VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ FINANCIAL TOOLS & SERVICES DIRECTORY ★
PRICE: 5 CENTS
Saturday, September 27, 2025
Investors comparing BIS Data Portal (Bank for International Settlements) and Federal Reserve Board (FRB.gov) will find that Both BIS Data Portal (Bank for International Settlements) and Federal Reserve Board (FRB.gov) concentrate on Data APIs, Calendar, and Central Bank Watcher workflows, making them natural alternatives for similar investment research jobs. BIS Data Portal (Bank for International Settlements) leans into Data Visualizations, Housing & Construction, and Inflation Rates, which can be decisive for teams that need depth over breadth. Federal Reserve Board (FRB.gov) stands out with News, and Yield Curves that the competition lacks. Use the feature-by-feature table to inspect unique capabilities and confirm which roadmap best maps to your process.
Head-to-head
BIS Data Portal (Bank for International Settlements) vs Federal Reserve Board (FRB.gov)
Compare pricing, supported platforms, categories, and standout capabilities to decide which tool fits your workflow.
Quick takeaways
- BIS Data Portal (Bank for International Settlements) adds Data Visualizations, Housing & Construction, and Inflation Rates coverage that Federal Reserve Board (FRB.gov) skips.
- Federal Reserve Board (FRB.gov) includes News, and Yield Curves categories that BIS Data Portal (Bank for International Settlements) omits.
- BIS Data Portal (Bank for International Settlements) highlights: SDMX RESTful API for programmatic access to data & metadata; supports JSON, XML, CSV output; interactive API docs provided., Bulk downloads: each topic downloadable as a zipped CSV or SDMX file; topical packages show last‑updated stamps., and Release calendar with upcoming/past releases; exportable (CSV/Excel) and accessible via API; RSS feed available..
- Federal Reserve Board (FRB.gov) is known for: Data Download Program (DDP) with custom or preformatted packages, available in Excel, CSV, or XML., H.15 Selected Interest Rates, including daily Treasury constant-maturity yields., and H.4.1 Factors Affecting Reserve Balances (the Fed balance sheet), updated weekly every Thursday at 4:30 p.m..
BIS Data Portal (Bank for International Settlements)
data.bis.org
Official BIS portal for global monetary/financial statistics with an SDMX REST API and bulk downloads. Covers international banking (locational/consolidated), debt securities, credit to the non‑financial sector, global liquidity, exchange‑traded & OTC derivatives, Triennial FX/IR derivatives turnover, property prices, consumer prices, effective/bilateral exchange rates, and central bank statistics (policy rates, total assets). Features include a release calendar (with RSS), shareable query links, bookmarks, custom charts/tables, and export to Excel/CSV/PDF. API adheres to the SDMX REST v2.1 spec; formats include JSON, XML, and CSV.
Categories
Platforms
Pricing
Quick highlights
- SDMX RESTful API for programmatic access to data & metadata; supports JSON, XML, CSV output; interactive API docs provided.
- Bulk downloads: each topic downloadable as a zipped CSV or SDMX file; topical packages show last‑updated stamps.
- Release calendar with upcoming/past releases; exportable (CSV/Excel) and accessible via API; RSS feed available.
- Portal exports: Excel/CSV for selected time series (up to 4,500 series per export); Tables & Dashboards can be exported as PDF.
- Code snippets generator (Python/R/Matlab) to fetch selected series via the SDMX API; shareable URLs preserve filters/settings.
Federal Reserve Board (FRB.gov)
federalreserve.gov
The official website of the U.S. central bank. Through its Data Download Program (DDP), the Fed offers public access to many of its most important statistical releases in Excel, CSV, or XML formats. Key datasets include interest rates, the Fed balance sheet, commercial bank assets, foreign exchange rates, industrial production, and financial accounts. The site also hosts FOMC calendars, meeting minutes, press releases, speeches, and other policy materials.
Platforms
Pricing
Quick highlights
- Data Download Program (DDP) with custom or preformatted packages, available in Excel, CSV, or XML.
- H.15 Selected Interest Rates, including daily Treasury constant-maturity yields.
- H.4.1 Factors Affecting Reserve Balances (the Fed balance sheet), updated weekly every Thursday at 4:30 p.m.
- H.8 Assets & Liabilities of Commercial Banks, with detailed weekly data and customizable downloads.
