Regulator
The Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) formerly known as Bahrain Monetary Agency (BMA) was established in 1973, shortly after Bahrain gained its independence from the United Kingdom. Since inception, the CBB has assumed responsibility for encouraging the growth of Bahrain as a major international financial centre.
The CBB also has the responsibility of managing the foreign currency cash reserves of the Kingdom. It has been responsible for the regulation of all banking and related financial institutions from its founding. It has established a close working relationship with international institutions that are active in the area of financial sector supervision and regulations, and the development of good corporate governance practices. These relationships have allowed the CBB to develop a world-class regulatory system that ensures that Bahrain’s financial institutions operate on equal standards to those in place in major international financial centers.