"... an international organisation which fosters international monetary and financial cooperation and serves as a bank for central banks.The BIS fulfils this mandate by acting as: [1] a forum to promote discussion and policy analysis among central banks and within the international financial community [2] a centre for economic and monetary research [3] a prime counterparty for central banks in their financial transactions [4] agent or trustee in connection with international financial operations." (Quoted from "About BIS")