A bit-line sense amplifier includes a latching unit and a control unit. The latching unit has a plurality of field effect transistors coupled between first and second bit lines. The control unit controls application of a bias voltage to a set of the field effect transistors such that respective pre-charge voltages are generated at the first and second bit lines with drain currents flowing in the field effect transistors during a pre-charge time period, without a bit line bias voltage and with a minimized number of transistors.