The National Bank of Angola announced that domestic-currency credit to the economy rose to AOA 7.2 trillion in January, marking an 18.9% increase from January 2025.
The Brazilian Pension Funds Authority (PREVIC) released its first execution report for the 2025 Annual Supervision and Monitoring Programme, detailing 72 inspection procedures across 70 closed pension funds (EFPC) and generating 1,057 supervisory acts. The report highlights a shift to risk-based supervision and segmentation of the supervised population, with 96% of planned procedures executed. Key outputs included 233 determinations, 367 recommendations, and four infringement notices, with ongoing monitoring covering 103 entities and 191 plans.
Argentina’s Superintendency of Insurance has issued circulars detailing registration fees for Insurance Producer Advisers (PAS), PAS companies, and Agentes Institorios. Fees are ARS 33,000 for individual PAS, ARS 132,000 for PAS companies, and ARS 210,000 for Agentes Institorios, with surcharges applied for late payments.
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola urged EU leaders to advance competitiveness measures, emphasizing progress on the Savings and Investments Union and reviewing outdated regulations. She advocated for the "One Europe, One Market" initiative with fixed timelines and full European Parliament involvement. Metsola also highlighted Europe's energy vulnerabilities and geopolitical concerns, including Iran, Gulf attacks, Cyprus, and Russia's war in Ukraine.
The State Bank of Pakistan's Quarterly Report on Payment Systems for Q4 2025 highlights 3.4 billion retail transactions, with 92% via digital channels, totaling PKR 167 trillion. Mobile app payments dominated, accounting for 2.6 billion transactions worth PKR 40 trillion. The Raast Instant Payment System processed 645.7 million transactions valued at PKR 18.5 trillion, with significant person-to-person and person-to-merchant activity.
The Central Bank of Mexico received the Digital Transformation Award 2026 from Central Banking Publications for modernizing its systems with an Autonomous Decentralized Service-Oriented Architecture. This migration enhances the resilience and adaptability of core systems for financial market operations. The bank's efforts align with its mandate to maintain low inflation, promote financial system development, and ensure smooth payment systems.
The Japan Financial Services Agency and the Bermuda Monetary Authority held a bilateral meeting in Tokyo to discuss insurance regulatory and supervisory developments. The meeting addressed key issues from the International Association of Insurance Supervisors, emphasizing the need for enhanced cross-border coordination among national insurance supervisors.
Peru's Superintendency of Banking, Insurance and Private Pension Funds (SBS) and the Metropolitan Municipality of Lima inaugurated the Lima Ahorra fair as part of Global Money Week, focusing on interactive financial education. The event features 31 public and private entities offering activities on saving, financial product use, and financial education talks, under the theme “Let’s talk clearly about money.”
The British Columbia Securities Commission (BCSC) announced that the British Columbia Court of Appeal upheld a Supreme Court order mandating Earle Douglas Pasquill to forfeit payments from two Life Income Fund accounts to the BCSC to settle outstanding sanctions. Pasquill owes CAD 36.7 million, including a CAD 15 million penalty and CAD 21.7 million in ill-gotten gains, with no payments made. The Court also dismissed the BCSC's cross-appeal for a receiver appointment.
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has opened registration for its 2026 in-person workshops for board directors and senior management of national community banks and federal savings associations. The programme includes six full-day workshops on management, risk governance, compliance risk, credit risk, operational risk, and asset management, plus a half-day session on capital markets. Details on the schedule, locations, and costs are available on the OCC’s website.
The Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets has updated benchmark amounts for determining maximum credit in the Caribbean Netherlands, effective 1 April 2026. These benchmarks, reflecting 2025 consumer price index increases, vary by household composition and island, and are used in creditworthiness assessments for mortgages and consumer credit. The updates are incorporated into a revised table in the Financial Markets BES Regulation 2012.
Senator Elizabeth Warren criticized the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs' Basel III proposal, claiming it would weaken safeguards by reducing large banks' loss-absorbing capital. She argued the proposal results from big banks' lobbying and would increase risks by allowing more debt-funded activities, potentially leading to higher payouts for shareholders and executives while reducing small business and family lending.
