# European Central Bank API

> European Central Bank workflow and API: euro exchange rates, convert currency and key interest rates. Returns rates, page url, currency code and currency…

European Central Bank data from ecb.europa.eu: euro exchange rates, convert currency and key interest rates.

- Page: https://fous.com/tools/european-central-bank
- Handle: `@european-central-bank`
- Category: [Finance](https://fous.com/tools/category/finance)
- Source website: https://ecb.europa.eu
- Last verified: Sep 30, 2026

## Methods

### Convert currency

Operation `convert_currency`, version 1. 1 credit per completed call. Failed calls without a completed billing receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted.

Convert an amount between currencies using the ECB euro reference rates, including euro and cross-currency conversions. Dates without a published rate use the latest preceding rate; only currencies with an ECB rate on that date are available. Reference rates are informational, not transaction rates.

**Input**

| Field | Type | Required | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `date` | string | no | `"2026-09-26"` | Requested rate date in YYYY-MM-DD, for example 2026-09-26. Defaults to the latest published day; non-publication dates use the preceding published rate. |
| `amount` | number | yes | `250` | Amount of money to convert, for example 250. |
| `to_currency` | string | yes | `"GBP"` | Currency name or three-letter code to convert to, for example GBP or pound sterling. |
| `from_currency` | string | yes | `"US dollar"` | Currency name or three-letter code to convert from, for example US dollar or USD. |

**Input schema**

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "required": [
    "amount",
    "from_currency",
    "to_currency"
  ],
  "properties": {
    "date": {
      "type": "string",
      "format": "date",
      "examples": [
        "2026-09-26"
      ],
      "description": "Requested rate date in YYYY-MM-DD, for example 2026-09-26. Defaults to the latest published day; non-publication dates use the preceding published rate."
    },
    "amount": {
      "type": "number",
      "examples": [
        250
      ],
      "description": "Amount of money to convert, for example 250."
    },
    "to_currency": {
      "type": "string",
      "title": "To",
      "examples": [
        "GBP"
      ],
      "description": "Currency name or three-letter code to convert to, for example GBP or pound sterling."
    },
    "from_currency": {
      "type": "string",
      "title": "From",
      "examples": [
        "US dollar"
      ],
      "description": "Currency name or three-letter code to convert from, for example US dollar or USD."
    }
  },
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "examples": [
    {
      "amount": 250,
      "to_currency": "GBP",
      "from_currency": "US dollar"
    },
    {
      "date": "2026-09-26",
      "amount": 100,
      "to_currency": "Japanese yen",
      "from_currency": "euro"
    },
    {
      "date": "2026-09-28",
      "amount": 10,
      "to_currency": "EUR",
      "from_currency": "GBP"
    }
  ]
}
```

**Output**

| Field | Type | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `rate` | number | `0.753955` | Units of the To currency per one unit of the From currency, rounded to six decimal places. |
| `page_url` | string | `"https://www.ecb.europa.eu/stats/policy_and_exchange_rates/euro_reference_exchange_rates/html/index.en.html"` | ECB euro reference rates page. |
| `rate_date` | string | `"2026-09-28"` | Date of the ECB reference rates actually used. |
| `converted_amount` | number | `188.49` | Converted amount, rounded to two decimal places. |
| `to_currency_code` | string | `"GBP"` | Three-letter code of the destination currency. |
| `to_currency_name` | string | `"Pound sterling"` | Name of the destination currency. |
| `from_currency_code` | string | `"USD"` | Three-letter code of the source currency. |
| `from_currency_name` | string | `"US dollar"` | Name of the source currency. |

**Example input**

```json
{
  "amount": 250,
  "to_currency": "GBP",
  "from_currency": "US dollar"
}
```

**Example output**

