News
RBI abolishes limit on mobile banking transactions
Reserve Bank of India allows unlimited mobile banking transactions; move follows large increase in use of mobile technology
Swiss governor faces questions over wife’s currency trades
Kashya Hildebrand bought US dollars shortly before Switzerland imposed limit on franc to euro value; Swiss National Bank denies dodgy dealing by governor
Fed to release ‘projections’ for future policy
FOMC minutes reveal committee members’ expectations for future monetary policy will be incorporated in Summary of Economic Projections documents; part of Fed’s improved transparency plan
Netherlands Bank warns of Sepa information gap
Dutch central bank to launch communication campaign to aid consumers with limited knowledge about the European payments project
Praet named ECB’s de facto chief economist
European Central Bank executive board member Peter Praet will take over economics responsibilities at central bank
Banque de France to slash personnel numbers
Banque de France to replace only 50% of retirees in attempt to lower staff numbers; 2,500 posts to be lost by 2020
Hungary passes controversial central bank bill
Hungarian parliament votes in favour of amendments to National Bank of Hungary law; central bank warns that law presents serious threat to economy
Lithuania overhauls banking supervision
New streamlined financial markets supervision body will save government $1.9 million a year; economist in charge of new Supervision Service
Zambian parliament ratifies new governor
Zambian politicians agree on candidate to take over the role of governor of the central bank; Michael Gondwe fills void at top of the institution
Nigeria rolls out ‘cash-less’ Lagos project
Central Bank of Nigeria issues clarifications as cash-less society is introduced in Lagos; reassures public that cash transactions have not been eliminated altogether
Obama nominates two new members to Fed board
Former undersecretary of the Treasury Jerome Powell and Harvard economist Jeremy Stein put forward to fill vacant seats on Federal Reserve Board of Governors; need Senate backing
CentralBanking.com review of 2011
Round-up of 10 of the leading news stories in 2011
ESRB urges swift implementation of emergency measures
European Systemic Risk Board sends strong message to European heads of state to fulfil terms of eurozone agreements; new appointments to board’s Advisory Scientific Committee
RBNZ vows to aid transition to new retail payments system
Reserve Bank of New Zealand to reduce cost of overnight borrowing for three months as banks shift to new settlement before interchange system
Malaysia launches new banknote series
Bank Negara Malaysia reveals designs and security features of five denominations in new currency series
Riksbank appoints new head of general secretariat
Former head of Riksbank’s monetary policy department Anders Vredin replaces Kai Barvèll as head of general secretariat
ECB receives strong demand for three-year liquidity
European Central Bank extends €489 billion in loans to banks in its first three-year liquidity operation. But analysts believe the measures will do little to ease funding pressures in the eurozone
Barroso urges Hungary to drop controversial bill
European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso challenges Budapest over proposed amendments to National Bank of Hungary law; central bank raises rates by 50 basis points
Sepa migration deadline pencilled in for 2014
European Union says migration end-dates for credit transfers and direct debit to Single Euro Payments Area will be February 2014
Bank of Italy selects Rossi to join governing board
Bank of Italy names secretary-general Salvatore Rossi as deputy director-general, filling seat left open by governor Ignazio Visco on central bank board
Basel statement on risk transfer could halt legitimate trades, bankers warn
Basel Committee’s focus on cost of credit protection in attempt to stamp out capital arbitrage could also hurt sound trade trades, investment banks claim
Banking structure reform gets go ahead from British government
UK government lays down plans to incorporate Independent Commission on Banking recommendations into law; process to begin next year
Sweden lowers benchmark rate for first time in two years
Riksbank announces a drop of 25 percentage points to the repo rate; first time the rate has been reduced since 2009
South Africa announces new deputy governor
Francois Groepe selected by president Zuma to be the new deputy governor of the South African Reserve Bank