ECB President Lagarde's BIS Remuneration Sparks Internal Criticism

On February 23, 2026, it was reported that Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank (ECB), received €140,000 annually from the Bank for International Settlements (BIS). This payment has caused concern among ECB staff, who are subject to rules prohibiting acceptance of external payments. The remuneration has highlighted perceived inconsistencies in the ECB's policies regarding external income for its officials. The ECB is headquartered in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, while the BIS is based in Basel, Switzerland. The issue has led to internal criticism within the ECB about potential double standards in remuneration rules. No official clarification or changes to the policy have been reported as of this date.