InstitutionReviewed 2026-10-23

Bank for International Settlements

The BIS supports cooperation among central banks in pursuit of monetary and financial stability.

PROFILE / FACT FILE

Institutional profile

Name: Bank for International Settlements [1]
Institution type: Central bank cooperation [1]
Jurisdiction / coverage: Global [1]
Established: 1930-01-20 [2]
Headquarters: Basel [2]
Legal form: International organisation [2]
Official website: www.bis.org ↗ [2]
Country in background record: Switzerland [2]

Institutional role and background

The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) is an international financial institution which is owned by members' central banks. Its primary goal is to foster international monetary and financial cooperation while serving as a bank for central banks. With its establishment in 1930 it is the oldest international financial institution. Its initial purpose was to oversee the settlement of World War I war reparations. [3]

The BIS carries out its work through its meetings, programmes and through the Basel Process, hosting international groups pursuing global financial stability and facilitating their interaction. It also provides banking services to central banks, monetary authorities and international organizations. [3]

The BIS is based in Basel, Switzerland, with representative offices in Hong Kong and Mexico City. [3]

Selected introductory text by Wikipedia contributors — Bank for International Settlements, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Official facts are cited separately.

Mandate and principal activities

Its activities include research, forums for cooperation and banking services for central banks. It should not be confused with a retail bank serving household customers. [1]

Institutional history

1930-01-20
Establishment date in the institutional background record. [2]

Frequently asked questions

When was Bank for International Settlements established?

1930-01-20. See the linked source for the institutional record. [2]

Where is Bank for International Settlements headquartered?

Basel. See the linked source for the institutional record. [2]

Does the BIS operate like a retail bank for individuals?

No. The BIS serves central banks and supports international monetary and financial cooperation. [1]

Sources and review dates

Reviewed 23 October 2026. Historical dates and award-time affiliations retain their original context. A review date is not an event date. Background sources are identified separately from official records.