Introduction -- The antecedents of the BCBS -- Modus operandi : chairmen; secretariat; members; the structure of meetings -- The Concordat -- External and foreign exchange issues -- Capital adequacy and the Basel Accord of 1988 -- The Market Risk Amendment -- The core principles of banking supervision -- Liquidity -- Off-balance-sheet exposures and derivatives -- Other topics addressed by the BCBS -- The relationship of the BCBS with banks and other banking regulators -- Relationships with other non-bank oversight and supervisory bodies -- The legal position of the BCBS -- The international relations of the BCBS -- The BCBS and the social sciences -- Epilogue