```json
{
  "rate": 0.753955,
  "page_url": "https://www.ecb.europa.eu/stats/policy_and_exchange_rates/euro_reference_exchange_rates/html/index.en.html",
  "rate_date": "2026-09-28",
  "converted_amount": 188.49,
  "to_currency_code": "GBP",
  "to_currency_name": "Pound sterling",
  "from_currency_code": "USD",
  "from_currency_name": "US dollar"
}
```

### Get euro exchange rates

Operation `get_euro_exchange_rates`, version 1. 1 credit per completed call. Failed calls without a completed billing receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted.

Get official ECB euro exchange reference rates for a day, or the latest published day. Returns the previous published day for weekends, holidays and dates before publication; currencies not published on that day cannot be returned.

**Input**

| Field | Type | Required | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `date` | string | no | `"2026-09-26"` | Day to look up, for example 2026-09-26. Defaults to the latest published day. |
| `currencies` | array | no |  | Currency names or codes, for example ["US dollar", "JPY"]. Defaults to every currency published on the rate date. |

**Input schema**

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "date": {
      "type": "string",
      "format": "date",
      "description": "Day to look up, for example 2026-09-26. Defaults to the latest published day.",
      "examples": [
        "2026-09-26",
        "2000-01-08"
      ]
    },
    "currencies": {
      "type": "array",
      "items": {
        "type": "string",
        "examples": [
          "US dollar",
          "JPY",
          "Cypriot pound"
        ],
        "description": "Use the same format as these example values: \"US dollar\", \"JPY\", \"Cypriot pound\"."
      },
      "default": [],
      "description": "Currency names or codes, for example [\"US dollar\", \"JPY\"]. Defaults to every currency published on the rate date.",
      "examples": [
        [
          "US dollar",
          "JPY"
        ],
        [
          "Cypriot pound",
          "USD"
        ]
      ]
    }
  },
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "examples": [
    {
      "date": "2026-09-26",
      "currencies": [
        "US dollar",
        "JPY"
      ]
    },
    {},
    {
      "date": "2000-01-08",
      "currencies": [
        "Cypriot pound",
        "USD"
      ]
    }
  ]
}
```

**Output**

| Field | Type | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `rates` | array |  | Exchange rates in ECB order. |
| `rates[].page_url` | string | `"https://www.ecb.europa.eu/stats/policy_and_exchange_rates/euro_reference_exchange_rates/html/eurofxref-graph-usd.en.htm` | ECB page for this currency. |
| `rates[].currency_code` | string | `"USD"` |  |
| `rates[].currency_name` | string | `"US dollar"` |  |
| `rates[].units_per_euro` | number | `1.1403` | Units of this currency for 1 euro. |
| `rate_date` | string | `"2026-09-25"` | Date of the published rates. |

**Example input**

```json
{
  "date": "2026-09-26",
  "currencies": [
    "US dollar",
    "JPY"
  ]
}
```

**Example output**

```json
{
  "rates": [
    {
      "page_url": "https://www.ecb.europa.eu/stats/policy_and_exchange_rates/euro_reference_exchange_rates/html/eurofxref-graph-usd.en.html",
      "currency_code": "USD",
      "currency_name": "US dollar",
      "units_per_euro": 1.1403
    },
    {
      "page_url": "https://www.ecb.europa.eu/stats/policy_and_exchange_rates/euro_reference_exchange_rates/html/eurofxref-graph-jpy.en.html",
      "currency_code": "JPY",
      "currency_name": "Japanese yen",
      "units_per_euro": 179.7
    }
  ],
  "rate_date": "2026-09-25"
}
```

### Get key interest rates

Operation `get_key_interest_rates`, version 1. 1 credit per completed call. Failed calls without a completed billing receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted.

Get the ECB’s current deposit, main refinancing, and marginal lending rates and their effective date. Optionally include earlier rate changes, newest first; rates not shown for an earlier change are null.

**Input**

| Field | Type | Required | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `max_results` | integer | no | `100` | Maximum number of earlier changes to return when history is included. Example: 10. |
| `include_history` | boolean | no | `true` | Include earlier changes to the ECB’s key rates, newest first. Example: true. |

