An international financial institution ( IFI ) is a financial institution that has been established (or chartered) by more than one country, and hence is subject to international law . Its owners or shareholders are generally national governments, although other international institutions and other organizations occasionally figure as shareholders. The most prominent IFIs are creations of multiple nations, although some bilateral financial institutions (created by two countries) exist and are technically IFIs. The best known IFIs were established after World War II to assist in the reconstruction of Europe and provide mechanisms for international cooperation in managing the global financial system.
59-526: The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development ( IBRD ) is an international financial institution , established in 1944 and headquartered in Washington, D.C. , United States; it is the lending arm of World Bank Group. The IBRD offers loans to middle-income developing countries . It is the first of five member institutions that compose the World Bank Group. The initial mission of
118-468: A developing country and its emerging market , hence the term bilateral , as opposed to multilateral . Examples include: Financial institutions of neighboring countries established themselves internationally to pursue and finance activities in areas of mutual interest; most of them are central banks , followed by development and investment banks. The table below lists some of them in chronological order of when they were founded or listed as functioning as
177-868: A "distinct role" and together form the World Bank—the IBRD, the International Development Association (IDA), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), that "invests in private firms and promotes entrepreneurship", the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), that guarantees loans, and the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). Their mission is to "fight poverty and improve living standards for people in
236-789: A 2019 The Economist article, the IBRD is "more controversial" than the International Development Association (IDA) lending arm. With its AAA credit rating, the IBRD can "borrow money cheaply on the international financial markets". Middle-income countries, like Brazil and China, that currently borrow from the IBRD, could "borrow in abundance from foreign investors" on their own. The IBRD provides financial services as well as strategic coordination and information services to its borrowing member countries. The Bank only finances sovereign governments directly, or projects backed by sovereign governments. The World Bank Treasury
295-499: A Continental ". The office has, since the late 18th century, been customarily referred to as the singular "Treasury", without any preceding article , as a remnant of the country's transition from British to American English . For example, the department notes its guiding purpose as "Treasury's mission" instead of "the Treasury's mission." Robert Morris was designated Superintendent of Finance in 1781 and restored stability to
354-542: A Department of Treasury, in which shall be the following officers, namely: a Secretary of the Treasury, to be deemed head of the department; a Comptroller, an Auditor, a Treasurer, a Register, and an Assistant to the Secretary of the Treasury , which assistant shall be appointed by the said Secretary. Alexander Hamilton took the oath of office as the first secretary of the treasury on September 11, 1789. Hamilton had served as George Washington 's aide-de-camp during
413-587: A March 2012 Washington Post article, IBRD was the "original 'world bank'". IBRD field offices were opened in Paris , France, Copenhagen , Denmark, and Prague in the former Czechoslovakia. The IBRD was established with the original mission of financing the reconstruction efforts of war-torn European nations following World War II, with goals shared by the later Marshall Plan . The Bank issued its inaugural loan of $ 250 million ($ 2.6 billion in 2 dollars) to France in 1947 to finance infrastructure projects. In 1946,
472-411: A box filled with U.S. currency, including a number of thousand-dollar bills, and reported it to Secretary Spinner. U.S. President Abraham Lincoln subsequently honored her with a commendation for her actions, and the federal government rewarded her with an appointment for life as a messenger with its Department of Issues. The U.S. Congress transferred several agencies that had previously been under
531-573: A few months after it became operational, Chile sought financial help from the IBRD—the first of the developing countries to do so. Throughout the remainder of the 1940s and 1950s, the Bank-financed projects sought to dam rivers, generate electricity and improve access to water and sanitation. It also invested in France, Belgium, and Luxembourg's steel industry. Following the reconstruction of Europe,
590-478: A geographic concentration area for their development objectives. With this geographic and thematic focus, funding for a variety of ventures – often resource-intense infrastructure projects – is provided. Since MDBs have a shareholding structure and are backed by member countries, they tend to profit from favorable loan conditions compared to other banks and can therefore take more risks in their investment strategy. This aids their development-driven cause. Since
649-556: A government's failure to meet its contractual obligations. The IBRD's Enclave Partial Risk Guarantee covers private projects in member countries of the IDA against sovereign governments' failures to fulfil contractual obligations. The Bank provides an array of financial risk management products including foreign exchange swaps , currency conversions, interest rate swaps , interest rate caps and floors , and commodity swaps . To help borrowers protect against catastrophes and other special risks,
