Regulation
RBI to kick off Basel transition with 8 banks
As part of a move towards the new New Basel Capital Accord the Reserve Bank of India has chosen eight banks - public, private and foreign - as part of the RBI's pilot run on implementing the risk-based supervision for banks, according to Business…
Bank of Israel sets up financial stability unit
The Bank of Israel has set up a new unit for financial stability, Globes online reports. The duties of the new department include developing tools for the early detection of threats to stability, preventing threats from becoming exacerbated, and…
HKMA signs memorandum of understanding
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority and the China Banking Regulatory Commission signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 25 August. The Agreement will allow the sharing of supervisory information.
Boston Fed launch Operational Risk & Capital site
The Boston Fed has launched a web site dedicated to Operational Risk and Capital. The site contains information related to the proposed new international capital accord, Basel II.
114 officials take early retirement from SARB
An offer of an early retirement package from the South African Reserve Bank has met with 114 acceptances from officials over the age 50. The governor, Tito Mboweni, made the announcement of the measure, aimed at saving money, at the bank's AGM in…
Indonesia behind on FATF AML deadline
Indonesia looks set to miss an FATF deadline to strengthen its anti-moneylaundering measures and could face penalties on its international financial transactions as a result, a senior central bank official told Dow Jones.
Comments on Basel II
The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision has published on the BIS website the comments received on the latest version of the long-awaited new capital rules.
Basel updates know-your-customer rules
The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision has proposed an undated set of know-your-customer rules desinged to stop large international banks being used by criminals or terrorists.
Nigerian cb branded reckless and inefficient
The central bank in Nigeria has been denounced for its "recklessness and managerial inefficiency" by a member of the House of Representatives, which he says explains the sorry state of the banking sector, according to a report in the Daily Champion,…
BIS on cross-border cooperation for Basel II
The Bank for International Settlements today issued a report outlining principles for closer cross-border cooperation between supervisors on the new Basel Accord.
The ECB's mission statement
Five years after its creation the ECB has decided it needs a mission statement. Its main objective is, of course, price stability, with "integrity, competence, efficiency and transparency" as its watchwords. But there is no place in the two paragraphs,…
Boards should not escape the Basel shake-up
In parallel with Basel II's emphasis on risk measurement and supervisory review, a crucial aspect of regulation should be to ensure that banks have effective governance structures, says this article in the Financial Times. Regulation that is forever…
How to bring about a "robust exit" for an insolvent bank
Regulators often need to act fast in order to preserve a bank's value, punish poor management and avoid GDP-sapping bailouts argues David Hayes.
Basel II 'could damage capital market liquidity'
The Securities Industry Association, which represents many of the world's largest securities firms, has written to the Basel committee warning that new rules "could have a detrimental impact on the liquidity of the capital markets", according to a report…
Major shake-up looming at Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe
The cash crisis in Zimbabwe is likely to result in a reshuffle in the next few weeks at the country's central bank, according to a report by the Zimbabwe Independent. It is understood the shake-up comes with the full blessing of President Robert Mugabe…
Jordan c b unveils banking supervision plans
The Central Bank of Jordan plans to develop its banking supervision measures to include an early warning system and early corrective procedures, according to the Jordan Times. The system is based on examining certain criteria such as capital adequacy,…
Federal Reserve on Basel Capital Accord
Agencies Announce Publication of Documents Related to Basel Accord Implementation, 4 August. Comments on the two documents will be accepted by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the…
WAMZ to set up banking supervisory agency
As part of the West African Monetary Zone's push towards a single currency, an external supervisory agency for banking supervision is to be set up, according to a report from Vanguard.
CBI governor emphasises independence of banks
The Central Bank of Iran (CBI) fully supports and respects the authority of banks to implement measures to better perform their functions, said CBI Governor Ebrahim Sheibani, reported by the Iran Daily. Sheibani was also reported to have said that the…
RBNZ focusing on banking supervision in NZ
Speaking in Wellington, Reserve Bank of New Zealand governor Dr Alan Bollard said "The Reserve Bank is keen to ensure that our regulatory system is invigorated and focused." In a press release Friday the RBNZ signalled its intention to put more effort…
Sri Lanka cb wants anti-money laundering law soon
The governor of Sri Lanka's central bank A.S. Jayawardena told a seminar Thursday that the country should implement anti-money laundering laws as soon as possible to prevent Sri Lanka from being blacklisted by the international community, the Daily News…
Sanusi - CBN's standpoint on anti-money laundering
In the speech 'Central Bank of Nigeria's standpoint of anti-money laundering compliance' Joseph Sanusi of the Central Bank of Nigeria said the CBN will continue to ensure compliance with the FATF guidelines, in addition to other domestic laws on money…
BSP given full authority to probe bank accounts
The Philippines newly revised Anti-Money Laundering Act returns the central bank's authority to inquire into any bank deposit. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas lost this power a decade ago under the 1993 Central Bank Act.
Topping on Basel II : Implications for Hong Kong
In the speech 'Basel II : Implications for Hong Kong' Simon Topping of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority said Basel II is not some abstract regulatory compliance issue of no real value to the banking industry. On the contrary, it's based very much on…