The Hidden Power of the BIS: How Banking Controls Finance

Financial markets operate on the assumption that regulatory bodies and central banks safeguard stability. Investors trust that national governments, through institutions like the Federal Reserve and the Bank of Canada, maintain oversight. That assumption is flawed. The real power in global finance does not rest with elected officials or national central banks but with the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) in Basel, Switzerland.

The BIS is often described as the central bank for central banks. Established in 1930, it enjoys near-total immunity from national laws, operating outside the reach of financial regulations that bind other institutions. Unlike national central banks, which answer to governments, the BIS functions independently, setting global banking policy through its Financial Stability Board (FSB). This board designates which banks are “too big to fail,” ensuring their survival regardless of wrongdoing.

That list includes two of Canada’s largest banks: TD Bank and the Royal Bank of Canada. Their inclusion signals that, in the event of a financial crisis, Canadian taxpayers could be forced to support these institutions, even if their own mismanagement contributed to the collapse.

When banks receive the designation of being too big to fail, it is not merely an acknowledgment of their size-it is a declaration that these institutions will be protected at all costs. The financial crisis of 2008 demonstrated what this means in practice. Banks that made reckless lending decisions, gambled on high-risk assets, and engaged in dubious financial practices were rescued, while ordinary citizens suffered the consequences of lost savings, foreclosures, and a prolonged economic downturn.

In Canada, TD Bank and the Royal Bank of Canada hold significant positions in both domestic and international finance. Their classification as too big to fail by the Financial Stability Board suggests that, should these banks face insolvency, the government would be expected to intervene, ensuring their continued operation, regardless of the cost to taxpayers. The justification for this protection is that the failure of such banks could destabilize the entire financial system. However, this logic ultimately prioritizes the survival of financial institutions over the well-being of citizens.

Mark Carney has positioned himself at the centre of international finance. As the former Governor of both the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, he played a key role in shaping monetary policy. From 2010 to 2012, Carney chaired the BIS’s Financial Stability Board, where he influenced the global banking structure, reinforcing protections for major financial institutions while ensuring their influence remained untouched.

Carney’s tenure coincided with the decision not to prosecute HSBC for its involvement in money laundering for Mexican drug cartels. Despite the bank admitting to violations of multiple financial laws, no executives faced criminal charges. Instead, HSBC paid a $1.92 billion settlement-a fraction of its annual revenue. The justification? Prosecuting HSBC could destabilize the global financial system. This is the essence of the “too big to fail” model: institutions granted legal immunity to protect a banking order dictated by the BIS.

Carney’s influence extended beyond regulatory leniency. As a staunch advocate for central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), he has long championed policies that would centralize financial control under a few key institutions, potentially eliminating financial privacy for individuals while giving central banks unprecedented oversight over transactions. While CBDCs are often presented as a means to enhance financial inclusion and efficiency, they also provide an unparalleled mechanism for surveillance and monetary intervention.

The Bank for International Settlements operates with a level of secrecy that defies conventional governance structures. It is not subject to Swiss law, nor is it bound by transparency measures that apply to other financial institutions. Central bankers attending BIS meetings receive diplomatic immunity, allowing them to move freely across borders without the scrutiny faced by other financial professionals.

During World War II, the BIS facilitated financial transactions for both Allied and Axis powers, demonstrating that its true allegiance lies not with any particular nation but with maintaining the stability and influence of the banking cartel. This historical precedent raises important questions: if the BIS was willing to fund opposing sides of a global conflict, what prevents it from continuing to manipulate financial systems for its own benefit today?

The BIS’s power extends beyond historical transgressions. The Financial Stability Board dictates global banking regulations, ensuring that systemically important financial institutions operate with protections unavailable to smaller competitors. This framework consolidates financial control within a select group of banks, effectively reducing market competition and reinforcing monopolistic practices.

What This Means for Canadians

The inclusion of TD Bank and the Royal Bank of Canada on the BIS’s list of too big to fail banks carries significant implications. It means that in the event of another financial crisis, these institutions will be protected at all costs, likely through taxpayer-funded bailouts or policies that prioritize their survival over economic fairness. Canadians have already experienced the consequences of financial institutions wielding unchecked power. The 2008 crisis resulted in significant economic hardship, yet major banks emerged relatively unscathed.

