The Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI) was an international banking organization founded in 1972 by Agha Hasan Abedi, a prominent Pakistani financier. Registered in Luxembourg with principal head offices in Karachi, Pakistan, and London, United Kingdom, BCCI experienced rapid growth, establishing over 400 branches across 78 countries and accumulating assets exceeding US$20 billion by the early 1980s, positioning it as the seventh largest private bank globally. Marketed as a bridge for financial services between the developing and developed worlds, it attracted deposits from Middle Eastern oil wealth and expanded through aggressive international operations, including ownership of entities like the First American Bank in the United States.

Despite its initial success, BCCI became synonymous with one of the largest banking scandals in history, involving widespread criminal activities. The bank was implicated in money laundering, financing drug trafficking operations (particularly for cocaine cartels), supporting arms sales to terrorist groups, and other illicit endeavors such as bribery, fraud, and evasion of international sanctions. Investigations revealed systemic corruption, with BCCI's structure deliberately designed to operate in secrecy across jurisdictions, enabling it to serve as a conduit for rogue states, intelligence agencies, and criminal networks. Notable controversies included ties to figures like Manuel Noriega and the Abu Nidal Organization, as well as allegations of involvement in the Iran-Contra affair.

Global regulatory actions culminated in BCCI's shutdown on July 5, 1991, following coordinated closures by authorities in multiple countries, including the UK, US, and Luxembourg. The collapse led to massive losses for depositors—estimated at over US$10 billion—and prompted extensive lawsuits, asset seizures, and international inquiries, such as the US Senate's Kerry Committee report. BCCI's downfall exposed regulatory failures and highlighted the risks of unregulated offshore banking, with ongoing allegations of complicity by governments and financial institutions that turned a blind eye to its operations.