**Input schema**

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "max_results": {
      "type": "integer",
      "default": 10,
      "maximum": 100,
      "minimum": 1,
      "description": "Maximum number of earlier changes to return when history is included. Example: 10.",
      "x-fous-developer": true,
      "examples": [
        100,
        4
      ]
    },
    "include_history": {
      "type": "boolean",
      "default": false,
      "description": "Include earlier changes to the ECB’s key rates, newest first. Example: true.",
      "examples": [
        true
      ]
    }
  },
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "examples": [
    {},
    {
      "max_results": 100,
      "include_history": true
    },
    {
      "max_results": 4,
      "include_history": true
    }
  ]
}
```

**Output**

| Field | Type | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `history` | array |  | Earlier rate changes, newest first, when requested. |
| `history[].page_url` | string | `"https://www.ecb.europa.eu/stats/policy_and_exchange_rates/key_ecb_interest_rates/html/index.en.html"` | ECB page showing this change. |
| `history[].effective_date` | string | `"2026-06-17"` | Date these rates took effect (YYYY-MM-DD). |
| `history[].deposit_facility_rate_percent` | number or null | `2.25` | Annual interest rate in percent, or null if this rate is not shown for this change. |
| `history[].marginal_lending_facility_rate_percent` | number or null | `2.65` | Annual interest rate in percent, or null if this rate is not shown for this change. |
| `history[].main_refinancing_operations_rate_percent` | number or null | `2.4` | Annual interest rate in percent, or null if this rate is not shown for this change. |
| `page_url` | string | `"https://www.ecb.europa.eu/stats/policy_and_exchange_rates/key_ecb_interest_rates/html/index.en.html"` | ECB page showing the rates. |
| `effective_date` | string | `"2026-09-16"` | Date current rates took effect (YYYY-MM-DD). |
| `deposit_facility_rate_percent` | number | `2.5` | Annual interest rate, in percent (2.0 means 2.0%). |
| `marginal_lending_facility_rate_percent` | number | `2.9` | Annual interest rate, in percent (2.0 means 2.0%). |
| `main_refinancing_operations_rate_percent` | number | `2.65` | Annual interest rate, in percent (2.0 means 2.0%). |

**Example input**

```json
{}
```

**Example output**

```json
{
  "page_url": "https://www.ecb.europa.eu/stats/policy_and_exchange_rates/key_ecb_interest_rates/html/index.en.html",
  "effective_date": "2026-09-16",
  "deposit_facility_rate_percent": 2.5,
  "marginal_lending_facility_rate_percent": 2.9,
  "main_refinancing_operations_rate_percent": 2.65
}
```

## Quick start

Replace `YOUR_API_KEY` with a Fous API key. To create one, open Developers at the bottom of Fous Studio, turn on Developer mode, then go to API keys (https://app.fous.com/keys). Change the values in `input` to run the same tool on new data.

```bash
curl 'https://api.fous.com/v1/query' \
  --fail-with-body --silent --show-error --max-time 180 \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  --data-raw '{
  "api": "@european-central-bank",
  "visibility": "public",
  "operation": "convert_currency",
  "version": 1,
  "input": {
    "amount": 250,
    "to_currency": "GBP",
    "from_currency": "US dollar"
  },
  "response": {
    "format": "json"
  }
}'
```

```python
# Save as fous.py and run with python3 fous.py. No packages needed.
import json
import urllib.error
import urllib.request

api_key = "YOUR_API_KEY"

body = json.loads("{\n  \"api\": \"@european-central-bank\",\n  \"visibility\": \"public\",\n  \"operation\": \"convert_currency\",\n  \"version\": 1,\n  \"input\": {\n    \"amount\": 250,\n    \"to_currency\": \"GBP\",\n    \"from_currency\": \"US dollar\"\n  },\n  \"response\": {\n    \"format\": \"json\"\n  }\n}")
request = urllib.request.Request(
    "https://api.fous.com/v1/query",
    data=json.dumps(body).encode("utf-8"),
    headers={
        "Authorization": f"Bearer {api_key}",
        "Content-Type": "application/json",
    },
    method="POST",
)
try:
    with urllib.request.urlopen(request, timeout=180) as response:
        result = json.load(response)
except urllib.error.HTTPError as error:
    raise RuntimeError(f"HTTP {error.code}: {error.read().decode('utf-8', errors='replace')}") from error
if result.get("success") is False:
    raise RuntimeError(result.get("error", {}).get("message", "Request failed"))
print(json.dumps(result["data"]["output"], indent=2))
```

