Financial Stability
Central banking on the move
Michael Yorke and Jeff Klein describe how advances in mobile computing can meet the needs of today’s central banks.
Central banking joins the internet age
The internet provides opportunities – but also risks – for central bank services. The authors explain how the Bank of Japan moved over to the net.
Effective IT with limited resources
IT departments in small central banks face particular challenges in providing services. Jennifer Greaves sets out how they can be met.
Iraq’s central bank: in search of a raison d’être
Iraq’s underdeveloped financial markets make it impossible for the central bank to fulfil its mandate argue Matt Sekerke and Steve H. Hanke.
Indonesia, Malaysia launch joint ATM network
Against the setting of an increasing number of Indonesian workers, tourists and students in Malaysia, the two nations have launched a joint Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) network, Xinhua reports.
China to restrict use of RMB image on internet
Anyone who wants to use images of Chinese currency (RMB) on the internet will have to get approval from the People's Bank of China, or otherwise will face fines of up to 30,000 yuan (3,627 US dollars), a draft regulation said.
Vietnam extends electronic payment infrastructure
Vietnam's central bank officially granted credit card giant Visa International a licence to set up a representative office in the country on Wednesday 16 February.
Korea's banknotes set for new look
Korea's banknotes are to get a radical overhaul to curb rising forgery. The Bank of Korea said Monday 14 February it plans to incorporate high-tech features in the new notes, including holograms.
Bank of Spain to implement business process system
TIBCO Software Inc. announced Thursday that the Central Bank of Spain, Banco de Espana, has chosen TIBCO to serve as its core provider for the automation of its business processes.
Zambia withdraws fading plastic bank notes
Zambia's central bank told commercial banks and financial institutions on Wednesday to withdraw from circulation plastic bank notes printed in 2003 because they are fading.
ECB's TARGET2 Progress Report
The ECB published a progress report on TARGET2 on 8 February. The report considers three main issues - service, pricing and migration to TARGET2. These issues were decided upon by the Governing Council on 16 December 2004.
SARB to present upgraded banknotes to parliament
The South African Reserve Bank said on Friday 4 February that the upgraded banknotes, which went into circulation at the beginning of February, will be presented to members of Parliament in Cape Town on 7 February, ahead of the opening of Parliament.
MAS's Palmer: Innovation in retail payment systems
In the speech 'Fostering innovation and promoting consumer interests in retail payment systems' given on 11 January John Palmer of the Monetary Authority of Singapore said MAS will continue to act as a facilitator for the retail payment industry,…
Nyberg on the Swedish payment market
In a speech on 'Prices and costs in the Swedish payment market' given on 25 January, Lars Nyberg of the Sveriges Riksbank reveals the results of a study into how well the price structure for retail payments reflects the underlying production costs for…
BofE Payment Systems Oversight Report
The Bank of England published its first annual Payment Systems Oversight Report on Monday 31 January. The Report sets out the Bank's role and objectives in relation to oversight of UK payment systems.
BIS Red Book on payment systems in Sri Lanka
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) announced on Tuesday that the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) has published the Red Book, 'Payment Systems in Sri Lanka' prepared jointly by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka and the Committee on Payment and…
Bank of Canada to upgrade $10 bank note
As part of its ongoing efforts to improve the security of Canadian bank notes, the Bank of Canada announced on Thursday 20 January that it will issue a $10 note with upgraded security features beginning 18 May 2005.
SARB's Mboweni on South Africa's new banknotes
In a speech given on 17 January, Tito Mboweni of the South African Reserve Bank said the preparation for the issue of the upgraded series of banknotes has been a complex and a painstaking one and we are very proud of the result.
SARB launches upgraded banknote series
The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) on Monday 17 January launched banknotes with improved security features which will go into circulation from 1 February 2005.
Seminar stresses need for Qatar's Q-pay project
Hashim Al Sada, Director of System Development and Planning at Qatar central bank on Monday 10 January stressed the importance of the Q-Pay project which would enable online payments through the Internet.
BCEAO selects infrastructure management platform
The central bank of West African States (BCEAO) announced Monday it would implement HighStreet Networks Xpress(TM) to monitor and control their complete computing infrastructure.
ECB's framework for the detection of fake euros
The Eurosystem's terms of reference for the detection of counterfeits and fitness sorting of euro banknotes by credit institutions and other professional cash handlers was published on Thursday 6 January by the ECB.
ECB announces public consultation on SWIFT
The European Central Bank announced on Wednesday 5 January that it was inviting the market to participate in the SWIFT public consultation on removing technical barriers to market integration.
Qatar to launch Payment Gateway early next year
Qatar's Central Bank (QCB) has said is will launch its Payment Gateway in early 2005 which will boost and ease e-commerce and e-transactions in Qatar.