Which central bank, founded in 1668, is the world's oldest?

Sveriges Riksbank, founded in 1668, is the world's oldest central bank.

Sweden's parliament established the institution after the collapse of Stockholms Banco, a private bank that had issued Sweden's first banknotes. Riksbank initially operated as a parliamentary bank rather than exactly like the modern monetary authorities familiar today.

Its responsibilities developed over centuries. The bank now conducts monetary policy, supports financial stability, manages parts of Sweden's payment infrastructure, and issues Sweden's banknotes and coins. Its headquarters are in Stockholm.

The Bank of England is also very old, having been founded in 1694, but it is not the oldest central bank. The term “central bank” itself became more standardized later, as governments increasingly relied on national institutions to manage currency and banking systems.