Legal information - overview

BIS Headquarters in Basel, Switzerland; two representative offices in Hong Kong SAR and Mexico City

The Bank for International Settlements opened for business on 17 May 1930 in Basel, Switzerland, where it still has its headquarters today. Since its founding, the BIS has established two representative offices: in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (1998) and in Mexico City (2002).

The BIS was created at the Hague Conference that dealt with the issue of German war reparation payments arising from the 1919 Treaty of Versailles. Besides the Agreement Approving the Experts' Plan adopted on 20 January 1930 by that Conference (see League of Nations, Treaty series, vol. 104, 1930, pp. 243-411), which refers to the constitution of the BIS, the key instruments creating the BIS were the following:

• Convention respecting the BIS of 20 January 1930, by which the Swiss Federal Government undertook to grant the BIS its Constituent Charter. (Also available in French, German and Italian.)
• BIS Constituent Charter of 20 January 1930, which establishes the incorporation of the BIS. (Also available in French, German and Italian.)
• BIS Statutes of 20 January 1930, as last amended on 7 November 2016 in the version effective from 1 January 2019. (Also available in French, German and Italian.)

The Brussels Protocol (also available in French, German and Italian) relates to the BIS's immunities, including for assets deposited by the BIS with third parties. The Protocol was signed on 30 July 1936 by representatives of 16 governments (many more have acceded since).

The legal status of the BIS vis-à-vis the jurisdictions in which it is either headquartered or has a representative office is regulated by the:

• Headquarters Agreement, concluded with the Swiss Federal Council on 10 February 1987. (Also available in French, German and Italian.)
• Host Country Agreement for the Representative Office for Asia and the Pacific, concluded with the Government of the People's Republic of China on 11 May 1998.
• Host Country Agreement for the Representative Office for the Americas, concluded with the United Mexican States on 5 November 2001.

All the above documents linked to on this page are collected in the BIS Basic texts (also available in French, German and Italian).

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BIS Innovation Hub Centres

The BIS has also established, as a BIS office,

A BIS Innovation Hub Centre in Singapore in collaboration with the Monetary Authority of Singapore.

The legal status of the BIS in Singapore is regulated in particular by the following Singapore legislative orders:

• International Organisations (Immunities and Privileges) Act.
• International Organisations (Immunities and Privileges) (Bank for International Settlements) Order 2020.
• Diplomatic and Consular Relations (Bank for International Settlements) Order 2020.

A BIS Innovation Hub Centre in London in collaboration with the Bank of England.

The legal status of the BIS in the United Kingdom is regulated in particular by the following texts:

• Host Country Agreement concluded with the government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on 12 and 29 April 2021 which entered into force on 29 April 2021.
• The Bank for International Settlements (Immunities and Privileges) Order 2021, dated 28 April 2021.
• The Bank for International Settlements (International Development Act 2002 and Immigration (Exemption from Control) Order 1972) (Amendment) Order 2021.

A BIS Innovation Hub Nordic Centre in Stockholm in collaboration with Danmarks Nationalbank, Central Bank of Iceland, Norges Bank and Sveriges Riksbank.

The legal status of the BIS in Sweden is regulated by the:

• Host Country Agreement concluded with the Government of Sweden on 3 and 5 February 2021 which entered into force on 27 May 2021.
  See also Note Verbale by the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs dated 3 June 2021.

A BIS Innovation Hub Eurosystem Centre with locations in Paris and Frankfurt am Main in collaboration with the European Central Bank, the Bundesbank and the Banque of France.

The legal status of the BIS in France is regulated by the:

• Host Country Agreement (available in English and French) concluded with the Government of France on 13 September 2021 which entered into force on 13 January 2023. 
• Social Security Agreement (in French only) concluded with the Government of France on 13 September 2021 which entered into force on 1 February 2023.
  See also Note Verbale (in French).

The legal status of the BIS in Germany is regulated by the:

• Host Country Agreement concluded with the Federal Government of Germany on 9 December 2022 which entered into force on 20 February 2023.
• Decision of Equivalence regarding the Social Security System (in German only) by the German Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs dated 16 February 2023.
  See also Note Verbale (in German).

A BIS Innovation Hub Centre in Toronto in collaboration with the Bank of Canada.

The legal status of the BIS in Canada is regulated by the:

• Host Country Agreement (available in English and French) concluded with the Government of Canada on 31 January 2024, which entered into force on 25 April 2024.
  See also a Note Verbale from the BIS to the Canadian Embassy in Switzerland dated 25 April 2024.
• Bank for International Settlements Privileges and Immunities Order, dated 19 April 2024.