Guidelines to the international locational banking statistics

Last update 11 May 2012

The BIS compiles two sets of statistics on international banking activity:

• locational banking statistics, which measure international claims and liabilities of bank offices in the respective reporting countries, including inter-office positions, using principles that are consistent with national accounts and balance of payments.
• consolidated banking statistics, which measure worldwide consolidated claims of banks headquartered in the respective reporting countries, including claims of own foreign offices but excluding inter-office positions, building on measures of country risk exposures used by banks in their internal risk management systems.

The Guidelines (PDF, 44 pages, 340 kb) to the international locational banking statistics provide definitions and guidelines for the reporting of data. Part I of the Guidelines describes the reporting requirements, Part II contains a glossary of terms, and Part III lists international organisations and official monetary authorities.

Banks resident in 43 countries and financial centres currently contribute to the locational banking statistics. Banks report data to the central bank or monetary authority in their respective reporting country or centre, and nationally aggregated data are then transmitted to the BIS. A list of reporting institutions is available by country of location (XLS, 1328 kb).

A summary of reporting practices is available by reporting country (PDF, 126 pages, 289 kb), by reporting concept (PDF, 87 pages, 158 kb), or as a data file (XLS, 374 kb).

The Guidelines and related documents are updated on an ongoing basis. Separate guidelines are available for the consolidated banking statistics.