Financial Stability
Omani banks form national ATM network
OMAN - A deal to form a national ATM network called Oman Switch by merging Shamel ATM switch and al-Watani ATM switch was signed at the Central Bank of Oman (CBO) on 17 October in the presence of Hamood bin Sanjoor al-Zadjali, CBO Executive President.
Taiwan Sept bad check ratio 0.86% vs August 0.78%
TAIWAN - Taiwan's bad check ratio in terms of the number of checks issued rose to 0.86% in September from 0.78% in August, the island's central bank said Monday.
Austrian central bank warns of forged euro notes
AUSTRIA - Wolfgang Duchatczek, a director of central bank Oesterreichische Nationalbank (ONB), has warned Austrian consumers to be on the look-out for forged euro banknotes following the launch of the new European single currency on 1 January 2002.
UK Moneybox install cash dispenser in Netherlands
NETHERLANDS - Moneybox Netherlands, a subsidiary of UK Moneybox Corporation, is to install 750 cash dispenser in the Netherlands, the company spokesman said on 23 October.
Hungary's Nat Bank to build new logistics centre
HUNGARY - The National Bank of Hungary plans to build a new logistics centre, also housing the National Mint - Magyar Penzvero - on the outskirts of Budapest or outside the city, the central bank announced on Friday.
Soiled notes turn to paper bricks!
INDIA - The Gujarat headquarters of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has installed a Rs 2 crore note-shredder imported from the Netherlands at its regional head-office near Gandhi bridge, said regional director, RBI-Gujarat VS Das.
BOK site flooded with Netizen visitors
SOUTH KOREA - The Bank of Korea (BOK) is drawing more interest in cyberspace, with the BOK reporting that its web site has recorded a monthly average of about 134,000 hits so far this year, twice as much as two years ago.
BNM commemorative coins for sale
MALAYSIA - Coin collectors interested in buying previous issues of commemorative coins produced by Bank Negara Malaysia will have the final chance to do so until year-end.
Singapore MAS to review bank ATM rule in 2-3 years
SINGAPORE - The Monetary Authority of Singapore said Wednesday it will review the restriction on foreign banks' access to local banks' automated teller machine network in two to three years.
ECB net gold reserves decline in Oct 12 week
GERMANY - The Eurosystem's net reserves in gold and gold receivables declined by EUR1 million to EUR128.2 billion in the week ended 12 October, the European Central Bank said Tuesday.
Vietnam's Eximbank begins payments scheme
VIETNAM - The joint stock Commercial Bank for Import and Export of Vietnam, Eximbank, held on 11 October the second phase of bidding for the project "Intrabank payment system and Eximbank's applications."
Speech by Patrick Barron of the Atlanta Fed
SPEECH - Remarks by Patrick K. Barron, Retail Payments Product Director, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, BAI National Electronic Check Collection Conference, Tucson, Arizona, 1 October.
Fed will have single MICR format in 2005
US - The Federal Reserve announced Wednesday 10 October that it will adopt a single standard for magnetic ink character recognition detail on checks by mid-2005.
Shortage of note examiners at Indian central bank
INDIA - The Reserve Bank of India employees' union has warned of a shortage of currency note examiners and other experts in the central bank if the management does not reverse its policy of a "virtual" recruitment ban.
€ EURO - Portugal to use big value notes
PORTUGAL - Portugal has changed its mind about not circulating the two highest denomination euro banknotes and now plans to distribute a small number of Euros 500 ( £310) and Euros 200 notes.
Banks fail on internet targets
UK - Banks have failed to meet targets for cost savings from internet banking and almost half believe the business case for setting up web services may not be viable.
Banks need no RBI nod for online debit cards
INDIA - Banks will not be required to seek the approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for introducing online debit cards, where straight-through-processing is done.
Speech by Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa of the ECB
SPEECH - Keynote address of Mr. Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa, Member of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank, at the EU Commission conference, Payments in euro in the Internal Market, Brussels, 24 September.
Bank of France printing staff continue strike
FRANCE - Employees belonging to the CGT union at the Bank of France's printing division have extended until today, 3 October, a strike that has been observed since 12 September.
Federal Reserve - Press Release
PRESS RELEASE - The Federal Reserve Board on Thursday launched a new interactive web site developed by the economic educators of the Federal Reserve System. This site offers students, educators and the general public an introduction to the workings of…
India banks non-compliant with RBI for net banking
INDIA - None of the banks in the country which offer internet banking facilities today has an IT security policy as stipulated by the Reserve Bank of India.
VISA attacks RBA credit card plan
AUSTRALIA - Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) plans to regulate credit card interchange fees have come under attack from Visa International.
Fed extends deadline on payment risks policy
US - The Federal Reserve Board extended until Nov. 16 the deadline for public comment on the potential longer-term direction of its policy on payments system risk.
Terrorist attack - Res Bank of Australia statement
NEWS RELEASE - Statement