Banking in Asia-Pacific
The Asia Office serves as the gateway for BIS banking customers' investment activities and provides customers with access to the full range of the Bank's financial services on a near 24-hour basis. The office plays a vital role in supporting the growing involvement of Asia-Pacific central banks in the BIS’s work. As at financial year end March 2026, placements by regional central banks constituted 60% of total placements. BIS Banking continually adapts to meet the evolving needs of the Bank’s members in the region by offering tailored local currency products.
The role of the Asia Office in banking
The Asia Office provides access to key investment destinations, such as the onshore renminbi interbank bond market, as well as the Korean won market.
As a member of the China Foreign Exchange Trade System (CFETS) since 2016, the BIS, through the Asian Office's direct access, provides all its banking customers with onshore renminbi services.
With its expertise and close relationships with central banks in the region, the Asian Office is well placed to expand the Bank's offerings of products denominated in regional currencies.
Asian bond funds
The BIS is the administrator for ABF2, the second Asian Bond Fund pooling investments in one pan-Asian and eight local funds with private sector participation, for the 11 members of the Executives' Meeting of East Asia-Pacific Central Banks (EMEAP).
The Asia Office provides local support to this initiative, including analytical work on bond markets in the region.
BIS Asian Green Bond Fund
The BIS launched the Asian Green Bond Fund in February 2022 as part of its institutional endeavour to provide a much needed and secure vehicle for global central banks in their efforts to support environmentally friendly investments.
The BIS Asian Green Bond Fund is a US dollar-denominated, open-ended fund and offers central banks opportunities to invest in high-quality bonds issued by sovereigns, international financial institutions and corporates that comply with strict international green standards. The Asia Office provides in-house management of the Asian Green Bond Fund.
Reserve management workshops
Together with its partners in the region and beyond, the Asia Office organises a reserves and risk management workshop every year in the region. These knowledge-sharing events are conducted to facilitate the exchange of information among reserve managers and promote the development of investment and risk management capabilities at central banks.