Economic policy and analysis

We are a bank like no other

What we do

We’re the central bank of the UK. We are not like other Banks in the UK, our role is unique. Our job is to promote the good of the people of the UK by making sure we have a stable financial system and robust monetary policy in place.  

We do this with the support of the below central bank functions.

Financial stability

A stable financial system is one that can provide crucial services to households and businesses in both good times and bad. 

Our departments are listed below. For more information see Financial stability.

  • Financial Stability Strategy and Risk (FSSR) works to ensure the UK financial system is resilient to, and prepared for, the wide range of possible risks it could face, so that the system can serve UK households and businesses in bad times as well as good.
  • The Financial Market Infrastructure Directorate supervises financial market infrastructure. It ensures that financial market infrastructure (such as payments, settlements and clearing) remains operationally resilient and not a major financial stability risk in the event of disruption.
  • The International Directorate (ID) analyses how the rest of the world affects the outlook and risks around the UK economy and financial system, contributing to all of the Bank's policy processes. It is also responsible for setting the Bank's international strategy, develops international policy and works with other Directorates to deliver the Bank's international priorities.
  • The CBDC Unit is responsible for analysing the opportunities and challenges presented by central bank digital currencies (CBDC), advancing the Bank’s broader strategy and, ultimately, the decision on whether it should issue one.
  • The Fintech Hub is responsible for understanding and applying financial technology (fintech) to help fulfil the Bank’s mission.

Monetary policy

Monetary policy is action that a country's central bank or government can take to influence how much money is in the economy and how much it costs to borrow. As the UK’s central bank, we use two main monetary policy tools; interest rate and quantitative easing.

Our departments are listed below. For more information see Monetary policy.

  • The Monetary Analysis directorate provides expert advice and guidance to the MPC so that it can decide and communicate the right policy strategy to meet its price stability objective.
  • Notes Directorate fulfils the Bank's obligations as the sole issuer of banknotes in England and Wales and has a statutory responsibility to ensure that holders of Scottish and Northern Irish notes are protected if a commercial banknote issuer defaults. Notes also oversees the UK market for wholesale cash distribution. To fulfil this important and highly visible public role, Notes relies on expertise in fields as diverse as economic and quantitative modelling, risk analysis, operations and science.
  • The Centre for Central Banking Studies (CCBS) is a centre for building skills and exchanging expert knowledge at the frontier of global central banking and financial regulation, to promote UK and global economic and financial stability.

Markets, banking and payments

Our balance sheet – the assets we hold and the liabilities used to fund them – is one of our most important tools for delivering monetary and financial stability. And that is where the Market, Banking, Payments and Resolution Division comes in.

If you are looking for work that is of national importance for our economy and the financial system, there are many exciting opportunities for you to join our team of more than 200 professionals from both the private and public sectors as well as different countries and backgrounds.

  • The Markets Directorate leads the Bank's market operations. We use our presence, expertise and influence in financial markets to inform and shape the Bank's policy decisions and priorities.

    For more information see Markets.

  • The Banking Directorate is responsible for managing the Bank’s customer banking and settlement operations. As part of this the Directorate makes sure that people have confidence in the banknotes, which means ensuring they are using the latest anti-counterfeit technology, as well as working with financial institutions, banknotes suppliers and retailers to ensure enough high quality banknotes are in circulation.

    For more information see Banking services.

  • The Payments Directorate is responsible for operating the Real Time Gross Settlement service and CHAPS the wholesale payment service.

    For more information see Payment and settlement.

Resolution

Our mission is to protect and enhance Financial Stability through making firms resolvable.  If a bank or building society fails, we make sure that happens in an orderly way. So disruption to any of its vital services is minimised.

For more information see Resolution.

Join our team

If you have a passion for economics and are driven by producing impactful economic analysis to drive decisions for the greater good, we have a role for you. 

We want people who are eager to learn and serious about building a career at the heart of the UK economy. You will also need to share our purpose, and be genuinely motivated to join the Bank of England.

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This page was last updated 12 July 2024