Senator Elizabeth Warren has requested information from Federal Reserve chair nominee Kevin Warsh about his name in materials released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The inquiry seeks to clarify Warsh's potential interactions with Jeffrey Epstein before his nomination hearing. Warren and other Democrats have also urged delaying Warsh's hearing pending investigations against Federal Reserve officials Jerome Powell and Lisa Cook.
The Central Bank of Brazil released its Financial Stability Research, known as Pesquisa de Estabilidade Financeira (PEF).
The State Bank of Vietnam reported on the National Currency Printing Factory's 2026 workers’ congress, highlighting the completion of the 2025 production plan and setting 2026 priorities on banknote quality, cost control, and modernization. The factory aims to reduce defective output, cut production costs, and advance the NH.09B project for a new plant. Commendations were awarded to factory teams and individuals for their achievements.
The Central Bank of Peru reported a 51.8% year-on-year increase in traditional exports to USD 7,855 million in January 2026, driven by higher prices for gold and copper. Non-traditional exports rose 0.9% to USD 1,976 million, with notable growth in fresh grapes, blueberries, mangoes, and frozen jumbo squid, despite lower export prices. Hydrocarbon exports declined due to reduced volumes and lower prices.
The Bermuda Monetary Authority has introduced a streamlined Approval in Principle process to provide an expedited, conditional pre-approval pathway for establishing new investment funds in Bermuda. Complete applications may receive conditional pre-approval within two to three business days, compared with eight business days for standard review, but this does not constitute registration or authorisation under the Investment Funds Act 2006, and funds may not commence business until formal authorisation is granted and all requirements are met.
The Central Bank of the Republic of Azerbaijan has restricted the insurance operating licence of “AtaSigorta” Open Joint-Stock Company, revoking authorisations for various insurance classes following a voluntary request. The cancellation affects motor liability, property, personal accident, medical, travel, and professional liability insurance. Under Article 105.3 of the Law on Insurance Activity, the restriction prohibits concluding new contracts or extending existing ones for these insurance types.
The Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) warned of fraudsters impersonating regulators, including the OSC, to legitimize unlicensed trading platforms and scams. These schemes involve fake licensing numbers, misuse of OSC branding, and emails impersonating OSC staff, often requesting upfront payments. The OSC emphasized it never solicits funds or promotes investment opportunities and advised verifying suspicious communications through its official website.
FDIC Chairman Travis Hill endorsed two proposals to modernize the capital framework for large banks. The first implements the 2017 Basel agreement with a risk-sensitive "single stack" approach, while the second updates the standardized approach with adjustments to risk weights and operational risk assessments. Hill emphasized the importance of feedback on operational risk simplification and anticipated a swift conclusion post-comment period.
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Federal Reserve, and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency proposed revisions to risk-weighted asset measurement for Category I and II banks and those with significant trading activity. Changes include eliminating internal models for credit risk, revising the standardized approach, and updating methodologies for counterparty credit risk and securitization. The proposal also introduces a standardized approach for operational risk and revises the market risk and credit valuation adjustment frameworks.
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Federal Reserve, and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency proposed revisions to the standardized approach for risk-weighted assets and regulatory capital definitions. Changes include modified risk weights for various exposures, adjustments to counterparty credit risk methodologies, and updates to synthetic risk transactions. The proposal affects Category III and IV banking organizations by including most components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in regulatory capital over a five-year transition.
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) announced proposed rulemaking to modernize the regulatory capital framework, estimating a 6.9% reduction in minimum capital requirements for banks it supervises. The proposals aim to simplify the framework by eliminating multiple risk weight methodologies, addressing complexity issues. The OCC will collaborate with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Federal Reserve in reviewing public feedback.
The Bermuda Monetary Authority has introduced a streamlined Approval in Principle (AIP) process to expedite new investment funds by providing a conditional pre-approval pathway. Complete applications are reviewed within eight business days, while AIP applicants may receive pre-approval in two to three days. The AIP does not equate to registration or authorisation under the Investment Funds Act 2006, and funds must meet all statutory and regulatory requirements before commencing business.
