Cash
Banknote and currency manager of the year: Norges Bank
The Nordic central bank has redefined how its banknotes are designed, incorporating top-notch security and an innovative awareness campaign
Macao turns to facial recognition to fight money laundering
Chinese tourists now have to verify their identities in order to withdraw cash at most ATMs in the casino hub
Danish central bank dismisses central bank digital currency
Digital instrument would not make current payment system more efficient, says report, adding introducing such a currency would pit the central bank against commercial institutions
Sarb closes branches to optimise cash management
Inefficiencies prompt central bank to close three of its branches, while remaining three are ‘converted’ into cash centres
Bank Indonesia to nudge more people to open bank accounts
The country aims to boost the percentage of the population with bank accounts to 75% by 2019
Malaysia’s Ibrahim warns of costs of not turning digital
Bank Negara governor outlines plans to push consumers towards e-payments, as the cost of cheque processing weighs on the economy
Denmark ‘not heading for cashless society’ – research
Central bank recognises cash transactions are in decline, but says consumers will always have the option to pay with cash
Ingves: Riksbank ‘will soon take a stance’ on e-krona
The executive board will examine whether e-krona could be the gateway to central bank money, as the decline in cash continues in Sweden
Eurozone must improve management of national cash cycles, paper argues
Researchers find wide variations between cash quality in eurozone countries
Change in fees could lead to ATM ‘deserts’ – MP Nicky Morgan
Chair of UK Treasury committee concerned that changes to ATM networks could threaten financial inclusion as cash continues to be important to 2.7 million people
Venezuela to launch cryptocurrency as cash crisis continues
New cryptocurrency will be backed by Venezuela’s oil reserves and other raw materials; new ‘blockchain observatory’ has responsibility for oversight
Central bank demand boosting banknote sector – RBA’s Boulton
Asian security printers are showing faster growth as central banks turn to more sophisticated designs, says Lindsay Boulton
Bank of Canada paper investigates the ‘burden of coins’
Research sheds light on consumer behaviour when making low-value transactions with cash, suggesting cards more likely to be used if large amount of coins will be received
Singapore broadens push into e-payments
Singapore expands payments regulation frameworks and launches a common QR code for e-payments
San Francisco Fed study: cash is not dead yet
Demand for notes and coins is “strong”, says the study, with cash in circulation growing in the majority of nations
Hong Kong seeks mobile wallet capabilities in China
Authorities in drive to ensure Hong Kong mobile phone e-payments work in China; faster payments roll-out due next year but no urgent rush to go cashless, says HKMA official
Book notes: Hole in the Wall, by James Shepherd-Barron
Cash machines have changed the way cash is managed, but is there a future for such machines in a world looking to go cashless?
Central banks and securities lending: A lever for monetary policy and liquidity management
Securities lending is often considered an alternative mechanism for generating revenue by asset owners, fund managers and others who invest with profit in mind. Central banks, however, do not share this viewpoint. Rather, their securities lending…
Better structure could protect investors in P2P market - BoJ paper
Use of “specific purpose companies” could help protect investors in the event of the collapse of a P2P platform
Kenya’s digital transformation
The use of innovative digital financial services has transformed financial inclusion in Kenya, writes the chairman of the Central Bank of Kenya
Cleland outlines uncertainty of future cash demand
BoE chief cashier says people will move away from cash, but the rate of change is uncertain
Riksbank outlines three visions of ‘e-krona’
Sweden’s central bank presents three cryptocurrency models as a solution to the payments conundrum
Central banks unlikely to issue digital money, argues author
David Birch’s book discusses how communities could be at the heart of the new electronic monetary system
RBA payments board backs ‘digital identity’ for Australians
Board encourages payments industry to work on a framework that could make online transactions more convenient and secure