In an analytical article, the Czech National Bank set out how it compiles the financial account of the balance of payments, focusing on the methodological treatment of cross border financial transactions, the distinction between transactions and valuation or other non transaction changes, and the links to the current and capital accounts and the international investment position. The piece explains that the financial account is used to show how external surpluses or deficits are financed and how changes in residents’ foreign assets and liabilities should be interpreted within an integrated macroeconomic framework rather than in isolation. The article describes a compilation system built from supervisory and administrative data, reporting by financial and non financial entities, registers, estimates and follow up processing. Key inputs include the CNB’s SDAT statistical supervisory system for regulated financial institutions, the Integrated Information System of the State Treasury for general government, annual foreign direct investment reporting from around 5,000 entities, and a security by security database for portfolio investment. It also sets out the revision cycle, under which preliminary monthly estimates are refined with quarterly releases and annual figures are closed roughly 15 months after the reference year, while benchmark revisions are used to incorporate methodological changes and new data sources. The CNB also notes that its statistics are being prepared for the seventh edition of the Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual. The new framework will place more emphasis on integrated stocks and flows, refine sector classifications, and add areas such as ESG attributes of debt securities, cryptoassets, emission allowances and revised treatment of reserve assets.
Czech National Bank2026-06-01
Czech National Bank publishes methodological overview of balance of payments financial account and BPM7 preparation
The Czech National Bank published an article explaining its methodology for compiling the financial account of the balance of payments, including cross-border financial transactions, links to other external accounts, and its multi-source compilation and revision system. It also outlined preparations to align its statistics with the forthcoming seventh edition of the Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual, which will enhance integration of stocks and flows, refine sector classifications, and expand coverage to environmental, social and governance attributes of debt securities, cryptoassets, emission allowances and reserve assets.