BIS: International banking statistics

24 April 2013

Under the auspices of the Committee on the Global Financial System, BIS compiles and publishes two sets of statistics on international banking activity: 'Locational banking statistics' and 'Consolidated banking statistics'.

Locational banking statistics

The locational statistics provide information about the currency and geographical composition of banks' balance sheets. They capture outstanding claims and liabilities of banking offices located in the BIS reporting countries, including positions between related offices. The locational statistics are compiled using principles that are consistent with balance of payments. The availability of a currency breakdown facilitates the calculation of exchange-rate adjusted changes in amounts outstanding, as an approximation for flows.

Locational banking statistics

Consolidated banking statistics

The consolidated statistics provide information about banks' risk exposures, in particular country risk. They capture the worldwide consolidated claims of banks headquartered in the BIS reporting countries, including claims of their own foreign affiliates but excluding positions between related offices. They build on measures used by banks in their internal risk management systems.

Consolidated banking statistics

Both sets of statistics are reported to the BIS at a country rather than individual bank level. Central banks collect data from the banks in their jurisdiction, compile national aggregates, and then send the national data to the BIS to calculate global aggregates.

The international banking statistics are published by the BIS on a quarterly basis, with a lag of no more than 17 weeks. A release calendar provides advance notice of publication dates. Preliminary data are published in January, April, July and October together with a statistical commentary. Revised data are published in March, June, September and December in conjunction with in-depth analysis of the latest data in the BIS Quarterly Review.

International banking statistics


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