This paper evaluates what has been the role of the monetary policy decisions taken by the Central Bank during the financial instability processes that Colombia has gone through during 1996 – 2012. According to the fact analysis, the 1999 crisis questioned the role of the central bank, which defended a counter-cyclic posture that was not strong enough to lead the economic recovery. The 2008 crisis found a stronger stand­ing Central Bank, even though it answered late to the emerging processes regarding financial fragility. With the use of econometric studies it was proven that a contractive monetary policy can accelerate a financial crisis when the measure is implemented in moments when the financial stress is too high.