Saudi Central Bank (Sama)
Sama enables blockchain for cross-border payments
Pilot with Ripple will allow domestic banks to settle payments across the xCurrent network; payments infrastructure based on the Interledger Protocol
Saudi and UAE central banks freeze hundreds of bank accounts
Local sources say newly installed crown prince is moving against other senior royals
The winners of the 2017 Central Banking Awards
Bank of England wins Central Bank of the Year, while Carlos Fernández Valdovinos picks up Governor of the Year; Donald Kohn receives Lifetime Achievement Award; 15 more awards unveiled
Bank of Israel and Sama triumph in latest Central Banking Awards
Middle Eastern central banks take home Reserve manager and initiative of the year in Central Banking’s 2017 awards; market practitioners prove it is possible to weather volatile markets
Initiative of the year: Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority’s compliance standards activation project
Sama has made a strong start in its efforts to develop an enterprise-wide risk management culture
Technology provider of the year (supervision): Vizor Software
Vizor Software has transitioned from a niche consultancy to a technology provider of choice for central banks in 30 countries, including Canada, the UK and Saudi Arabia
Sama unveils new banknote designs with updated features
Six denominations to feature new security thread and improved features for the visually impaired; new coin design also launched by Saudi central bank
SAMA governor outlines challenges facing Islamic banking sector
Unified accounting standards would “comfort” regulators and improve transparency for the industry, Alkholifey says; issues need to be addressed in order to foster growth in Islamic banking
Sama intervenes to ease liquidity pressure on banks
Saudi central bank makes deposits worth over $5 billion at commercial banks struggling with low liquidity, and introduces new repo facilities
Sama gets new governor in Saudi reshuffle
Deputy with experience at central bank and IMF takes over top post from Fahad Almubarak, as Saudi government shakes up major roles
Sama completes payments infrastructure upgrade
Infrastructure overhaul allows faster card payments and higher volumes, supporting the expansion of electronic payments in Saudi Arabia
Kuwait joins hikers club in wake of Fed rate rise
Kuwait look to strengthen currency after Fed rate rise; UAE and Saudi Arabia, which operate with dollar pegs, also move
More sharia-compliant instruments would aid liquidity management, IMF paper argues
Working paper focused on Gulf states notes a lack of instruments has forced Islamic banks to hold a lot of cash, while making it harder for central banks to conduct monetary operations
Hungary leads host of new central bank websites
Central Bank of Hungary redesigns main site and launches separate Budapest RMB Initiative hub; Barbados, Qatar and Saudi Arabia institutions among others to update online presence
Sama publishes first financial stability report
Report indicates Saudi financial system is coping well, despite the 2014 oil price shock and continued geopolitical instability in the region; past year saw ‘significant’ regulatory change
Belgian central bank embraces responsive design with new website
National Bank of Belgium launches new website with cleaner design and upgrades its statistical database, while wider central banking community look to improve online presence
Sama governor calls for subsidy cuts
Fahad Al-Mubarak says the Saudi Arabian economy is being hampered by various inefficiencies, including excessive subsidies on energy and water
Sama’s Almubarak praises resilient banking system
Fahad Almubarak says central bank has helped create a healthy banking system in Saudi Arabia; banks well capitalised and implementing improved security technology
Riyad Bank deputy named Saudi vice-governor
Abdulaziz Saleh Al-Furaih, previously deputy director of Riyad Bank, joined the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency this week
Saudi inflation expected to fall below 3% in 2014
Country's cost of living index peaked at 4% last April before inflationary pressures in the transport and restaurant sectors abated during second half of the year
People: Stanley Fischer joins US think-tank; Hungarian central bank official moves to EIB
Fischer takes post at US think-tank after leaving the Bank of Israel; László Baranyay joins the European Investment Bank; sovereign wealth fund managers on the move
Central banks are getting more transparent, study finds
Study conducted by Barry Eichengreen and Nergiz Dincer finds trend towards greater transparency was not knocked off course by the financial crisis; independence, however, is more patchy
Saudi vice-governor warns of 'quantum leap' in money laundering
Abdulrahman Al-Hamidy says countries with weak defences may suffer from capital flight and higher levels of inflation
Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency welcomes diversification away from oil
Annual report reveals boost to growth and falling inflation in 2011; welcomes government intent to expand non-oil sector