By John Lee. The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) has issued guidance to licensed banks and non-bank financial institutions clarifying that no distinction should be made between old and new US dollar banknote series in exchange transactions. The Bank stressed the need to limit practices involving differential exchange rates between various US dollar print editions, […]
By John Lee. Rafidain Bank recorded more than IQD 841 billion (approximately USD 641.98 million) in electronic collection settlements on behalf of government entities during January 2026, reflecting continued expansion of digital payment systems. The bank said a total of 73,226 electronic settlements were processed the month, indicating growing adoption of digital collection services. It […]
By John Lee. S&P Global Ratings has affirmed its 'B-' long-term and 'B' short-term foreign and local currency sovereign credit ratings on Iraq. "The outlook is stable," it added. More details, including economic stats, here. (Source: S&P Global Ratings)
From Shafaq. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Liquidity shortfall freezes lending at Iraq's state banks Government lending programs remained suspended on Thursday as Iraq's state-owned banks, most notably Rafidain Bank and Rasheed Bank, continued to halt advances and loans due to […]
By John Lee. State-owned Rafidain Bank has announced the launch of the 50th tranche of its Riyada wa Tamayuz (Entrepreneurship and Excellence) initiative to support small and medium-sized enterprises. The tranche totals IQD 1 billion (approximately USD 0.77 million) and will benefit 82 recipients. According to a statement from the bank's media office, the funding is […]
By John Lee. Discussions have been held on the restructuring of state-owned banks and the insurance sector as part of Iraq's financial reform programme. The meeting took place at the Ministry of Finance under the chairmanship of Minister of Finance Taif Sami Mohammed, with representatives of Ernst & Young, alongside senior officials from the Ministry […]
By John Lee. Iraq's national team and technical committee for sovereign credit ratings have held a joint meeting to discuss mechanisms for improving the country's sovereign and credit rating. The meeting was chaired by the Governor of the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI), Ali Mohsen Al-Alaq, and attended by the Prime Minister's adviser and head […]
By John Lee. The United States and Iraq have held discussions focused on banking reform, financial compliance, and measures to counter illicit financial activity. According to a statement by the United States Special Envoy to Iraq, Mark Savaya, the talks involved the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), […]
By John Lee. The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) reported that total bank credit extended by operating banks increased by 1.88 percent in the third quarter of 2025, reaching 73,942 billion Iraqi dinars (approximately $56.5 billion). This was up from 72,578 billion Iraqi dinars (approximately $55.5 billion) in the same period of 2024. (Source: Central […]
By John Lee. The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) has announced public tender No. 2025/4 for the provision of transport services for staff of its Mosul branch. The contract covers the operation of 18 vehicles on internal and external transport routes, both within and outside the governorate, in line with the bank's standard non-consultancy services […]
By John Lee. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Developmen (EBRD) has launched its first-ever investment in Iraq, providing a US$100 million trade finance facility to the National Bank of Iraq (NBI), the country's largest private bank. The facility, extended under the EBRD's Trade Facilitation Programme (TFP), will support Iraq's import and export activity by enabling […]
By John Lee. Iraq's financial authorities have stressed that developing domestic financial markets is a strategic priority to support economic resilience, investment and long-term growth. At a conference in Baghdad on the future of Iraq's financial markets, Ali Mohsen Al-Allaq, Governor of the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) said rapid global financial and technological shifts […]