- Foreign exchange reference rates (H.10 weekly and G.5 monthly), with scheduled update times and public downloads.
Shared focus areas
Both platforms align on these research themes, so you can stay within one workflow when your use case involves them.
Where they differ
BIS Data Portal (Bank for International Settlements)
Distinct strengths include:
- SDMX RESTful API for programmatic access to data & metadata; supports JSON, XML, CSV output; interactive API docs provided.
- Bulk downloads: each topic downloadable as a zipped CSV or SDMX file; topical packages show last‑updated stamps.
- Release calendar with upcoming/past releases; exportable (CSV/Excel) and accessible via API; RSS feed available.
- Portal exports: Excel/CSV for selected time series (up to 4,500 series per export); Tables & Dashboards can be exported as PDF.
Federal Reserve Board (FRB.gov)
Distinct strengths include:
- Data Download Program (DDP) with custom or preformatted packages, available in Excel, CSV, or XML.
- H.15 Selected Interest Rates, including daily Treasury constant-maturity yields.
- H.4.1 Factors Affecting Reserve Balances (the Fed balance sheet), updated weekly every Thursday at 4:30 p.m.
- H.8 Assets & Liabilities of Commercial Banks, with detailed weekly data and customizable downloads.
Feature-by-feature breakdown
| Attribute | BIS Data Portal (Bank for International Settlements) | Federal Reserve Board (FRB.gov) |
|---|---|---|
Categories Which research workflows each platform targets | Shared: Data APIs, Calendar, Central Bank Watcher, Interest Rates Unique: Data Visualizations, Housing & Construction, Inflation Rates | Shared: Data APIs, Calendar, Central Bank Watcher, Interest Rates Unique: News, Yield Curves |
Asset types Supported asset classes and universes | Bonds, Currencies, Options, Futures, Commodities, Real Estate, Other | Bonds, Currencies, Other |
Experience levels Who each product is built for | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Platforms Where you can access the product | Web, API | Web, API |
Pricing High-level pricing models | Free | Free |
Key features Core capabilities called out by each vendor | Unique
| Unique
|
Tested Verified by hands-on testing inside Find My Moat | Not yet | Yes |
Editor pick Featured inside curated shortlists | Standard listing | Standard listing |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which workflows do BIS Data Portal (Bank for International Settlements) and Federal Reserve Board (FRB.gov) both support?
Both platforms cover Data APIs, Calendar, Central Bank Watcher, and Interest Rates workflows, so you can research those use cases in either tool before digging into the feature differences below.
Do BIS Data Portal (Bank for International Settlements) and Federal Reserve Board (FRB.gov) require subscriptions?
Both BIS Data Portal (Bank for International Settlements) and Federal Reserve Board (FRB.gov) keep freemium access with optional paid upgrades, so you can trial each platform before committing.
How can you access BIS Data Portal (Bank for International Settlements) and Federal Reserve Board (FRB.gov)?
Both BIS Data Portal (Bank for International Settlements) and Federal Reserve Board (FRB.gov) prioritize web or desktop access. Investors wanting a mobile-first workflow may need to rely on responsive web views.
What unique strengths set the two platforms apart?
BIS Data Portal (Bank for International Settlements) differentiates itself with SDMX RESTful API for programmatic access to data & metadata; supports JSON, XML, CSV output; interactive API docs provided., Bulk downloads: each topic downloadable as a zipped CSV or SDMX file; topical packages show last‑updated stamps., and Release calendar with upcoming/past releases; exportable (CSV/Excel) and accessible via API; RSS feed available., whereas Federal Reserve Board (FRB.gov) stands out for Data Download Program (DDP) with custom or preformatted packages, available in Excel, CSV, or XML., H.15 Selected Interest Rates, including daily Treasury constant-maturity yields., and H.4.1 Factors Affecting Reserve Balances (the Fed balance sheet), updated weekly every Thursday at 4:30 p.m..
Curation & Accuracy
This directory blends AI‑assisted discovery with human curation. Entries are reviewed, edited, and organized with the goal of expanding coverage and sharpening quality over time. Your feedback helps steer improvements (because no single human can capture everything all at once).
Details change. Pricing, features, and availability may be incomplete or out of date. Treat listings as a starting point and verify on the provider’s site before making decisions. If you spot an error or a gap, send a quick note and I’ll adjust.