The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) was established in 1914 by international bankers from the United States, including figures like Owen D. Young, J. Pierpont Morgan, and Thomas W. Lamont. They aimed to create a world financial order incorporating the principles of the American central banking system.

The Bank for International Settlements played a key role in collecting, administrating, and distributing the reparations imposed on the German Government by the Treaty of Versailles after World War I.

The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) was set up in Basel, Switzerland in 1923 to address financial issues remaining from World War I, particularly German reparation payments.

The Dawes and Young Loans were international loans issued to finance the repatriations and other financial obligations outlined in the Treaty of Versailles. The BIS served as the trustee for these loans.

In 1928, international lending to Germany experienced a slowdown due to concerns about the internal politics of the Weimar Republic.

Belgian banker Émile Francqui presented the first draft concept for the Bank for International Settlements on 23 February 1929. This initial proposal was later amended with suggestions from Bank of France governor Émile Moreau, shaping the future structure of the bank.

On 7 March 1929, American peers Warren Randolph Burgess, Shepard Morgan, and Walter W. Stewart presented a compromise text for the Bank for International Settlements, which formed the basis for subsequent developments. This text played a crucial role in shaping the operational framework of the bank.

On 10 March 1929, the Young Committee made public the concept of the Bank for International Settlements, outlining its threefold purpose as a trustee, bank, and international organization of central bankers. This announcement laid the foundation for the future role of the bank.

On 25 March 1929, the Young Committee reached an overall agreement on the future bank, with draft statutes prepared by Charles Stewart Addis of the Bank of England. This agreement marked a significant step towards the establishment of the Bank for International Settlements.

The Young Committee, chaired by American banker Owen D. Young, concluded its 28 successive sessions on 7 June 1929 at the Hotel George V, finalizing the establishment of the Bank for International Settlements. The bank was envisioned as a means to settle reparation payments, issue bonds, and provide international long-term credit.

On 20 January 1930, the founding texts of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) were approved during the second part of the Hague conference. This included the constituent Charter and Statutes for the bank, solidifying its establishment.

On 26 February 1930, the Swiss Federal Council approved the Convention and Charter of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), giving it the force of law. This crucial step formalized the establishment of the BIS.

The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) was formally created in Rome on 27 February 1930, following the approval of the Convention and Charter. This marked the official establishment of the BIS as an international financial institution.

The first informal meeting of the Board members of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) took place in Basel, Switzerland. During this meeting, the bank's Statutes were adopted, and key leadership positions were assigned.

On May 17, 1930, the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) was officially founded after agreements were made regarding its leadership structure and terms of American participation.

The shares of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) were publicly issued, marking an important step in the establishment and operation of the bank.

Reparation payments were first suspended for one year in June 1931 as part of the Hoover Moratorium.

Reparation payments were stopped altogether after the Lausanne Agreement of July 1932 failed to be ratified.

In early 1939, the Bank for International Settlements transferred Czechoslovakian national bank gold to Germany's Reichsbank, which was seen as abetting the Nazi war effort.

In July 1944, over 700 delegates from Allied nations gathered at the Mount Washington Hotel in Bretton Woods, NH, to establish the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), which later became part of the World Bank.

At the end of World War II, the Allies initially planned to shut down the Bank for International Settlements due to its perceived support for the Nazi war effort, but the plan was not executed, partly influenced by John Maynard Keynes.

In 1947, the Bank for International Settlements was appointed as the agent for the execution of the first intra-European compensation agreement under the Marshall Plan, showcasing its role in facilitating economic cooperation.

The decision to liquidate the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) was officially ended in 1948.

By 1950, the Bank for International Settlements became the agent for the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation to serve the European Payments Union until its liquidation in 1958, highlighting its pivotal role in European economic affairs.

On December 26, 1952, Japan renounced all rights, titles, and interests in the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) that it had acquired under the Hague Convention of January 1930.

After the success of the European Payments Union in 1958, currency convertibility was restored in Europe, marking the operationalization of the Bretton Woods system throughout the western world.

The Bank for International Settlements expanded its global presence starting in 1961.

The Markets Committee, established in 1962 as the Committee on Gold and Foreign Exchange, is the oldest of the BIS-hosted committees. It focuses on market-related issues and reports to the Global Economy Meeting.

The CGFS, originally known as the Euro-currency Standing Committee, was established in 1971. It plays a key role in reporting to the Global Economy Meeting and focuses on global financial system issues.

In 1973, the Bank for International Settlements took on the role of agent for the European Monetary Cooperation Fund, established by the member countries of the European Economic Community, now known as the European Union.

The Basel Committee for Banking Supervision (BCBS) was established in 1974 as an international forum for financial regulation, closely associated with the Bank for International Settlements (BIS).

In 1976, Alexandre Lamfalussy, the then-BIS economic advisor, expressed concerns about the increasing country risk due to the European Coal and Steel Community lending money to developing nations at a rapid pace. He specifically warned about the threat of a crisis focused on credit.

In 1977, the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) moved into its new premises, known as the 'Tower of Basel,' following the completion of the building near the Basel SBB railway station.

In 1982, the Bank for International Settlements provided emergency funding to Mexico during its debt crisis. This assistance helped stabilize the Mexican economy during a challenging period.

In 1985, the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) published the first of a series of 'Red Books' covering payment system developments in G10 countries. These books now focus on countries participating in the Committee on Payments and Market Infrastructures (CPMI).

The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, hosted by the BIS, played a central role in establishing the Basel Capital Accords in 1988. These accords aimed to set capital adequacy standards for internationally active commercial banks.

The Committee on Payment and Settlement Systems (CPSS) was established in 1990 to extend the prior work of the Group of Experts on Payment Systems and Committee on Interbank Netting Schemes. It was later renamed to Committee on Payments and Market Infrastructures (CPMI) in 2014.

In 1998, the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) established a Representative Office for Asia and the Pacific in Hong Kong SAR, marking a significant step in its globalization efforts.

The FSI, a part of the BIS, plays a key role in organizing seminars and lectures focused on global financial stability.

In 2001, it was decided that ownership of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) should be restricted to central banks, excluding private shareholders.

In 2002, the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) set up a Representative Office for the Americas in Mexico City, further expanding its global presence.

In 2003, the Bank for International Settlements switched its unit of account from the gold franc to the Special Drawing Right (SDR), aligning with other international organizations like the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, hosted by the BIS, introduced the Basel II framework in 2004. This framework aimed to improve risk assessment and capital adequacy standards for banks.

In May 2005, there was a discussion on central bank cooperation at the Bank for International Settlements, focusing on policy panel discussions.

Basel III is a set of reform measures aimed at enhancing regulation, supervision, and risk management in the global banking industry.

In December 2017, negotiations on Basel III were completed as an update to previous accords in response to the financial crisis.

As of 31 March 2019, the BIS reported its balance sheet total in IMF special drawing rights amounting to SDR 291.1 billion (US$403.7 billion) with a net profit of SDR 461.1 million (US$639.5 million).

The Bank for International Settlements celebrated its 90th anniversary, marking 90 years since it first opened for business.

On March 10, 2022, Russia was suspended from the Bank for International Settlements. This action was taken in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

By August 9, 2022, the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) assets of $347.6 billion in International Monetary Fund Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) were equivalent to $458 billion at the prevailing exchange rate.