Tag Archives | digital payments

CBI Pushes E-Payment Firms on Digital Expansion

By John Lee. The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) has held a meeting with licensed electronic payment companies in Iraq to advance the development of the national payments system and promote financial inclusion. According to the CBI, the governor emphasised that e-payment firms must raise the quality, efficiency, and reliability of their services to build […]

Digital IQD Proposal targets $7-12bn Economic Gains

By Hayder Aziz. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Cylinder Seal: A Sovereign Digital Currency Engine for Iraq's Non-Oil Economy Abstract Iraq's economy faces a deeply interconnected set of problems: a vast informal workforce invisible to the financial system, a crushing 14:1 […]

Retail E-Payments via Local Cards Rise in Q3 2025

By John Lee. The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) reported that retail electronic payments using local cards increased in the third quarter of 2025 to 2,984,232 million Iraqi dinars (approximately $2.28 billion), up from 2,111,296 million Iraqi dinars (approximately $1.61 billion) in the same period of 2024. The bank noted that this growth supports financial […]

Iraqi Payments Council Reviews e-Payments Adoption

By John Lee. The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) chaired the latest meeting of the Iraqi Payments Council to review progress in adopting electronic payment systems across government institutions and the private sector. The meeting discussed the procedures and mechanisms used by ministries and public sector bodies to implement e-payment technologies, the level of progress […]

CBI to Improve Payment Systems

By John Lee. The Governor of the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) and Chairman of the Iraqi Payments Council, Mr. Ali Mohsen Al-Allaq, chaired the regular meeting of the National Payments Council at the Bank's headquarters. The meeting was attended by Council members, including senior officials from the Central Bank, representatives of ministries and government […]

CBI launches Inter-Wallet Money Transfers

By John Lee. The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) has announced the launch of inter-wallet money transfer services, enabling individuals and businesses to conduct financial transactions with greater speed and flexibility. The new services include: Inter-wallet transfers between verified permanent wallets across different service providers. Inter-wallet transfers from verified permanent wallets to merchant wallets across […]

Dollar Transfers from Iraq: JP Morgan awards TBI

By John Lee. The Trade Bank of Iraq (TBI) has been awarded the "STP Excellence in Payments and Transfers" award from JP Morgan, recognizing the bank's commitment to efficient and sustainable direct payment practices. According to a statement from TBI, the award highlights its high efficiency in processing financial transactions, particularly in direct financial transfers […]

Iraq Launches Permanent Council for Private Sector Development

By John Lee. Prime Minister Mohammed S. Al-Sudani has launched the operations of the Permanent Council for the Development of the Private Sector in Iraq. The initiative aims to strengthen the role of the private sector in the national economy and address key legislative and institutional barriers. Prime Minister Al-Sudani highlighted the Council's responsibility to […]

Iraqi PM Launches Ambitious Banking Sector Reform

By John Lee. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al-Sudani addressed the Conference on Reforming the Iraqi Banking Sector on Monday, outlining an ambitious agenda to modernise Iraq's financial infrastructure and promote sustainable economic development. Key initiatives and achievements highlighted in the Prime Minister's address include: Implementation of a three-year national budget, enabling long-term planning and strategic […]

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 […]