What does a central bank do?

Almost every country in the world has a central bank. The way they are organised and the tasks they have sometimes differ. But they are all responsible for their country’s monetary policy.
 
Central banks also have, together with other government agencies, the task of ensuring that payments in the economy can be made safely and efficiently at the lowest possible cost. The Riksbank is Sweden’s central bank.
 

One objective – low inflation

Sweden’s central bank, the Riksbank, now has one objective – to ensure that inflation is low and stable. The Riksbank has therefore been made responsible for Sweden's monetary policy, that is, influencing inflation through the interest rate. But the Bank has also been given the task of overseeing that the system for making payments functions without disruption. Additionally, the Riksbank issues banknotes and coins and manages Sweden's reserve of gold and foreign currencies.