two Deputy Governors. All three were appointed by the Emperor. Decree dated 16 January 1808, set out the "Basic Statutes", which were to govern the Bank's operations until 1936. Decree on 6 March 1808, authorized the Bank to purchase the former mansion of the Count of Toulouse in the rue de la Vrillière in Paris for its headquarters. 1808–1936, the Bank's notes became legal tender; expansion of the branch network 1936–1945, nationalisation 1973, rewriting of the Bank's statutes 1993, a reform granted the Bank independence, in order to ensure price stability, regardless of domestic politics. This reform cleared the path for the European monetary union. 1998, entered into the European System of Central Banks 2002, Implementation of the Euro bank notes and coins in France 2003, Christian Noyer becomes governor of the Bank of France 2008, implements quantitative easing to manage the financial crisis 2015, François Villeroy de Galhau replaces Christian Noyer. The Bank distributes dividends to the French state of 4.5 billion euros in 2016, 5.0 billion euros in 2017 and 6.1 billion euros in 2019. Management of the Covid-19 crisis With the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic and the ensuing economic crisis, the Eurosystem resolved to inject €3 trillion of liquidity into banks, allowing them in turn to support households and businesses, particularly with regard to urgent cash flow needs. In addition to membership in the Eurosystem, the Banque de France is in charge of credit mediation. This service, which has been in very high demand during the crisis, provides assistance to companies facing difficulties in their relations with financial institutions. The Banque de France manages procedures to resolve overindebtedness, and while its premises are no longer open to the public, requests continue to be processed. Activities The Bank of France is responsible for three missions: monetary strategy, financial steadiness and services to the economy. Monetary strategy The Bank of France contributes to the design of the monetary policy of the euro zone (through macroeconomic research and forecast and by taking part in the deliberations on ECB decisions) and implements it in France. It is also the guardian of currency: it prints euro bank notes (it is the largest printer of euro notes) and manages the circulation of bank notes and coins. It also participates in the fight against counterfeit money, by training bank employees, merchants, police, etc. The Bank of France establishes France's balance of payments and