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#1732764837894708-653: A legal entity. Some institutions were conceived and started working informally 2 decades before their legal inception (e.g. the South East Asian Central Banks Centre) United States Treasury Department The Department of the Treasury ( USDT ) is the national treasury and finance department of the federal government of the United States , where it serves as an executive department . The department oversees
767-457: A preferred rate because of its AAA credit rating. In 2011, it raised US$ 29 billion in capital from bond issues made in 26 different currencies . The Bank offers several financial services and products, including flexible loans, grants, risk guarantees, financial derivatives, and catastrophic risk financing. It reported lending commitments of $ 26.7 billion made to 132 projects in 2011. There are five "closely associated institutions" that each have
826-605: A senior official in the United States Treasury Department . The IBRD member nations did not sponsor a "rival candidate" and Malpass became president, in spite of the fact that he is critical of the role of the IBRD. The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and International Monetary Fund (IMF) were established by delegates at the Bretton Woods Conference in 1944 and became operational in 1946. According to
885-599: Is chaired by the President of the World Bank Group . The executive directors collectively represent all 189 member states of the World Bank. The president oversees the IBRD's overall direction and daily operations. The Bank and IDA operate with a staff of approximately 10,000 employees. On 9 April 2019, United States President Donald Trump nominated David Malpass as the World Bank Group's president. Malpass had served as one of President Trump's economic advisers and as
944-445: Is effectively shared responsibility for repayment, the banks can often borrow more cheaply than could any one member nation. These banks include: There are also several multilateral financial institutions (MFIs). MFIs are similar to MDBs but they are sometimes separated since they have more limited memberships and often focus on financing certain types of projects. The best-known IFIs were established after World War II to assist in
1003-522: Is owned and governed by its 189 member states, with each country represented on the Board of Governors. The IBRD has its executive leadership and staff which conduct its normal business operations. The Bank's member governments are shareholders which contribute and have the right to vote on its matters. In addition to contributions from its member nations, the IBRD acquires most of its capital by borrowing on international capital markets through bond issues at
1062-604: Is the division of the IBRD that manages the Bank's debt portfolio of over $ 100 billion and financial derivatives transactions of $ 20 billion. The Bank offers flexible loans with maturities as long as 30 years and custom-tailored repayment scheduling. The IBRD also offers loans in local currencies . Through a joint effort between the IBRD and the International Finance Corporation , the Bank offers financing to subnational entities either with or without sovereign guarantees . For borrowers needing quick financing for an unexpected change,
1121-661: The Global Policy , journal, While the IBRD and the IDA historically prioritized funding infrastructure projects, since the 1990s, the Bank has directed less lending to infrastructure projects in favour of other development projects such as fighting climate change , eradicating poverty and ensuring good governance. The IBRD finances its activities from the shares its members hold, as well as borrowing on international capital markets by issuing World Bank bonds . The Bank raised US$ 54.0 billion worth of capital in fiscal 2019 from bonds issued in 27 different currencies . Since 1959,
1180-621: The American Revolutionary War and was influential in the ratification of the Constitution. Hamilton's financial and managerial acumen made him a logical choice for addressing the problem of the new nation's heavy war debt . His first official act as secretary was to submit a report to Congress in which he laid the foundation for the nation's financial health. To the surprise of many legislators, he insisted upon federal assumption and dollar-for-dollar repayment of
1239-502: The Bank of the United States , which acted as the government's fiscal agent . The Department of Treasury believes their seal was created by Francis Hopkinson , the treasurer of loans. He submitted bills to Congress in 1780 that authorized the design of department seals, including a seal for the Board of Treasury. While it is not certain that Hopkinson designed the seal, it closely resembles others he created. In 1861, Sophia Holmes became
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#17327648378941298-548: The Bureau of Engraving and Printing and the U.S. Mint . These two agencies are responsible for printing all paper currency and minting coins , while the treasury executes currency circulation in the domestic fiscal system. It collects all federal taxes through the Internal Revenue Service ; manages U.S. government debt instruments ; licenses and supervises banks and thrift institutions ; and advises
