The South East Asian Central Banks (SEACEN) Research and Training Centre was first established as a legal entity in 1982 with eight member central banks (Bank Indonesia, Bank Negara Malaysia, Central Bank of Myanmar, Nepal Rastra Bank, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Monetary Authority of Singapore, Central Bank of Sri Lanka, and Bank of Thailand). It has grown to 16 members with the inclusion of The Bank of Korea in 1990; Central Bank of the Republic of China (Taiwan), in 1992; The Bank of Mongolia in 1999; Ministry of Finance, Brunei Darussalam in 2003; Reserve Bank of Fiji in 2004; Bank of Papua New Guinea in 2005; National Bank of Cambodia and State Bank of Vietnam in 2006. The SEACEN Centre is located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The Centre reviews and analyses financial, monetary, banking and economic developments in its constituent member countries and in the region as a whole. It initiates and facilitates co-operation in research and training relating to the policy and operational aspects of central banking.

Since 2001, training has become the principal activity of The SEACEN Centre, focusing on areas that have practical applications in central banking, ie. monetary policy, banking supervision and payments and settlement systems. Research plays supporting functions. Research papers are presented and used as course materials at appropiate training events.