Bank of Greece is the central bank of Greece and serves as an integral part of the Eurosystem, the monetary authority of the euro area. As Greece's national central bank, it participates in formulating and implementing the single monetary policy of the euro zone and manages a portion of the European Central Bank's foreign exchange and gold reserves. The institution carries out prudential supervision of credit institutions and financial sector enterprises, oversees insurance and reinsurance firms, and monitors payment systems to ensure their soundness and efficiency. Established in 1927, Bank of Greece is uniquely structured as a joint-stock company with private shareholders whose stock is listed on the Athens Exchange, distinguishing it among contemporary central banks. The bank's equity is widely dispersed among shareholders, with the Greek state holding a minority stake. Bank of Greece also issues the country's euro banknotes and maintains a program selling gold sovereigns.