WASHINGTON, Jan 17 (Reuters) - The World Bank said on Thursday its security was investigating a bomb threat made by telephone and asked its staff at its Washington headquarters to stay home on Friday.

"The bank is working with law enforcement officials to determine the validity of the threat," the bank said in a statement.

"As a precautionary measure, Bank group management has decided to close all World Bank group leased and owned buildings in Washington on Friday," it added.

The poverty fighting institution located about a block from White House employs about 8,000 in at least seven buildings in downtown Washington. The bank's sister organization, the International Monetary Fund, said it would be open on Friday.

(Reporting by Lesley Wroughton; editing by Jackie Frank)

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