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and Major League Baseball (MLB) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to facilitate cooperation and information exchange on issues like safeguarding the integrity of professional baseball and related prediction markets. This agreement aims to enhance response to incidents and anticipate trends, supporting market integrity and participant protection against fraud and manipulation.
The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) highlighted the "energy revolution" in Governor Antoine’s "Big Push" strategy to double GDP by 2030. Charlin Bodley from the Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy advocated for renewable energy to enhance fiscal space and create jobs. Five conditions for this transition include leadership, strategic planning, an enabling environment, financing access, and human capital development.
The European Banking Authority (EBA) published final draft amendments to its Regulatory Technical Standards, reducing the assessment timeframe for institutions' applications to call, redeem, repay, or repurchase own funds and eligible liabilities from four to three months. This change reflects the EBA's confidence in authorities' ability to complete assessments more efficiently. The amendments also adjust consultation periods and remove certain simplified procedures, aligning with Directive (EU) 2024/1174.
The Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago has launched “Club FINLIT”, a 12‑month pilot financial literacy club for secondary schools under its National Financial Literacy Programme as part of Global Money Week 2026. The initiative targets students aged 13 to 15 in seven schools and includes monthly meetings, competitions, entrepreneurship sessions and leadership roles, with support from partners such as the Trinidad and Tobago Securities and Exchange Commission, the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange and the Deposit Insurance Corporation.
The South African Reserve Bank's Financial Stability Department briefing highlights how global geopolitical risk (GPR) shocks impact small open emerging market economies, affecting sovereign risk premiums and banks' balance sheets. GPR shocks are inflationary, depreciate currencies, weaken demand, and tighten financial conditions. Macroprudential policies stabilize credit and output but create an inflation-output trade-off. Empirical analysis shows a positive relationship between GPR and Emerging Markets Bond Index Global spreads, with significant coefficients for South Africa, Brazil, and India.
The Central Bank of Ireland has issued a warning notice against Suisse Equity, stating it is not authorised to operate as an investment firm or business in Ireland. The notice, published under section 53 of the Central Bank (Supervision and Enforcement) Act 2013, links Suisse Equity to the website suisseequity.com.
The Central Bank of Colombia announced that Bre-B, the country's instant payments system, won a Central Banking Awards 2026 prize for "Payments and market infrastructure development – retail segment." The award recognizes Bre-B's agile implementation, proactive regulation, and effective market adoption, enhancing Colombia's retail payments infrastructure. The system complements high-value payments with a fast, interoperable retail capability, operational since 2025.
The Superintendence of the Securities Market of the Dominican Republic reported significant growth and diversification, with total placements exceeding DOP 3 trillion. Sovereign debt remains dominant, though its market share has decreased to 85%, while corporate bonds and investment funds have increased to 12%. Superintendent Ernesto Bournigal emphasized financial education initiatives and highlighted over DOP 15 billion invested in renewable energy.
The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) held a Beijing roundtable, chaired by Wu Qing, with major institutional investors to discuss capital market development for the 15th Five-Year Plan. Key topics included a market stabilization mechanism with "Chinese characteristics," encouraging medium- and long-term investments, and enhancing investor returns. Proposals also focused on deepening investment-side reforms and improving market inclusiveness and stability.
The Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) will launch a Disgorgement Distribution Program on April 1, 2026, allowing funds from disgorgement orders to be distributed to financially harmed investors. The program introduces eligibility criteria, governance controls, and oversight mechanisms, while investors can still pursue existing recovery avenues. Further details, including eligibility and process information, have been published by CIRO.
The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) launched a pilot project allowing eligible venture issuers on the TSX Venture Exchange Inc. or CNSX Markets Inc. to opt for semi-annual financial reporting under Coordinated Blanket Order 51-933. This exempts them from filing first- and third-quarter reports required by National Instrument 51-102. The CSA plans to use insights from this pilot to develop broader rules on voluntary semi-annual reporting.