Additionally, the growing push for central bank digital currencies could further erode financial independence. If implemented under the control of the BIS and its affiliated institutions, these digital currencies could serve as a tool for enforcing monetary policies that benefit large banks at the expense of individual financial sovereignty. 

To stay ahead of financial confiscation and collapse, de-risking every aspect of your financial life is essential. The path forward begins with building your Four Critical Pillars of Financial Survival:

1. Gold and Precious Metals – The ultimate, unshakable foundation, offering tangible and timeless protection that transcends the volatility of digital and fiat currency assets.
2. Alternative Investments – Diversified opportunities beyond traditional assets, strategically designed to reduce risk and strengthen financial resilience.
3. Active Discretionary Private Portfolio Management – A professionally managed, de-risked investment approach designed to protect wealth during financial instability. Assets are held in a secure custodial relationship, ensuring direct ownership, greater transparency, and lower counterparty risk.
4. Financial Instruments Offered by Mutual Life Insurance Companies – Mutual life insurance companies provide a robust and stable foundation for wealth protection. Unlike stockholder-owned insurance companies, mutual life insurers are owned by their policyholders, ensuring long-term stability and financial security.

These Four Critical Pillars of Financial Survival are more than mere solutions-they are the ultimate defence against a corrupt and collapsing financial system. By embracing these pillars, you ensure that your wealth not only endures but thrives amidst economic uncertainty.

These strategies and their broader implications are explored in It Starts With Gold. The book provides a comprehensive look at the hidden forces shaping global finance and offers actionable solutions for protecting wealth in an increasingly centralized system.

Order your copy of It Starts With Gold™ on Amazon today

After reading the book, we would appreciate it if you could consider leaving a review on Amazon. Your voice helps others find the book and recognize what is unfolding before it’s too late.  

The Illusion of Control

Financial markets operate on the assumption that regulatory bodies and central banks safeguard stability. Investors trust that national governments, through institutions like the Federal Reserve and the Bank of Canada, maintain oversight. That assumption is flawed. The real power in global finance does not rest with elected officials or national central banks but with the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) in Basel, Switzerland.

A Bank Above the Law

The BIS is often described as the central bank for central banks. Established in 1930, it enjoys near-total immunity from national laws, operating outside the reach of financial regulations that bind other institutions. Unlike national central banks, which answer to governments, the BIS functions independently, setting global banking policy through its Financial Stability Board (FSB). This board designates which banks are “too big to fail,” ensuring their survival regardless of wrongdoing.

That list includes two of Canada’s largest banks: TD Bank and the Royal Bank of Canada. Their inclusion signals that, in the event of a financial crisis, Canadian taxpayers could be forced to support these institutions, even if their own mismanagement contributed to the collapse.

The Cost of Being “Too Big to Fail”

When banks receive the designation of being too big to fail, it is not merely an acknowledgment of their size-it is a declaration that these institutions will be protected at all costs. The financial crisis of 2008 demonstrated what this means in practice. Banks that made reckless lending decisions, gambled on high-risk assets, and engaged in dubious financial practices were rescued, while ordinary citizens suffered the consequences of lost savings, foreclosures, and a prolonged economic downturn.

In Canada, TD Bank and the Royal Bank of Canada hold significant positions in both domestic and international finance. Their classification as too big to fail by the Financial Stability Board suggests that, should these banks face insolvency, the government would be expected to intervene, ensuring their continued operation, regardless of the cost to taxpayers. The justification for this protection is that the failure of such banks could destabilize the entire financial system. However, this logic ultimately prioritizes the survival of financial institutions over the well-being of citizens.

Mark Carney’s Role in the Global Banking System

Mark Carney has positioned himself at the centre of international finance. As the former Governor of both the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, he played a key role in shaping monetary policy. From 2010 to 2012, Carney chaired the BIS’s Financial Stability Board, where he influenced the global banking structure, reinforcing protections for major financial institutions while ensuring their influence remained untouched.

