Payments
South Africa to stop cheque payments by 2021
Since August 2019, cheque usage has declined 59%
The world’s first retail CBDC tiptoes into existence
The Bahamas’ e-solutions manager Bobby Chen speaks about how Covid-19 brought forward the nationwide launch of the ‘sand dollar’, and how limits and wallet types are affecting usage
CBDC could improve banking stability – Haldane
BoE chief economist envisages banking sector split between payments and credit provision
German contactless payments rose due to Covid-19
Bundesbank board member says pandemic changed consumers’ use of debit card system
ECB announces independent inquiry into Target2 outage
Main findings on RTGS failure will be published by second quarter of next year, ECB says
Vocalink to provide Canada’s real-time payments infrastructure
Mastercard company wins contract to provide infrastructure and support services for “real-time rail”
Powell, Lagarde and Bailey express caution on CBDCs
Jay Powell says Fed must get any future CBDC right, rather than “being the first”
Currency Benchmarks 2020 report – the data behind the cash cycle
Perspectives on staffing, circulation, forecasting, fraud, substrate choice, outsourcing and climate risk
RBA announces wholesale CBDC project
Australia’s central bank partners with ConsenSys and local banks for proof of concept
Covid-19 accelerates cash decline in Sweden
Riksbank report shows payments through Swish have already overtaken cash
Cambodia officially launches quasi-CBDC
Cambodia’s blockchain-powered payment system goes live
ECB says Target2 outage was caused by third-party network device
“Root cause” was software defect in third-party network device in eurosystem’s network – ECB
The winners of the 2020 FinTech and RegTech Global Awards
Central banks and their partners have innovated across machine learning, cloud services, payments and more
Eurozone’s RTGS system suffers major outage
ECB says Target2 system’s production site had to shift to alternative region – rules out cyber incident
Policy-makers should develop blockchain standards – panellists
Standards should ensure systems can communicate with one another, experts say
Georgia’s Gvenetadze on implementing an aggressive reform agenda
The National Bank of Georgia governor speaks about efforts to improve monetary policy, financial infrastructure, financial literacy, transparency and ESG
Former HKMA chief Norman Chan sets up fintech firm
Chan becomes latest former senior Hong Kong official to move to fintech sector
Eurosystem lays out retail digital payment strategy
Access to cash and level playing field for electronic payments are key elements – Panetta
Hong Kong open to working with PBoC on digital currency
Senior government official says authorities would “actively participate” if it aids “mutual connectivity”
Iceland prepares new interbank payment system for launch
Combined netting and high-value settlement system set to go live this week
Central banks show wide variation in cash department staffing
Different staffing levels driven in part by which institutions run their own printworks
RBNZ looks to bolster capabilities as ‘steward’ of the cash system
Central bank launches review of cash system and increases engagement with financial industry
Swedish governor calls for laws to protect cash use
Ingves says Sweden must upgrade payments systems and move ahead with e-krona
‘Wear and tear’ the main reason for banknote exchange
Covid-19 raised fears of banknote contamination, but historical exchange is mostly due to worn notes