SEC Chair Paul S. Atkins outlined an "A-C-T" framework at SEC Speaks, focusing on market-aligned rules, clarifying SEC-CFTC jurisdiction, and transforming regulatory requirements to reduce burdens. He emphasized moving away from "regulation by enforcement" in crypto markets, harmonizing definitions with the CFTC, and revising disclosure and reporting regimes. Atkins invited market feedback on the SEC's token guidance and broader agenda.
National Bank of Moldova on 19 Mar 2026 left the base rate at 5.00 %, overnight lending/deposit rates at 7.00 %/3.00 %, the repo at 5.25 % and reserve ratios at 18 % (MDL) and 26 % (FX), noting February inflation at 5.06 % is within its 5 % ± 1.5 pp target band. The Board warned that Strait of Hormuz–driven energy price rises pose upside risks and said it is ready to tighten if sustained cost pressures trigger second-round effects.
The People's Bank of China held discussions with Hong Kong officials, including Financial Secretary Chen Maobo, on enhancing financial cooperation and connectivity between mainland China and Hong Kong. Key topics included strengthening Hong Kong's offshore renminbi market and its role as an international financial centre.
The India International Financial Services Centres Authority hosted the second IFSCA Talent Summit at GIFT City, focusing on developing a future-ready talent pipeline for GIFT IFSC. The event emphasized global career opportunities, industry-academia collaboration, and the role of foreign universities in education. Key speakers highlighted priorities such as social infrastructure, human resource development, and tax policies for GIFT IFSC.
The India International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) reported non-compliance among capital market intermediaries (CMIs) in the GIFT International Financial Services Centre regarding "substance" requirements. Inspections revealed inadequate infrastructure, absence of key personnel, and conflicts of interest, leading to regulatory action under the IFSCA Capital Market Intermediaries Regulations, 2025. IFSCA advised all CMIs to adhere strictly to the regulations and guidelines.
Czech National Bank held the two-week repo rate at 3.50 %, with the discount and Lombard rates unchanged at 2.50 % and 4.50 % respectively, after the 25 bp repo cut in February 2026; no macro commentary or forward guidance was offered.
Greece's Ministry of National Economy and Finance highlighted Eurogroup President Kyriakos Pierrakakis's statement at the Eurozone Summit, linking the Middle East crisis to rising costs and uncertainty in Europe. The strategy focuses on crisis management and long-term economic strengthening, emphasizing support for households and businesses, removing EU trade barriers, and enhancing the euro's international role. The response will depend on the Strait of Hormuz's closure duration, influencing whether measures are national or European.
European Central Bank left the deposit facility, main refinancing and marginal lending rates at 2.00%, 2.15% and 2.40%, keeping June’s stance while monitoring Middle East conflict risks to inflation and growth. APP and PEPP run-offs continue and staff now forecast headline inflation falling from 2.6% in 2026 to 2.0% in 2027, with the Council staying data-dependent.
The National Bank of Ukraine held its key policy rate at 15 %, postponing the easing outlined in January amid higher energy prices, February inflation of 7.6 % y/y and worsening expectations. Stressing the need to sustain hryvnia demand and reserves of almost USD 55 bn, the NBU signalled it will pause cuts and stands ready to raise rates if external and inflationary pressures grow.
The Bank of Greece released provisional residential property price indices indicating a 7.6% year-on-year increase in apartment prices for Q4 2025, with an average annual rise of 7.8% compared to 9.1% in 2024. New apartments saw a 7.4% price increase, while old apartments rose by 8.1% in 2025. Regional price growth varied, with Athens at 6.2%, Thessaloniki at 9.6%, other cities at 9.8%, and other areas of Greece at 8.8% for the year.
The India International Financial Services Centres Authority hosted the second IFSCA Talent Summit 2026 at GIFT City, focusing on workforce development for the GIFT International Financial Services Centre and positioning it as a hub for international financial services careers. The event emphasised industry–academia collaboration, the role of foreign university branch campuses in providing industry-relevant education, and included announcements on employment initiatives and new programmes. IFSCA Chairperson K. Rajaraman said recommendations from the first summit have been acted upon and ideas from the 2026 edition will also be pursued.