Carney’s tenure coincided with the decision not to prosecute HSBC for its involvement in money laundering for Mexican drug cartels. Despite the bank admitting to violations of multiple financial laws, no executives faced criminal charges. Instead, HSBC paid a $1.92 billion settlement-a fraction of its annual revenue. The justification? Prosecuting HSBC could destabilize the global financial system. This is the essence of the “too big to fail” model: institutions granted legal immunity to protect a banking order dictated by the BIS.

Carney’s influence extended beyond regulatory leniency. As a staunch advocate for central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), he has long championed policies that would centralize financial control under a few key institutions, potentially eliminating financial privacy for individuals while giving central banks unprecedented oversight over transactions. While CBDCs are often presented as a means to enhance financial inclusion and efficiency, they also provide an unparalleled mechanism for surveillance and monetary intervention.

The BIS: The Shadow Government of Finance

The Bank for International Settlements operates with a level of secrecy that defies conventional governance structures. It is not subject to Swiss law, nor is it bound by transparency measures that apply to other financial institutions. Central bankers attending BIS meetings receive diplomatic immunity, allowing them to move freely across borders without the scrutiny faced by other financial professionals.

During World War II, the BIS facilitated financial transactions for both Allied and Axis powers, demonstrating that its true allegiance lies not with any particular nation but with maintaining the stability and influence of the banking cartel. This historical precedent raises important questions: if the BIS was willing to fund opposing sides of a global conflict, what prevents it from continuing to manipulate financial systems for its own benefit today?

The BIS’s power extends beyond historical transgressions. The Financial Stability Board dictates global banking regulations, ensuring that systemically important financial institutions operate with protections unavailable to smaller competitors. This framework consolidates financial control within a select group of banks, effectively reducing market competition and reinforcing monopolistic practices.

What This Means for Canadians

The inclusion of TD Bank and the Royal Bank of Canada on the BIS’s list of too big to fail banks carries significant implications. It means that in the event of another financial crisis, these institutions will be protected at all costs, likely through taxpayer-funded bailouts or policies that prioritize their survival over economic fairness. Canadians have already experienced the consequences of financial institutions wielding unchecked power. The 2008 crisis resulted in significant economic hardship, yet major banks emerged relatively unscathed.

Additionally, the growing push for central bank digital currencies could further erode financial independence. If implemented under the control of the BIS and its affiliated institutions, these digital currencies could serve as a tool for enforcing monetary policies that benefit large banks at the expense of individual financial sovereignty. 

How to Protect Yourself

To stay ahead of financial confiscation and collapse, de-risking every aspect of your financial life is essential. The path forward begins with building your Four Critical Pillars of Financial Survival:

1. 1. 1. Gold and Precious Metals – The ultimate, unshakable foundation, offering tangible and timeless protection that transcends the volatility of digital and fiat currency assets.
      2. Alternative Investments – Diversified opportunities beyond traditional assets, strategically designed to reduce risk and strengthen financial resilience.
      3. Active Discretionary Private Portfolio Management – A professionally managed, de-risked investment approach designed to protect wealth during financial instability. Assets are held in a secure custodial relationship, ensuring direct ownership, greater transparency, and lower counterparty risk.
      4. Financial Instruments Offered by Mutual Life Insurance Companies – Mutual life insurance companies provide a robust and stable foundation for wealth protection. Unlike stockholder-owned insurance companies, mutual life insurers are owned by their policyholders, ensuring long-term stability and financial security.

These Four Critical Pillars of Financial Survival are more than mere solutions-they are the ultimate defence against a corrupt and collapsing financial system. By embracing these pillars, you ensure that your wealth not only endures but thrives amidst economic uncertainty.

Taking Control of Financial Security

These strategies and their broader implications are explored in It Starts With Gold. The book provides a comprehensive look at the hidden forces shaping global finance and offers actionable solutions for protecting wealth in an increasingly centralized system.

Order your copy of It Starts With Gold™ on Amazon today

After reading the book, we would appreciate it if you could consider leaving a review on Amazon. Your voice helps others find the book and recognize what is unfolding before it’s too late.