Bank of International Settlements Products and Services

BIS offers a wide range of financial services designed to assist central banks, monetary authorities and international financial institutions in managing their foreign exchange and gold reserves.

Central bank customers have traditionally looked for safety, liquidity and return, which are central features of their placements at the BIS.

• To provide safety, we maintain a superior credit quality and exceptionally strong capital position. BIS investment strategy focuses on combining diversification benefits with intensive credit and market risk analysis. 
• To ensure liquidity, BIS stand ready to repurchase  tradable instruments at little cost to BIS customers and thus respond quickly and flexibly to their needs. 
• BIS is able to offer an attractive and competitive return on the funds deposited by central banks and international organisations.

What they offer

BIS money market instruments

A full range of traditional short-term instruments, denominated in reserve currencies. These instruments allow customers to meet cash management objectives, and at the same time provide competitive remuneration. Over time, they have been widely used by both sophisticated reserve managers and by those with more straightforward requirements.

• Sight/notice accounts and fixed and floating rate deposits
• Fixed-term deposits, also denominated in a basket of currencies such as the SDR
• Flexible amounts and maturities

BIS tradable instruments

An attractive investment widely used by reserve managers searching for additional yield and outstanding credit quality. Issued in major currencies along the yield curve, they can be efficiently liquidated before final maturity. Ideal for active reserve managers who seek to take full advantage of market opportunities.

• FIXBIS: Fixed-Rate Investments at the BIS, available for any maturities between one week and one year
• MTIs: Medium-Term Instruments with quarterly maturities from one to five years
• Callable MTIs: MTIs with an embedded call feature

Foreign exchange and gold services

The BIS support clients by offering a wide range of foreign exchange services. Live quotations are available in all major currency pairs.

• Spot, swaps, outright forwards (including SDR), options, FX-linked deposits
• BIS e-FX trading platform and orders
• Gold purchases and sales: spot, outright forwards, swaps and options
• Gold upgrading and investments (including swaps and dual currency deposits)
• Gold location exchange, safekeeping and settlement: loco London, Berne or New York

Statement of commitment to the FX Global Code 

Asset management services

Owing to long history of cooperation with central banks and other official institutions globally, the BIS has a deep understanding of reserve management practices and its challenges. BIS Asset Management is a trusted partner to manage portfolios of government bonds and high-grade fixed income securities.

• Available in various asset classes and offered as either single-currency or multi-currency mandates in major reserve currencies
• Dedicated portfolio mandates or open-ended collective investment vehicles
• Specific or standardised investment guidelines

Other services

• Short-term uncommitted advances to central banks, usually on a collateralised basis
• Trustee or agent in connection with international settlements

Knowledge-sharing for reserve managers

Every year the Banking Department organises knowledge-sharing events for reserve managers in order to promote the development of investment and risk management capabilities at central banks and international organisations.

• Training seminars and workshops
• Global and regional meetings
• Ad hoc topical conferences

SOURCE : BIS