By John Lee. The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) has reportedly ruled that banks may disburse customers' dollar-denominated deposits in cash, effective 15 July 2026. According to the state-run Iraqi News Agency (INA), a CBI circular sets out the following provisions: Banks may continue to open foreign-currency accounts for customers, with customers entitled to withdraw […]
By John Lee. The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) has confirmed that all requests for US dollars from banks and exchange companies have been fully met, covering pilgrims, travellers, and external transfers. The bank stated that authorised exchange companies permitted to sell dollars to travellers and pilgrims are listed on its official website, ensuring regulated […]
By John Lee. Iraq's state-owned Rasheed Bank is preparing to facilitate the sale of US dollars to pilgrims ahead of the upcoming Hajj season. The bank has instructed its branches to implement logistical arrangements, including increasing staffing levels, to ensure efficient processing of expected demand. According to the bank, the measures form part of a […]
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. The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) reported a 5.5 percent decline in currency issued during the third quarter of 2025, falling to 99,681 billion Iraqi dinars (approximately $76.1 billion) from 104,127 billion Iraqi dinars (approximately $79.5 billion) in the same period of 2024. The bank said that a reduction in currency in […]
By John Lee. The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) reported that the value of its gold reserves increased in the third quarter of 2025, rising to 27,552 billion Iraqi dinars (approximately $21.0 billion), up from 16,817 billion Iraqi dinars (approximately $12.8 billion) in the same quarter of 2024. This represents an increase of 64 percent. […]
By John Lee. The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) has said that its monetary policies have pushed inflation to historically low levels, adding that there is no intention to amend the exchange rate of the Iraqi dinar (IQD). In a statement issued on Monday (24th November), the bank rejected rumours of a possible exchange rate […]
By John Lee. The Second Karkh Investigation Court in Baghdad has recovered 2 billion Iraqi dinars [$1.5 million] in connection with a financial fraud case. According to the Supreme Judicial Council, the funds were retrieved from two companies that had illegally profited from discrepancies in the dollar exchange rate through fraudulent foreign transfer operations. The […]
By John Lee. The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) has reported a decline in issued currency, contributing to lower inflation rates and supporting price stability. In the second quarter of 2025, issued currency amounted to 98.4 trillion dinars [$75.1 billion], reflecting a 3.8 percent decrease compared to 102.3 trillion dinars in the same period of […]
By John Lee. The Financial Adviser to the Iraqi Prime Minister, Dr. Mudhhir Mohammed Saleh, has firmly denied social media rumours claiming the destruction of half of Iraq's currency supply - approximately 62 trillion dinars [$47 billion] - as "economically absurd and completely unfounded". In remarks to the state-run Iraqi News Agency (INA), Saleh clarified […]
By John Lee. The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) has held a three-day training workshop in Erbil on the "Core Standards for Detecting Counterfeit Currency," in collaboration with its branch office in the Kurdistan Region. Organised by the CBI's Banking Studies Center, the workshop runs from 1st to 3rd July 2025 and includes participation from […]
By John Lee. Iraq's Second Karkh Investigative Court has recovered 3 billion Iraqi dinars [$2.3 million] in connection with a financial fraud case involving two companies accused of manipulating foreign currency exchange rates through illegal overseas transfers. The companies had allegedly exploited discrepancies in the dollar exchange rate using fraudulent methods to generate profits, in […]
