World Bank - History

History

The World Bank is one of four institutions created at the Bretton Woods Conference in 1944. The International Monetary Fund (IMF), a related institution, is another. Delegates from many countries attended the Bretton Woods Conference. The most powerful countries in attendance were the United States and United Kingdom, which dominated negotiations.

Although both are based in Washington, D.C., the World Bank is traditionally headed by a citizen of the United States while the IMF is led by a European citizen.