The IIB's mission is to ensure that federal and state banking laws and regulations provide international financial institutions operating in the United States with the same competitive opportunities as domestic organizations. Applying U.S. banking laws and regulations to the U.S. branches, agencies, securities affiliates, and other operations of international banks is enormously complicated and can produce unintended adverse results. The IIB therefore carefully monitors legislative, regulatory, and judicial developments at the federal and state level and advocates for policy that is consistent with the U.S. principle of national treatment and that advances the interests of members. The IIB also seeks to ensure that the global operations of its member banks are not subject to unwarranted extraterritorial applications of U.S. laws.

Founded in 1966, the IIB is the only national association devoted exclusively to representing and advancing the interests of internationally headquartered financial institutions operating in the United States. Its membership is comprised of internationally headquartered institutions from approximately 35 countries around the world. Collectively, the U.S. operations of the IIB's member banks are an important source of credit for U.S. borrowers and enhance the depth and liquidity of U.S. financial markets. IIB members also inject billions of dollars each year into state and local economies across the country through the direct employment of U.S. citizens and permanent residents, as well as through other operating and capital expenditures.