The ECB has a 2% inflation target for the Euro. A regular bank account used to yield something like 0.25%, but for the last few years most have dropped yield al

The ECB has a 2% inflation target for the Euro. A regular bank account used to yield something like 0.25%, but for the last few years most have dropped yield altogether, in fact many have started charging for accounts. So except for the last two-three years of freak financial conditions (low interest / low inflation), holding cash would lose you money rather fast.