By John Lee. The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) has held an expanded meeting in Baghdad with the managing directors of licensed electronic payment service providers operating in Iraq. The meeting was chaired by CBI Governor Ali Mohsen Al-Alaq. According to the Central Bank of Iraq, discussions covered: Technical, administrative, and regulatory challenges facing electronic […]
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. 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 […]
By John Lee. Iraq's Ministry of Electricity has begun the first phase of installing smart electricity meters in selected provinces and areas of Baghdad, alongside activating key electronic payment mechanisms. The ministry said the rollout includes government institutions and has already started in parts of Baghdad, as well as areas of Diyala, Kirkuk, Anbar and […]
By John Lee. The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) has announced the launch of the "Al-Samawal" campaign starting on 1st September 2025, in cooperation with banks and electronic payment service providers, as part of the National Financial Inclusion Strategy (2025-2029). The initiative aims to raise financial awareness, provide free bank account openings for traders and […]
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 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 […]
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 […]
