Bank for International Settlements

About Bank for International Settlements

The BIS, founded in Basel in 1930, is the central bank for central banks. Originally created to manage German World War I reparations, the BIS shifted to coordinating central bank cooperation. The BIS was controversial during World War II for accepting Nazi gold from looted Czech assets. After the war, the BIS was nearly dissolved but survived. The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision meets at the BIS. The BIS conducts research on monetary policy, financial stability, and international economics. The BIS hosts the Global Economy Meeting of major central bank governors every two months. Agustin Carstens has headed the BIS since 2017.