1357-695: The Department of Justice as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (BATFE). The regulatory and tax collection functions of ATF related to legitimate traffic in alcohol and tobacco remained with the treasury at its new Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). Effective March 1, 2003, the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center , the United States Customs Service , and
1416-580: The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development . The Islamic Development Bank is among the leading multilateral development banks. IsDB is the only multilateral development bank after the World Bank that is global in terms of its membership. 56 member countries of IsDB are spread over Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America. A bilateral development bank is a financial institution set up by one individual country to finance development projects in
1475-529: The United States Secret Service were transferred to the newly created Department of Homeland Security ("DHS") . In 2020, the Treasury suffered a data breach following a cyberattack likely conducted by a nation state adversary , possibly Russia. This was in fact the first detected case of the much wider 2020 United States federal government data breach , which involved at least eight federal departments. The basic functions of
1534-468: The legislative and executive branches on matters of fiscal policy . The department is administered by the secretary of the treasury , who is a member of the Cabinet . The treasurer of the United States has limited statutory duties, but advises the Secretary on various matters such as coinage and currency production. Signatures of both officials appear on all Federal Reserve notes . The department
1593-522: The $ 72 billion the IMF approved as a credit line to a single nation, Mexico." In the early 2010s, the total of "capital investments in emerging markets from all sources have topped $ 1 trillion annually". According to the Institute of International Finance , in 2011, the "combined net investment of the World Bank and other international development banks and agencies" was about $ 20 billion in 2011. According to
1652-608: The 2020s, in the context of the G20 , the World Bank - IMF Annual Meetings and other International Summits, MDBs have committed to multiple shared reform objectives. This MDBs Reform process aims to integrate MDBs in terms of operational practices, objectives, financial metrics and governance structures, enabling them to work as a system in development projects, to mobilize additional capital and achieve credit rating stability. The Capital Adequacy Framework (CAF) reform has been one of
1711-500: The Bank's mandate has transitioned to eradicating poverty around the world. In 1960, the International Development Association (IDA) was established to serve as the Bank's concessional lending arm and provide low and no-cost finance and grants to the poorest of the developing countries as measured by gross national income per capita. The IBRD is restricted in its borrowing, as it cannot provide loans in competition with private capital; IBRD loans have to be tied to specific projects; and
1770-747: The Department of the Treasury include: With respect to the estimation of revenues for the executive branch , Treasury serves a purpose parallel to that of the Office of Management and Budget for the estimation of spending for the executive branch, the Joint Committee on Taxation for the estimation of revenues for Congress, and the Congressional Budget Office for the estimation of spending for Congress. From 1830 until 1901, responsibility for overseeing weights and measures
1829-761: The IBRD in 1944, was to finance the reconstruction of European nations devastated by World War II. The IBRD and its concessional lending arm, the International Development Association (IDA), are collectively known as the World Bank as they share the same leadership and staff. Following the reconstruction of Europe, the Bank's mandate expanded to advancing worldwide economic development and eradicating poverty . The IBRD provides commercial-grade or concessional financing to sovereign states to fund projects that seek to improve transportation and infrastructure , education , domestic policy, environmental consciousness , energy investments, healthcare, access to food and potable water , and access to improved sanitation . The IBRD
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1888-963: The IBRD in their governance and operations, were established by countries that were not member nations of the WBG. This included the Inter‐American Development Bank (IDB), the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF), and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB). Both the CAF and IsDB are "primarily owned and controlled by borrower countries." In
1947-455: The IBRD operates a Deferred Drawdown Option which serves as a line of credit with features similar to the Bank's flexible loan program. Among the World Bank Group's credit enhancement and guarantee products, the IBRD offers policy-based guarantees to cover countries' sovereign default risk, partial credit guarantees to cover the credit risk of a sovereign government or subnational entity, and partial risk guarantees to private projects to cover
2006-430: The IBRD will normally only finance the direct foreign exchange costs of a project. At the time of its creation, the IBRD was the only Multilateral Development Bank . During the period of decolonization —the mid‐1950s to the mid‐1970s—several MDBs were created—the International Finance Corporation , the International Development Association . They were both WBG members. During this period other MDBs that were similar to
