The Bank of England published an update on implementing new country grouping conventions for its International Banking Statistics covering the international business of monetary financial institutions operating in the UK and the consolidated claims of UK headquartered monetary financial institutions. The revised groupings will take effect from the publication of 2025 Q4 data, scheduled for 6 March 2026 for the international business series and 20 March 2026 for the consolidated claims series. The Bank will also make minor changes to the previously communicated composition of the new groupings following updated Bank for International Settlements Advanced Economies (AE) and Emerging Market and Developing Economies (EMDE) classifications aligned to the International Monetary Fund’s World Economic Outlook. Czech Republic, Hong Kong, Israel, South Korea, Macao, Singapore, and Taiwan move from EMDE to AE, while a number of territories move from AE to EMDE, including Anguilla, Aruba, British Virgin Islands, Curaçao, Falkland Islands, Sint Maarten, St Helena, Turks and Caicos Islands, and Wallis and Futuna Islands, with some shown only within regional ‘Other’ categories where positions are not material. The Bank will also use “EEA” (European Economic Area) instead of “European” for nationality-of-reporting-institution aggregates in Table C3.1, apply the changes back to September 1997, and discontinue legacy series based on the old country groups across published tables, statistical releases, and the database. Separately, Bulgaria will be reclassified to AE following its accession to the euro area on 1 January 2026, with effect from the publication of 2026 Q1 data scheduled for 5 June 2026 (international business series) and 19 June 2026 (consolidated claims series).

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