Financial inclusion
Bahraini women gain prominence in financial sector
Number of local women employed increases by 2.2% in 2018, central bank data shows
Walking the talk – engaging with indigenous communities
Mike Hannah says engaging with disadvantaged communities is increasingly recognised as important for a central bank’s work
Kenya’s financial inclusion rate passes 80%
Mobile banking has helped inclusion rates increase by over 200% over the last 13 years, but the technology has also introduced new risks
Pakistan central bank opens up financial sector to non-bank players
Finance minister pledges central bank-issued digital currency by 2025
NBU’s Smolii speaks out about political interference
Politically powerful people in Ukraine are still trying to block economic reform, but transparency is helping, says National Bank of Ukraine governor
Tunisia and France sign co-operation agreement
Central banks to share experiences in monetary policy, supervision, digital finance and inclusion
ECJ asked to rule on whether public bodies can reject cash
German high court asks European Court of Justice to rule on legal tender definition, which could allow public institutions to refuse cash payments
Central banks must become more diverse – Carney
Improving diversity increases strength and reduces groupthink, BoE governor argues
Kenyan High Court strikes down law capping interest rates
But court rules law did not infringe central bank’s mandate and says caps could be brought back
Philippines launches inclusion initiative in memory of Espenilla
Late governor honoured in new initiative to help those underserved by financial industry
Access to cash a priority for UK’s PSR this year – report
Regulator criticised for response to earlier report which said 17% of population would struggle without cash
Fed official suggests reforms to tackle ‘credit deserts’
Brainard advocates greater geographical flexibility in banks’ obligations; FDIC chair appears to agree
Bank of Mexico and Amazon to co-operate on mobile payments system
Central bank aims to tackle low banking levels through digital payments
Sub-Saharan Africa could be fintech hub – IMF author
Wider adoption of mobile banking provides platform for further developments, says Amadou Sy
Central banks disagree over cash regulation
The BoE has issued legislation demanding banks supply certain denominations, but other regulators remain on the fence about how they should manage the future of cash
UK cash system needs revamp, says Payment Systems Regulator chair
Charles Randell tells lawmakers the regulator will look at entire cash provision infrastructure in 2019
Arab countries must improve funding of small businesses – IMF’s Lagarde
SMEs make up 96% of Arab world’s businesses but get only 7% of bank loans – IMF chief
RBI can remove barriers to micro-credit – Acharya
Central bank looking to solve information problems in a “fundamental way”, says deputy
Second round of 2019 Central Banking awards winners revealed
Winners include Warren Coats, St Louis Fed, Bank of Israel, RBA and National Bank of Ukraine
UK’s Link implements new fees in bid to halt ATM closures
Subsidy paid by banks to cash machine operators rises to up to £2.75
Financial inclusion initiative: Federal Reserve Bank of St Louis
Improvements in the bank’s financial inclusion initiatives are helping tackle the polarisation of economic education in the US and across the globe
Fed launches banknote app for children
App provides details of security features, mimicking raised intaglio print through vibrations
Nigerian central bank to set up national micro-lender
Leading presidential candidate says he will not give governor a second term
Islamic finance is for everyone, Malaysia’s Zahid says
Bank Negara Malaysia assistant governor stresses inclusiveness of Islamic finance but says SMEs are still not taking advantage