Banks
Dirk Niepelt on the political economy of CBDCs
The BoE CBDC adviser discusses the social role of a retail digital currency versus commercial bank money and favours a remunerated approach
PBoC reserve ratio cut spurs short-term FX hedging
Removal of 20% forex risk rule drives exporters towards options and onshore forwards
Economists expect BoK to tilt hawkish under Shin
Expert says new governor to bring ‘distinctly BIS-influenced framework’ to South Korean central bank
Rising reliance on internal auditors spooks regulators and industry
Risk managers warn US is substituting supervisors with auditors; could compromise independence
Central Banking Awards 2026: the winners in full
Awards recognise extraordinary achievements in another challenging year for central banks
US blows the floors off Basel III
Barr criticises 'downward deviations' in US rule; Bowman rejects 'blind adherence' to global standards
Czech Republic, Moldova, Sweden and Ukraine all hold
Riksbank also lowers rate for supplementary liquidity facility as liquidity starts to dry up
Central banks in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan hold rates
Taiwan tilts hawkish, Hong Kong follows Fed and China expected to ease by 10bp this year
Interest rate crosswinds buffet IRRBB teams
Political intervention and rapid-fire law changes are skewering bank models for forecasting cashflows
ECB holds rates, predicts 2.6% inflation for 2026
Lagarde presents gloomy outlook for eurozone inflation and growth as energy prices spike
Financial services: Citi
The US bank has striven to provide clients with high-level advice as well as service breadth, technical expertise and execution
UAE launches support programme for country’s banks
Central bank releases capital buffers and provides capital rule relief to help lenders during conflict
G+D’s Tanja Heßdörfer on the challenges of CBDC
The German company’s head of digital currency advisory discusses the key challenges surrounding digital central bank money
Initiative of the year: Reserve Bank of India
By mandating a domain name for the country’s lenders, the RBI has struck a blow against cyber fraud
Financial markets infrastructure services – wholesale: Bloomberg
Tech firm helped Nigeria and Sri Lanka’s central banks to build essential FX market infrastructure, and Portugal and Ukraine’s treasuries to optimise debt auctions
Payments and market infrastructure development – retail: Central Bank of Colombia’s Bre-B
Colombia’s new federated payments system achieved success due to thoughtful planning, proactive regulation and successful onboarding
ECB says AI risk monitoring should not be a one-way street
Bank wants to exchange information on lenders’ AI model risks with market surveillance supervisors
RBNZ responds to lenders’ concerns over cash proposal
Bank acknowledges industry view that prior consultation was lacking
HKMA deputy says credit risks to remain ‘complex’ in 2026
Yuen notes continued pressure on Hong Kong’s commercial real estate market
Fed’s Bowman outlines imminent changes to US capital rules
Overall framework to remain more robust than previous version, but will aim to eliminate overlaps
BoE takes a walk on the wild side with banknote designs
Public votes to replace historical figures with wildlife, but plans incur backlash from some quarters
External events are harming Vietnam’s economy, says SBV
Deputy director for monetary policy cites Iran conflict and other central banks’ ‘unpredictable’ paths
NBU tells banks to avoid Hungary after cash and gold heist
Hungarian government official explicitly ties asset seizure to dispute over stricken oil pipeline
Governor of the year: Jerome Powell
The Fed chair has shown high levels of integrity and resolve in upholding his public duty in the pursuit of price stability and maximum employment