```typescript
// Save as fous.mts and run with npx tsx fous.mts.
const apiKey = "YOUR_API_KEY";

const response = await fetch("https://api.fous.com/v1/query", {
  method: "POST",
  headers: {
    "Authorization": `Bearer ${apiKey}`,
    "Content-Type": "application/json",
  },
  signal: AbortSignal.timeout(180_000),
  body: JSON.stringify({
  "api": "@european-central-bank",
  "visibility": "public",
  "operation": "convert_currency",
  "version": 1,
  "input": {
    "amount": 250,
    "to_currency": "GBP",
    "from_currency": "US dollar"
  },
  "response": {
    "format": "json"
  }
}),
});
type ApiResult = { success: boolean; data?: { output: unknown }; error?: { message: string } };
const result: ApiResult = await response.json();
if (!response.ok || result.success === false) {
  throw new Error(result.error?.message ?? `HTTP ${response.status}`);
}
if (!result.data) throw new Error("Missing API response data");
console.log(result.data.output);
```

## Use from an AI assistant

Connect this tool to Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code, Codex and any MCP client as its own MCP server. Each method is a typed tool whose arguments are the method’s input.

- Server URL: `https://api.fous.com/mcp/tools/european-central-bank`
- Authorization: `Authorization: Bearer <Fous API key>`

**Tools**

- `convert_currency`: Convert currency. 1 credit per completed call. Failed calls without a completed billing receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted.
- `get_euro_exchange_rates`: Get euro exchange rates. 1 credit per completed call. Failed calls without a completed billing receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted.
- `get_key_interest_rates`: Get key interest rates. 1 credit per completed call. Failed calls without a completed billing receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted.
- `fous_get_run`: the result of a run that was still going, by its `request_id`. Free.

Claude Code:

```bash
claude mcp add --scope user --transport http fous-european-central-bank https://api.fous.com/mcp/tools/european-central-bank --header "Authorization: Bearer ${FOUS_API_KEY:?Set FOUS_API_KEY to your Fous API key}"
```

To give the assistant every tool, connect `https://api.fous.com/mcp`: it finds one with `fous_search_tools` and runs it with `fous_run_tool`. Setup for other clients: https://fous.com/llms-full.txt.

## FAQ

### Can I run it with my own inputs?

Yes. Change the inputs in Studio and press Run, or send new inputs from your code, or ask a connected AI assistant.

### Can I call this European Central Bank tool as an API?

Yes. Send a POST request to /v1/query with your Fous API key and the inputs, and get JSON back.

### How much does it cost?

Each completed run costs 1 credit. Failed runs without a completed receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted. With pay as you go, a credit costs 1¢. Monthly plans cost less per credit.

### Do I need a European Central Bank account?

No. You only need a Fous account.

### How current is the data?

Fous gets the data from ecb.europa.eu when you run it. Some results are reused for up to 24 hours, and results that use your account or key are never reused. It was last verified on Sep 30, 2026.

## Related

- [XE API](https://fous.com/tools/xe.md): XE returns currency conversions and mid-market rates, including current displayed rates for information and published historical daily rates for available UTC dates.
- [US Treasury API](https://fous.com/tools/us-treasury.md): US Treasury provides official daily interest rates and national debt figures for requested or latest available dates, plus quarterly reporting exchange rates using the latest preceding quarter when needed.
- [Wise API](https://fous.com/tools/wise.md): Wise provides current mid-market exchange rates, optional daily rate history, published transfer cost comparisons and delivery estimates, and bank SWIFT/BIC codes and branch locations when available.
- [Bankrate API](https://fous.com/tools/bankrate.md): Bankrate provides personal finance information, national-average mortgage and refinance rates with published dates, and listed savings, CD, and money market rates that may change daily.
- [Google Finance API](https://fous.com/tools/google-finance.md): Google Finance returns possibly delayed prices and figures, indexes, up to four movers timed by oldest quote, currency conversions, and up to five financial periods.
- [Eurostat API](https://fous.com/tools/eurostat.md): Official European statistics from Eurostat.
- [Trading Economics API](https://fous.com/tools/trading-economics.md): Trading Economics provides economic indicators, market data and country statistics, including country overviews, latest reported country comparisons and current commodity prices reflecting reported trading days.
- [Investing.com API](https://fous.com/tools/investing-com.md): Investing.com provides financial markets data and news, economic releases up to 31 days, and current commodity prices and government bond yields, which may be delayed or indicative.
- [All Finance tools](https://fous.com/tools/category/finance)