The India International Financial Services Centres Authority published findings from supervisory visits assessing whether Capital Market Intermediaries in the GIFT IFSC maintain adequate on-the-ground substance, identifying multiple non-compliance instances and initiating regulatory action. Issues included closed or unattended offices during business hours, absence or dual-hatting of Principal and Compliance Officers, poor awareness of the regulatory framework, deficient operational infrastructure, remote trading inconsistent with jurisdictional requirements, and conflicts of interest where Compliance Officers also handled trading. The authority reminded intermediaries to ensure substance and strict adherence to the IFSCA Capital Market Intermediaries Regulations, 2025 and related guidance.
The Central Bank of Russia has extended the suspension of money transfers abroad by non-residents from unfriendly states for another six months starting 1 April 2026. This applies to transfers from brokerage and trust management accounts of individuals and legal entities with Russian brokers and trustees. The restrictions, in place since April 2022, aim to ensure financial stability and exclude foreign investors with In-type accounts.
The Central Bank of Russia proposed a draft ordinance to lower local coefficients for compulsory motor third-party liability insurance in the Novosibirsk Region, citing improved anti-fraud measures. Reductions include a decrease from 3.12 to 2.34 for Novosibirsk and similar adjustments for Berdsk, Iskitim, and other localities. The bank will monitor the market, with future decisions contingent on market conditions and anti-misconduct efforts.
The Central Bank of the Republic of Azerbaijan held an expanded Entrepreneurs Cooperation Council meeting to enhance collaboration between the financial sector and entrepreneurs, focusing on improving access to financial services. Discussions included real-sector financing, credit access, SME support, and innovative financial instruments. Chairman Taleh Kazimov emphasized the need for ongoing dialogue and mutual trust to implement initiatives.
IOSCO released a consultation report proposing good practices for OTC commodity derivatives markets to enhance its Principles for Regulation and Supervision. The proposals aim to improve authorities' ability to obtain information, prevent disorderly markets, and respond to disruptions, focusing on data collection, position aggregation, and cross-border cooperation. Feedback will inform a final report offering implementation guidance for IOSCO members.
The International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA) released a whitepaper on regulatory and structural frictions in securities financing transactions (SFTs) during market stress, proposing changes to improve secured funding markets. Recommendations include recognizing cross product netting in the US capital framework, extending the standardized approach for counterparty credit risk (SA-CCR), and revising Basel III liquidity ratios. ISDA also suggests legal and operational alignment through ISDA documentation and the Common Domain Model for harmonized lifecycle event representations.
Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee left Bank Rate unchanged at 3.75 % and kept gilt holdings at GBP 528 bn, following three 25 bp cuts between May and December 2025. Citing conflict-related spikes in energy and commodity prices, the MPC now sees CPI at 3–3.5 % in coming quarters and said it stands ready to act if second-round effects jeopardise the 2 % target.
The Financial Supervisory Authority of Norway released the "Solvency in Norwegian banks as at 31 December 2025" report, part of its series on solvency and liquidity for financial undertakings.
Bank Negara Malaysia reported international reserves of USD 128.1 billion as of 13 March 2026, sufficient to finance 4.7 months of imports and cover 0.9 times total short-term external debt. The central bank clarified that short-term external debt mainly involves resident banks' foreign currency operations and multinational corporations' borrowings, which can be settled from external assets without impacting the reserves.
The Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission has banned Kuo Che-jung, a former Yuanta Securities officer, for four and a half years and fined him $1 million for conducting matched trades in Hang Seng Index options and operating undisclosed accounts. Kuo executed trades favoring his wife's account at Yuanta's expense and concealed his interests with false declarations. The ban is effective from 19 March 2026 to 18 September 2030, with the SFC noting concerns about his fitness and properness.
