FMI
Nigerian RTGS joins Swift
The country's adoption of the global payment platform yesterday is expected to improve settlement security and discourage the use of cash payments in the longer term
Central Bank of Oman's Hamood Sangour Al Zadjali on the dollar, financial stability and Islamic finance
The Central Bank of Oman remains committed to the dollar as it moves to improve governance, liquidity management and Islamic finance in the sultanate, its executive president tells Chris Jeffery
National Bank of Belgium sells iconic Antwerp building
Belgium’s central bank has closed its Antwerp branch as part of its ongoing consolidation process, and will now sell the distinctive triangular building
Rajan looks to mobile banking for financial inclusion
Reserve Bank of India governor says that India is not ‘where it should be’ on mobile payments and calls on telecom firms to help drive the proliferation of cheap and safe payments
CLS set to add Russian ruble in November, source says
Industry settlement utility CLS is poised to add the ruble to its currency universe in November
Governors grapple with regulatory implications of African mobile money growth
African central bank heads agree to develop comparative surveys of mobile money regulation, as mobile banking takes off
ECB ‘strongly supports’ new payments directive
The European Central Bank gives its backing to a new payments directive that aims to create a more integrated European market for electronic payments
Fed proposals for updated payments system meets with mixed response
Some industry practitioners tell Fed it should move faster on payments reform, though others argue if it isn't broken, don't fix it
Bank of England says BBA could co-ordinate response to banking cyber attacks
Sweeping exercise aimed at preparing UK banks against attacks against financial infrastructure by ‘hostile nation state' also sees some firms struggle with new dual regulatory structure
Banque de France official: Sepa delays incur 'collective cost'
Denis Beau says the market participants that missed the February 1 deadline for migration to the new credit transfer and direct debit schemes should switch as soon as possible
RBI’s Joshi calls for ‘revamped’ bank structures
Deepali Pant Joshi tells Indian banks to enhance their financial inclusion efforts by hiring a ‘separate cadre of staff’ to provide banking services to far-flung rural areas
Russia says Bitcoin users will be suspected of money laundering
Central Bank of Russia joins roster of monetary authorities warning citizens off virtual currencies - but goes one step further in saying its use is against the law
ECB demands ‘fast adoption’ of Sepa legislation
European Commission proposal to extend the deadline for Sepa migration by six months has caused ‘confusion’ in the markets, according to the ECB
Bank of England launches new liquidity provision framework
First ‘indexed long-term repo operations' under framework unveiled in October scheduled for early February; will provide ‘more liquidity at cheaper rates, longer maturities against wider range of collateral'
Shanghai Clearing House becomes fifth in Asia to start OTC clearing
First onshore renminbi interest rate swaps cleared in China; two international banks sign up to new clearing service
Dutch paper finds Germans ‘substantially more cash oriented’ than other nationalities
Researchers consider why cash is still ‘heavily used’ for low-value payments in Europe; attributes German consumers' continued use of cash to ‘precautionary’ reasons
ECB unveils new €10 note
Yves Mersch presents the design of the new €10 banknote in Frankfurt; equipped with new security features to help keep rising counterfeit rates in check
MAS says lack of global regulatory standard for virtual currencies cause for concern
Singapore's monetary authority and chief financial regulator singles out the likes of Bitcoin as a potential conduit for illicit activities, in survey on money laundering and terrorism financing
Payments and clearing technology provider of the year: VocaLink
VocaLink has excelled by building the infrastructure for a new accounts switching service in the UK and exporting its pioneering Faster Payments platform overseas
European Commission pushes for Sepa deadline extension
Michel Barnier defies the Eurosystem by pushing for a six-month extension to the February 1 deadline for migration to the Single Euro Payments Area
RBI committee wants a bank account for every adult by 2016
A report on financial inclusion released by the Reserve Bank of India calls for all residents to have a universal bank account, and an electronic payment point within a 15-minute walk
Singapore intensifies efforts to cut banknote waste
Monetary Authority of Singapore unveils a social networking campaign that encourages the public to refrain from giving brand new banknotes to each other at Chinese New Year
Frontloading fears remain despite Esma guidance
Uncertainty has been narrowed by Esma Q&A, but dealers say they will still face pricing headaches
National Bank of Georgia launches contest to design currency symbol
Former Soviet nation follows Russian example in seeking suggestions for a currency symbol; winning entry to be selected next month by a commission set up for that purpose