Tag Archives | banking

Iraq announces Major Banking Sector Overhaul

By Padraig O'Hannelly. Iraq is embarking on a comprehensive restructuring of its banking sector with the assistance of leading international consultancy firms, according to Dr Salih Salman, Advisor to the Iraqi Prime Minister, speaking at the Iraq Britain Business Council (IBBC) Spring Conference in London on Tuesday. The Iraqi government has appointed Ernst & Young […]

Germany Supporting Iraq's Lending Strategy for SMEs

By John Lee. Under the patronage of Central Bank Governor Ali Mohsen Al-Allaq, a workshop has been launched to support the implementation of the bank's new strategy to increase private sector lending, with a focus on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). In his opening remarks, Governor Al-Allaq emphasised the bank's commitment to addressing challenges in […]

EU Bank to Begin Iraq Operations in September

By John Lee. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is set to commence operations in Iraq this September, following the country's accession to the European Union Bank. Ali Mohsen Al-Allaq, Governor of the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI), received an EBRD delegation in Baghdad to discuss the final steps required before operations begin. […]

IMF publishes Iraq Recommendations

By John Lee. A team from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has concluded a visit with Iraqi officials, concluding: Economic Challenges: Iraq faces a highly uncertain global environment, declining oil prices, and acute financing pressures, which are harming economic activity and deepening existing vulnerabilities. Urgent Measures Needed: Contain the fiscal deficit by increasing non-oil tax […]

Iraqi PM directs Banks to Accelerate Reforms

By John Lee. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani chaired a high-level meeting with the heads of Iraqi banks on Monday, reaffirming his government's commitment to banking reform as a pillar of broader economic revitalisation. He directed all banks to simplify procedures, embrace modern technologies, and encourage public confidence by stimulating deposits. The Prime Minister announced […]

Central Bank of Iraq Warns about Fraudulent Banknotes

By John Lee. The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) has issued a warning to the public regarding the circulation of foreign banknotes - including authentic, withdrawn, and counterfeit currency - used by fraudsters to deceive citizens. According to the CBI, criminals lure individuals into exchanging these notes for Iraqi dinars at inflated rates under the […]

Tariffs: PM Orders Review of US-Iraq Trade Relations

By John Lee. Prime Minister Mohammed S. Al-Sudani chaired a high-level meeting on Saturday to assess the economic and trade impact of the United States government's decision to raise customs tariffs on imports from multiple countries, including Iraq. The discussion addressed potential effects on global markets, crude oil prices, and Iraq's domestic economy. According to […]

CBI: Digital Payments to replace Physical Currency

By John Lee. In his speech to a conference in Baghdad, Ali Mohsen Al-Allaq, Governor of the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI), highlighted significant progress in digital payments, citing an increase in ATMs and e-wallets, which helped boost financial inclusion to 40% from 20% in just two years, supported by CBI initiatives. He noted that […]

Iraq's Real Estate Bank Outlines Strategic Plan for 2025

By John Lee. The Real Estate Bank of Iraq has unveiled its strategic plan for 2025, focusing on expanding financial services, digital transformation, and green financing. Director General Abbas Shihab Al-Jawahiri chaired a meeting with department heads, branch managers, and unit officials to review progress in 2024 and set priorities for 2025. According to a […]

Iraq's Central Bank meets with US Treasury, Federal Reserve

By John Lee. The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) has concluded its first quarterly meetings of 2025 with the US Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve Bank, held in Dubai, UAE, with participation from international auditing and consulting firms EY (Ernst & Young), K2 Integrity (K2i), and Oliver Wyman. Key highlights from the meetings included: […]