FMI
ECB reports drop in seized counterfeit euro banknotes
Number of fake euro banknotes withdrawn from circulation falls to 251,000; lowest amount of fake notes found since 2003
Singapore commemorates independence with heart-shaped coin
Monetary Authority of Singapore launches Singapore 47 Years of Independence commemorative coins; series includes the first-ever heart-shaped coin for the country
Thailand unveils royal family commemorative banknotes
Bank of Thailand reveals two new banknotes to mark Queen’s 80th birthday and the Crown Prince’s 60th birthday; special security features are included
Bank of Canada reports payment system developments
Report reviews Bank of Canada’s activities in promoting clearing and settlement systems; says operations support 'stability and efficiency' of financial system
Democratic Republic of Congo fights dollarisation
Central Bank of the Democratic Republic of Congo releases new high-denomination banknotes; move signifies efforts to limit dollarisation in the country but also poses inflation risk
Second wave of CSDs sign T2S framework agreement
A total of 15 central securities depositories sign T2S framework agreement in second wave; system set to go live in June 2015
Hungary launches same-day credit transfer system
Electronically submitted domestic transfers now reach destination within a maximum of four hours; improvement on previous system when payments took one business day
‘Branchless’ banking increasing in Pakistan
So-called 'branchless banking' transactions grew 23% between January and March this year; accounts linked to mobile phones reached over 1 million during the period
Namibia offers reward to catch head of counterfeiter ring
Central bank announces reward for information leading to the arrest of “main culprit” responsible for counterfeit notes found recently; fake notes discovered just days after new currency launch
New $50 note released in Trinidad and Tobago
Central bank issues new note as part of independence celebrations; limited number of new $50 banknotes carry commemorative message
BoE paper studies impact of Lehman’s collapse on payments
Bank of England working paper studies the effect of the Lehman Brothers collapse on wholesale payment patterns; finds slower payments and increase in risk following the default
Bank of England to post collateral in OTC derivatives trades
BoE thought to be the first major central bank to change policy on collateralisation as it seeks to reduce dealer funding charges
Papua New Guinea welcomes mobile banking advances
Governor of the Bank of Papua New Guinea has 'no objection' to use of mobile banking product in the country; hopes system will improve financial services for unbanked population
Syrian governor addresses banknote printing rumours
Adib Mayyaleh says new notes are produced only to replace worn-out ones; slams reports that extra currency has been added into circulation
Malawi central bank releases new currency
Reserve Bank of Malawi introduces series of banknotes and coins; follows decision to devalue the kwacha to appease international aid donors
HKMA unveils new phase of cross-border settlement platform
Hong Kong and Malaysian central banks to add cross-border collateral management service to settlement platform to promote growth in 'underdeveloped' Asian repo markets
Ukraine issues commemorative Euro 2012 coins
National Bank of Ukraine reveals commemorative coins dedicated to the European Football Championship 2012; first ever half-kilo gold coin forms part of the series
RBA ends 'excessive' card surcharges
Australian central bank publishes final reforms for surcharging standards for payments by credit and debit card in the country; allows “reasonable” charges to continue
IMF paper compares Islamic and conventional finance
Working paper examines returns on Islamic and conventional finance; finds differences in returns are not statistically significant
FSB proposes future legal entity identifier system
Financial Stability Board releases report on implementing a global legal entity identifier system for the financial sector; wants system to be independently functional by March 2013
Riksbank reveals details of new currency series release
Release dates for updated banknotes and coins revealed by Riksbank; first new banknotes will enter circulation in October 2015
Estonia begins Sepa migration work
Estonian Payment Environment Forum holds meeting; attendees affirm commitment to ensuring a smooth transition to Sepa-compliant payments and settlements in Estonia
RBA outlines payments system development plan
Australian central bank sets out areas of priority for advancing the payments system in the country; concludes two-year review process
Norges Bank assesses payments system
Annual Report on Payment Systems 2011 finds speed of payment transactions to be lacking; system in general is nonetheless efficient says deputy governor