This is the first investigative history of the worlds most secretive global financial institution. Based on extensive archival research in Switzerland, Britain, and the United States, and in-depth interviews with key decision-makers, including Paul Volcker, the former chairman of the US Federal Reserve; Sir Mervyn King, governor of the Bank of England; and former senior Bank for International Settlements managers and officials, Tower of Basel tells the inside story of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS): the central bankers own bank.