset investment is budgeted at EUR 6.6 million, led by ongoing development of the ATLAS data processing and analysis system for statistics (work started in 2023) and refurbishment of the Eesti Pank museum. Headcount is planned at 240.4 full-time equivalent roles (three fewer than in 2025), payroll is set to rise by 6%, and total personnel costs are budgeted at EUR 18.5 million, including additional payments to Executive Board members after their term ends linked to European Central Bank activity restrictions. ATLAS is planned to start being used in summer 2026. The bank also plans to order additional EUR 50 banknotes in 2026 and to issue three silver collector coins and a specially designed two-euro coin in 2026, while preparing further collector coin issues over the following two years.