FMI
Bank of Lithuania says 90% of population has bank accounts
Banking survey shows high level of participation in the banking sector; central bank to continue “financial education” lessons
RBA's Edey says central banks should take lead on payment systems
Innovation hampered by lack of incentives for individual participants; natural role for central banks in driving innovation in the sector
Central Bank of Myanmar confirms currency float
Central bank announces managed currency float will commence next month; first public statement on exchange rate reform since military government left power last year
Fed director cautious of ‘not fully known’ impacts of mobile banking
Sandra Braunstein testifies to US Senate on 'not fully known' ways the use of mobile devices can affect financial services
Zambia plans to start printing new currency by May
Bank of Zambia announces printing, minting and distribution of new banknotes and coins will be under way by May 2012
Bank of Canada celebrates new $50 note entering circulation
New note is second in series of polymer banknotes for Canada; first to be made available via automated banking machines
Bank of Portugal paper explores optimal capital structure for businesses
Structure of optimal level of debt a key decision for business, says Bank of Portugal working paper
Namibia issues first new banknotes in 19 years
Bank of Namibia releases second issue of banknotes since country attained independence in 1990; new notes incorporate improved security features
China and Australia sign A$30bn currency swap
Australia joins the ranks of central banks with a bilateral currency swap line with China; reflects increased use of renminbi and closer trading ties between the countries
Euro banknotes with Draghi’s signature enter circulation
Mario Draghi's signature appears on circulating euro banknotes as the ECB president expresses faith that situation in Europe is stabilising
National Bank of Ukraine appoints new head of payments systems
Natalia Syniavska takes on role overseeing all payments operations at the Ukrainian central bank
China and Mongolia double currency swap arrangement
Chinese and Mongolian central banks agree supplementary currency swap arrangement that doubles the amount of currency at stake under the deal
Netherlands Bank working paper studies media impact on debit card use
Research finds “significant” impact of newspaper articles about skimming fraud on same day debit card usage
Hong Kong and Malaysia launch investment and settlement pilot platform
Hong Kong Monetary Authority, Bank Negara Malaysia and Euroclear Bank launch new pilot platform for cross-border investment and settlement of debt securities; culmination of work started in 2008
Kenyan parliament clears central bank governor
Chaotic debates in Kenyan parliament result in Njuguna Ndung'u being cleared of personal responsibility over collapse of Kenyan shilling
Esma under pressure on Emir implementation
A public hearing on Emir draft technical standards has left market participants concerned regarding both the implementation time frame and the asset classes covered by trade repositories and CCPs
Estonia data shows increases in travel service provision
Bank of Estonia reveals data gathered by tacking travellers' mobile phones
RBI cuts reserve ratio to improve lending conditions
Reserve Bank of India reduces cash reserve ratio for banks by 75bp; move injects 480 billion rupees into banking system
Norway to issue new coin to mark universal suffrage
Norges Bank announces plans to introduce a commemorative 10-krone coin 100 years after suffrage was extended to all women
UK payment card fraud falls to 10-year low
UK card fraud has fallen sharply due to ‘chip and pin’ and new online payment services, reaching a 10-year low in 2011. Online banking fraud has also fallen but bogus mortgages remain a concern
Bank of Estonia to reveal travel statistics gleaned from mobile positioning data
Estonian central bank has been using data from mobile phone usage for more than three years to assist with balance of payments calculation; only two other European central banks operate similar systems
Draghi defends high-value euro banknotes
Letter to MEP Nikolaos Salavrakos outlines reasons for having €200 and €500 banknotes
Boston Fed continues research into payments
Researcher Scott Schuh adds to 2010 research into payments; finds rising cost of debit cards reduces their use
Tucker replaces Dudley as chairman of CPSS
Bank of England’s Paul Tucker to replace New York Fed’s William Dudley as head of international committee responsible for payments, clearing and settlements infrastructure