The bank for central banks

BIS banking services are designed to meet the reserve management needs of central bank customers in terms of safety, liquidity and return – the three core objectives of central banks' reserve management frameworks. This requires reliable execution, around-the-clock services across the whole product range and competitive pricing. And, just like the Bank itself, the BIS's banking activities continuously evolve to keep pace with the central bank community's adaptation to changing macroeconomic, political and technological conditions.

The BIS offers a full range of financial services to a global customer base of about 180 central banks, monetary authorities and international organisations. To provide these services, the Banking Department operates from three interlinked dealing rooms, located in Basel, Hong Kong SAR and Mexico City. Jointly, they offer services on a near 24-hour basis to all our clients, and maintain close contact with reserve managers and other counterparties across the globe and from the Asian through the European and US trading sessions.

The Bank's own funds strategy seeks to broaden the BIS's drivers of return by diversifying into a range of additional asset classes, while moderately increasing the risk-return profile.

The Banking Department maintains an active programme of regular client meetings as well as a schedule of larger seminar-style events to share knowledge.