Governance benchmarks – the latest data and analysis
Governance
Governance Benchmarks 2026 – legal matters
Data reveals challenges relating to financial independence and legal protections for officials
Nearly one-fifth of central banks (18.8%) say the law that governs their duties is “inappropriate in scope or wording”, the Governance Benchmarks 2026 show. Comments from respondents and data on independence in different areas suggests that (lack of) financial independence and the involvement of politicians in central bank affairs is a key driver of divergence between those that are satisfied with their laws and those that are unsatisfied.
Charts
Law impacts independence
The benchmarks data highlights a link between central banks that report issues with the scope or wording of their governing law and their degree of independence. Key issues seem to relate to financial matters, including lending to government and financial resources. The red bars show the difference between those that report issues with the law and those that do not – for those facing issues, independence is lower in every category.
For the full breakdown, use the benchmarking service’s interactive charts to explore the data.
Governance Benchmarks 2026 – model banks analysis
Data reveals differences between groups in board composition, legal protections and more
Governance data
View the full breakdown of responses to the Governance Benchmarks.
Governance Benchmarks 2026 – model banks analysis
Data reveals differences between groups in board composition, legal protections and more
Governance Benchmarks 2026 – executive summary
Benchmarks data explores many legal issues, including scope of central bank law, independence and legal protections for governor
Governance Benchmarks 2026 – legal matters
Data reveals challenges relating to financial independence and legal protections for officials
Governors still lack immunity
Benchmarks data gives mixed picture on the protections officials can expect from criminal and civil actions
Independence lower where central banks face legal issues
Financial independence a bigger problem where central banks say law is inappropriately worded
Pensions and staff morale least likely to constitute staffing challenge
Degree of concern varies by size of central bank
Governance Benchmarks 2026 Charts
Take a deep dive into the Governance Benchmarks charts, which have just been released for 2026
Majority of central banks posted profit in last year
Largest share of profit-makers have no dividend-sharing contract with government
Half of central banks prohibit senior officials’ shareholdings
Minority of respondents working to adopt other internal policies
Non-executive directors earn five times less than governors
NEDs work an average of 14 hours weekly, Governance Benchmarks 2026 find
Boards with salary-setting duties have largest membership
Greatest number of non-execs appointed by government
Roughly 40% of central banks lack a monetary policy committee
Governing boards remain widely responsible for setting overall strategy