Financial inclusion
Mexico unveils measures to foster financial inclusion
Plan intends to promote digital payments, facilitate access to credit and deepen capital markets
Divergent motives fuelling CBDC discussion, BIS survey reveals
Majority of central banks are researching the various forms of CBDC, but very few expect to launch in the next six years
Mozambique sources new payments IT provider after dispute
Payment dispute pushes central bank to speed up unification of payment systems; US-based firm chosen to supply computer system for interbank network
People: Kenyan and Samoan governors named to UN digital task force
Kenya’s Njoroge and Samoa’s Ainuu-Enari to investigate digital impact on financial inclusion
Palestine launches financial inclusion strategy
PMA hopes to push inclusion rate up to at least 50% by 2025
Fintech could help financial inclusion - South African deputy governor
Sarb’s Groepe praises Singapore’s one-stop data repository
Podcast: More women, greater stability?
Recent research from the International Monetary Fund reveals the inclusion of women in supervisory roles has a significant impact on financial stability
Interview: Clair Mills on the meaning of fintech
The Bank of England’s head of change and data management discusses why fintech is so important for a financial sector going into uncharted territory
Mobile phones boost financial inclusivity in Cambodia – paper
Phone users more likely to open financial accounts and invest using microcredit
Lagarde urges central banks to consider CBDCs
IMF chief sees obvious benefits to central bank digital currencies, but design is crucial
EU offers Iran sanctions relief with new clearing house
Iran retains access to Swift network despite US sanctions, but new clearing house could provide permanent loophole
Standard-setters can only partially support inclusion – BIS’s da Silva
Standard-setters can balance risks and opportunities, but cannot tackle deeper structural issues
Tunisia’s El Abassi on central banking during a regional security crisis
Central Bank of Tunisia’s governor talks about capacity building, evolving relations with the IMF, integration among the Arab states and using technology to foster inclusion
Fed assessing effects of community bank closures in rural areas – Quarles
Decline in community banks over last two decades concentrated in institutions with less than $100 million
Bank of Canada launches education website
Central bank widens efforts to educate Canadian students on finance
Bank of Canada launches new communication initiative
Central bank hopes new publication will promote financial literacy among Canadians
Female regulators increase stability of the financial system, IMF paper finds
IMF research: including women in the regulatory process has benefits “beyond” equality
Haldane: ‘superforecasters’ could help central banks
Non-experts could help solve difficult problems for central banks, says Andy Haldane
Bank of Brazil and HKMA sign fintech agreement
Central banks to promote innovative financial services companies
Financial literacy differs greatly between countries – OeNB paper
Some differences are due to survey methods but others may reflect institutional factors, find researchers
RBI figures show demonetisation captured very little ‘black money’
Over 99% of banknotes were returned despite high cost to the economy
Venezuelan central bank launches app to aid currency reconversion
App allows members of the public to covert prices into the new “bolivar soberano”
Number of bank accounts in Malawi up 64 % in six months – governor Kabambe
Digital financial services reducing the number of people unbanked in Malawi, says governor
Vietnamese government orders tougher capital ratios for banks
Banking modernisation plan pledges increased central bank independence but is short on details