Products and services
The BIS has developed a range of banking services specifically designed to
assist central banks, monetary authorities and international financial
institutions in the management of their foreign exchange and gold reserves.
Central bank customers have traditionally looked for security, liquidity and
return as the three basic features of their placements at the BIS.
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To provide security, the Bank has built up a sizeable equity capital and
ample reserves. It pursues an investment strategy focused on combining
diversification benefits with intensive credit and market risk analysis.
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To ensure liquidity, the Bank stands ready to repurchase its tradable
instruments at little cost to its customers and thus respond quickly and
flexibly to their needs.
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The BIS offers an attractive and competitive return on the funds deposited
by central banks and international organisations.
BIS money market instruments
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Sight/notice accounts and fixed and floating-rate deposits in most
convertible currencies
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Fixed-term deposits can also be denominated in and index-linked to a basket
of currencies such as the SDR
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Standard and non-standard amounts and maturities
BIS tradable instruments
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Issued in major currencies
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Available in two forms: Fixed Rate Investments at the BIS (FIXBIS) for any
maturities between 1 week and 1 year and Medium-Term Instruments (MTIs) for
quarterly maturities from 1 year and up to 10 years
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MTIs available also with an embedded call feature (Callable MTIs)
Foreign exchange and gold services
Services offered are:
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spot deals, swaps, outright forwards, options, FX-linked deposits
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foreign exchange overnight orders
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safekeeping and settlements facilities available loco London, Berne or New
York
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purchases and sales of gold: spot, outright, swap or options
Asset management services
Fixed income portfolios are:
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invested in government bonds or high-grade credit securities
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structured as dedicated portfolio mandates or BIS Investment Pool (open-end
funds)
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offered as either single currency or multi-currency mandates in the major
world reserve currencies
Other services
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Short-term advances to central banks, usually on a collateralised basis
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Trustee for a number of international government loans
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Collateral agent functions
This information does not constitute an offer by the BIS, nor shall any of
the information contained herein be binding upon the BIS.