2065-629: The IBRD, which is backed by world governments has had a triple-A credit rating , which allows it to borrow capital at lower rates. According to a 2015 article, commissioned by the Intergovernmental Group of Twenty-Four on International Monetary Affairs and Development—also known as the Group of 24 (G-24)—multilateral development banks (MDBs)—such as the IBRD—"represent one of the most successful types of international organization created in
2124-464: The MDBs a "privileged position to be first in line for repayment, should a country face financial restrictions." The bank also generates income from the return on its equity and the small margins on the loans. As the IBRD does not seek profit, it transfers part of its excess income to the IDA ($ 259 million in fiscal 2019). In 2011, the IBRD loaned about US$ 26 billion, which represented just a "fraction of
2183-613: The Treasury began in the turmoil of the American Revolution , when the Continental Congress at Philadelphia deliberated the crucial issue of financing a war of independence against Great Britain . The Congress had no power to levy and collect taxes, nor was there a tangible basis for securing funds from foreign investors or governments. The delegates resolved to issue paper money in the form of bills of credit , promising redemption in coin on faith in
2242-614: The World Bank group's activities, but with particular focus on a specific region. Shareholders usually consist of the regional countries plus the major donor countries. The best-known of these regional banks cover regions that roughly correspond to United Nations regional groupings, including the Inter-American Development Bank , the Asian Development Bank ; the African Development Bank ; the Central American Bank for Economic Integration ; and
2301-668: The aegis of the Treasury Department to other departments as a consequence of the September 11 attacks . Effective January 24, 2003, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), which had been a bureau of the department since 1972, was extensively reorganized under the provisions of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 . The law enforcement functions of ATF, including the regulation of legitimate traffic in firearms and explosives , were transferred to
2360-463: The bank offers a Catastrophe Deferred Drawdown Option to provide financing after a natural disaster or declared state of emergency. It also issues catastrophe bonds which transfer catastrophic risks from borrowers to investors. The IBRD reported $ 23.2 billion in lending commitments for 100 projects in fiscal year 2019. The top 10 borrowers were India, Indonesia, Jordan, Egypt, Argentina, China, Morocco, Turkey, Ukraine and Colombia. The most supported sector
2419-565: The colonies contribute to the Continental government's funds. To ensure proper and efficient handling of the growing national debt in the face of weak economic and political ties between the colonies, the Congress, on February 17, 1776, designated a committee of five to superintend the treasury, settle accounts , and report periodically to the Congress. On April 1, a Treasury Office of Accounts, consisting of an auditor general and clerks ,
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2478-467: The country's $ 75 million debt in order to revitalize the public credit : "[T]he debt of the United States was the price of liberty. The faith of America has been repeatedly pledged for it, and with solemnities that give peculiar force to the obligation." Hamilton foresaw the development of industry and trade in the United States, suggesting that government revenues be based upon customs duties . His sound financial policies also inspired investment in
2537-486: The developing world." By 2018, the World Bank Group was "one of the world's largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries." Of the five institutions, the IBRD and the IDA are the World Bank's two largest units. When a country reaches a GDP per person over US$ 1,145, they are no longer eligible for IDA financial support. For example, of the BRIC countries, China was no longer eligible in 1999 and by 2014, neither
2596-505: The early 1990s, European nations established the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and expanded European Investment Bank , to foster European integration and to assist post‐communist countries to transform their economies to become more market‐oriented. By 2012, according to The Post , IBRD was using "its AAA credit rating to sell bonds at interest rates close to those of U.S. Treasury bonds." It loaned money to developing nations, such as China and Brazil. According to
2655-579: The finances of the confederation of former colonies until September 1789. The First United States Congress convened in New York City on March 4, 1789, marking the beginning of government under the U.S. Constitution . On September 2, 1789, Congress created a permanent institution for the management of government finances: Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That there shall be
2714-534: The first Black woman to be employed by the Treasury Department and by the Federal government of the United States when Senator Henry Wilson , James G. Blaine and others advocated for her hiring as a janitor under Secretary of the Treasury Francis Spinner . She was paid fifteen dollars per month. In 1862, she prevented a major theft from the department of more than $ 200,000 when she came across
