The banking sector covers a wide range of financial services activities. On this page you can access a range of articles, books and online resources providing quick links to statistics, background information and useful organisations.
Special topics
Online articles
The library provides access to a range of articles in full text from leading business, finance and management journals.
You will need to be logged-in to the website to gain full access to the range of articles available online.
Useful links
Organisations
Bank of England
Comprehensive website including general information, press releases, statistics and monetary policy committee minutes among other useful information. Their statistics page details Bank Base Rates from 1972 onwards and Exchange Rates from 1999 onwards (annual, quarterly and monthly averages plus end month rates).
Bank for International Settlements
Includes links to central banks worldwide as well as press releases, news and BIS reviews. Documents are available from a number of committees such as the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision
British Bankers' Association
Includes information about bank standard audit letters and links to UK banking industry websites, including member banks' websites.
Building Societies Association
Includes list of member societies with contact details and a search facility that can help users trace building societies that no longer exist.
Central Banking
A journal on worldwide central banking, including a page of links to central banks and regulators by country. Articles from the journal are available online.
European Central Bank
Authoritative news and information on the Euro and EMU, including daily foreign exchange reference rates.
Financial Ombudsman Service
Information on the scheme, how to make a complaint and the annual report.
Financial Stability Board
International body promoting financial stability through international co-operation in financial regulation.
International Monetary Fund
Information about the IMF, news releases, publications and international economic information. The index is the best route to the information on the site.
TheCity UK
Independent body formerly known as International Financial Services London (IFSL). The website includes reports and key statistics on the financial services market and economic trends.
The World Bank
Development bank providing loans, policy advice, technical assistance and knowledge sharing services to low and middle income countries to reduce poverty.
Reports, directories and other publications
Bankers Almanac
Subscription-based database of international banks, with an easy search facility. Limited trials are available by registering.
FSA list of banks
List of banks incorporated in the UK, banks incorporated in and outside the EEA, and banks authorized in the EEA published by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). Includes an archive of previous years, from 2001. The FSA states that ‘there is no definition of a bank in the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000’ and that they publish this ‘list of regulated firms which businesses and the public would think of as banks’ in response to requests from various organisations.
Key City Contacts
Directory maintained by the City of London giving contact details and links to City organisations, markets and representative bodies and other relevant UK organisations.
KPMG Financial Services Publications Library
Full listing of reports produced by KPMG covering banks and financial services, including the Building Societies Database annual survey and the half-year UK Banks Performance Benchmarking Survey.
Review of Banking Services in the UK
Official site of the UK Government review of the banking sector led by Don Cruickshank. Contains the final and interim reports, responses, the original consultative document, press releases, contacts and a data bank. The final report was published on 20 March 2000, and includes a chapter on Banking services and external finance for SME's.
The supply of banking services by clearing banks to small and medium-sized enterprises: A report on the supply of banking services by clearing banks to small and medium-sized enterprises within the UK
Summary and full text of the report from the Competition Commission published in March 2002. The report includes background information on the main suppliers of banking services to SMEs and the profitability of banks' services to SMEs.
Articles and books in the Library collection
To find out how you can borrow books from the Library please see our guide to book loans.
You can obtain copies of articles or extracts of books and reports by post, fax or email through our document delivery service.
Can't find what you're looking for?
If you have any difficulty in finding the material you are looking for please contact the enquiry team by phone on +44 (0)20 7920 8620, by fax on +44 (0)20 7920 8621 or by email at library@icaew.com.
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