By John Lee. Seven Iraqi banks have been cleared to re-enter non-dollar international correspondent banking channels, following high-level meetings between the governor of the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) and officials at the US Treasury. The meetings followed Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi's official visit to the United States and his meeting with the US President. […]
By John Lee. [Editor's Note: On 26th February, the Central Bank updated the list of banks restricted from dealing in US dollars, apparently to correct an error, without making a new announcement. The list below has been updated accordingly.] The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) has announced updated lists of banks and companies prohibited from […]
By John Lee. A workshop has been held on preparations for the next phase of Iraq's mutual evaluation process on anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CFT) at national and sectoral levels. The event was organised by the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI)'s Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Office, in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior […]
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. US-based consultancy K2 Integrity (K2i) has announced a strategic partnership with state-owned Rafidain Bank, Iraq's largest financial institution, to establish a comprehensive financial integrity program. According to a press release from K2 Integrity, the program will align with international standards of compliance, governance, and risk management. The three-year collaboration marks the beginning of […]
By John Lee. Iraq's Rafidain Bank has signed a professional partnership agreement with U.S.-based consultancy K2 Integrity (K2i), during a ceremony hosted by the Embassy of the Republic of Iraq in Washington. The agreement is grounded in Iraqi Cabinet Resolution No. (23274) of 2023. K2 Integrity will deliver a wide range of services, including anti-money laundering […]
By John Lee. Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) Governor Ali Mohsen Al-Alaq and the CBI's specialist team have met with consultancy firm Oliver Wyman to review the Iraqi Private Banks League's comments on the national banking reform plan. The Governor confirmed that the CBI had completed an in-depth discussion, during which participants showed understanding of […]
From IDG Security: How Do Local Regulations Affect Foreign and Local Businesses Differently in Iraq? Iraq presents a unique and complex environment for businesses, with its blend of immense economic opportunities and intricate regulatory challenges. For foreign investors, understanding how local regulations impact both foreign and local businesses is crucial to navigating this dynamic market. […]
By John Lee. Qi (International Smart Card), Iraq's largest electronic payment platform, has announced that it has entered into a landmark partnership with K2 Integrity (K2i), a US-based global financial integrity and compliance advisory firm. The multi-year collaboration aims to align Iraq's financial infrastructure with international standards in anti-money laundering (AML) and countering the financing […]
By John Lee. The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) has issued new regulations for electronic payment service providers. The 48-page document targets money laundering and terrorist financing. Click here to see the full statement from the CBI [Arabic]. (Source: CBI)
By John Lee. The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) has revoked the licence of Taiba Land Company due to what it describes as violations of Regulation No. (1) of 2022, which governs the operations of exchange and brokerage firms in Iraq. Click here to see the full statement from the CBI. (Source: CBI)
By John Lee. The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) has decided to revoke the licence of Al-Tufan Company for Currency Exchange and Brokerage due to what it describes as violations of Regulation No. (1) of 2022, which governs the operations of exchange and brokerage firms in Iraq. Click here to see the full statement from […]