2773-413: The formulation of policy and management of the department as a whole, while the operating bureaus carry out the specific operations assigned to the department. The Treasury Department has authorized a budget for Fiscal Year 2024 of $ 16.5 billion. The budget authorization is broken down as follows: In the latest Center for Effective Government analysis of the fifteen federal agencies that receive
2832-461: The main fields of MDB reform, aiming the enhance financing capacity and harmonize financial metrics among MDBs. The following are usually classified as the main MDBs: There are also several "sub-regional" multilateral development banks. Their membership typically includes only borrowing nations. The banks lend to their members, borrowing from the international capital markets . Because there
2891-418: The nation's finances. Morris, a wealthy colonial merchant , was nicknamed "the financier" because of his reputation for procuring funds or goods on a moment's notice. His staff included a comptroller , a treasurer , a register , and auditors , who managed the country's finances through 1784, when Morris resigned because of ill health. The treasury board, consisting of three commissioners, continued to oversee
2950-559: The post-World War II era." By October 2015, although the WBG—with its lending arms—was the only "global institution, there were more than twenty operational 20 MDBs in the world. In 2016, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and BRICs New Development Bank began operations. Like other multilateral development banks, (MDBs), the IBRD has a preferred credit treatment (PCT), through which borrowers grant
3009-564: The reconstruction of Europe and provide mechanisms for international cooperation in managing the global financial system . They include the World Bank , the IMF , and the International Finance Corporation . Today the largest IFI in the world is the European Investment Bank which lent 61 billion euros to global projects in 2011. The regional development banks consist of several regional institutions that have functions similar to
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#17327648378943068-707: The revolutionary cause. On June 22, 1775, only a few days after the Battle of Bunker Hill , the Continental Congress issued $ 2 million in bills; on July 25, 28 citizens of Philadelphia were employed by Congress to sign and number the currency. On July 29, 1775, the Second Continental Congress assigned the responsibility for the administration of the revolutionary government's finances to joint Continental treasurers George Clymer and Michael Hillegas . Congress stipulated that each of
3127-402: Was India. The IBRD is governed by the World Bank's Board of Governors which meets annually and consists of one governor per member country (most often the country's finance minister or treasury secretary). The Board of Governors delegates most of its authority over daily matters such as lending and operations to the board of directors. The Board of Directors consists of 25 executive directors and
3186-694: Was Public Administration. 38°53′56″N 77°02′33″W / 38.8990°N 77.0425°W / 38.8990; -77.0425 [REDACTED] World Bank Group International financial institution A Multilateral Development Bank ( MDB ) is a development bank , created by a group of countries, that provides financing , technical assistance and professional advice to enhance development . An MDB has many members, including developed donor countries and developing borrower countries. MDBs finance projects through long-term loans at market rates, very-long-term loans below market rates (also known as credits), and grants. Additionally, MDBs often have
3245-528: Was a major presence in Washington's administration . The department is customarily referred to as "Treasury", solely, without any preceding article – a transitional remnant from British to American English . Hamilton's portrait appears on the obverse of the ten-dollar bill , while the Treasury Building in Washington, D.C. is depicted on the reverse . The history of the Department of
3304-558: Was carried out by the Office of Standard Weights and Measures under the auspices of the Treasury Department. After 1901, that responsibility was assigned to the agency that subsequently became known as the National Institute of Standards and Technology . The Department of the Treasury is organized into two major components: the departmental offices and the operating bureaus. The departmental offices are primarily responsible for
3363-448: Was established by an Act of Congress in 1789 to manage government revenue . The first secretary of the treasury was Alexander Hamilton , who was sworn into office on September 11, 1789. Hamilton was appointed by President George Washington on the recommendation of Robert Morris , Washington's first choice for the position, who had declined the appointment. Hamilton established the nation's early financial system and for several years
3422-580: Was established to facilitate the settlement of claims and to keep the public accounts for the government of the United Colonies. With the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, the newborn republic as a sovereign nation was able to secure loans from abroad. Despite the infusion of foreign and domestic loans, the united colonies were unable to establish a well-organized agency for financial administration. Michael Hillegas
3481-401: Was first called Treasurer of the United States on May 14, 1777. The Treasury Office was reorganized three times between 1778 and 1781. The $ 241.5 million in paper Continental bills devalued rapidly. By May 1781, the dollar collapsed at a rate of from 500 to 1000 to 1 against hard currency . Protests against the worthless money swept the colonies, giving rise to the expression " not worth
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