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) alerted about scams involving fraudulent websites, internet banking login screens, and phishing emails linked to banks like The Bank of East Asia and OCBC Bank (Hong Kong). HKMA emphasized banks won't send messages with transaction hyperlinks or request sensitive information via phone, email, or SMS. Affected individuals should contact their bank and report to the Hong Kong Police Force’s Crime Wing Information Centre.
The National Bank of Moldova issued a unified responsible lending regulation for banks and non-bank credit organisations to protect individuals from over-indebtedness. The regulation aligns approaches between banks and non-bank lenders, ensuring consistent consumer protections and allowing additional income sources like remittances to be considered. BNM analysis shows over 95% of employed individuals can still access zero-interest loans for instalment sales.
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has renewed and expanded its Geographic Targeting Order (GTO) to include more money services businesses (MSBs) in specific southwest border locations, requiring enhanced reporting for cash transactions between USD 1,000 and USD 10,000. The GTO now covers areas in Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas, aiming to aid law enforcement in investigating cartel-linked illicit finance and money laundering. The order is effective from March 7, 2026, to September 2, 2026, with extended filing deadlines for Currency Transaction Reports.
The Taiwan Financial Supervisory Commission published financial examination findings for the second half of 2025 across 12 sectors, highlighting systemic deficiencies in AML/CFT/CPF, customer protection, cyber security, and real estate lending. Issues include weak onboarding and monitoring of high-risk customers, incomplete insurance and ETF disclosures, inadequate controls over personal data and privileged accounts, and insufficient scrutiny of lending to speculators and vacant-land projects. The authority will continue publishing findings and corrective actions to signal priorities and support stronger controls.
The Central Bank of Armenia hosted an International Monetary Fund mission led by Alexander Tieman to review macroeconomic developments and discuss policy issues. Key topics included monetary policy, foreign exchange interventions, and financial sector reforms, such as bank resolution and stablecoin regulation. The meeting also addressed capital market development, risk management, and payment system upgrades.
HM Treasury and the Japan Financial Services Agency released a joint statement summarizing discussions from the fourth UK-Japan Financial Regulatory Forum on 18 March 2026.
The Central Bank of Eswatini warned against Eswatini New Fund Asset Depositor and Green City Developers, citing false claims of a USD 1 billion currency swap and misleading returns. The Bank clarified no agreements exist with these entities and reminded that unlicensed banking is illegal under the Financial Institutions Act, 2005. It is monitoring for breaches and collaborating with regulators and law enforcement.
The Central Bank of the Republic of Azerbaijan released results from a 16 March 2026 attestation for insurance intermediary licensing. Participants must answer 70 test questions correctly to pass, with recorded scores of 52 and 54 points, and two entries without scores.
The National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic fined five exchange bureaus in Bishkek KGS 55,000 each for violating Kyrgyz legislation and National Bank regulations. Additionally, a Kyrgyz citizen was fined KGS 17,500 for unlicensed cash foreign-currency exchange operations in Bishkek.
The Central Bank of Taiwan reported faster year-on-year growth in money supply and credit in February 2026, with M1B and M2 up 7.12% and 5.38% respectively and supported by Lunar New Year-related currency issuance and stronger bank lending and investment. Total outstanding loans and investments of monetary financial institutions rose 1.03% month on month, with annual growth increasing to 7.37%, driven by higher claims on the private sector and government.
The National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic's Naryn regional office conducted a financial literacy lecture at Zh. Mambetov secondary school in Ak-Talaa village. The session covered basic financial literacy, managing credit bans in the Tunduk app, and addressing dropper activity.
The National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic suspended the licence of exchange bureau OsOO “AktilekMik” in Bazar-Korgon, Jalal-Abad region, due to violations of Kyrgyz legislation and the bank's regulatory acts. The suspension is effective from 20 March to 3 April 2026.
The National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic imposed fines of KGS 17,500 each on Kyrgyz citizens E.Ö.T., R.R.S., and T.A.B. for unlicensed cash foreign currency exchange operations in Bishkek.
The Agency for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market of Kazakhstan hosted a forum at Turan University on financial technologies and consumer fraud protection, under the Fingramota.kz project and OECD's Global Money Week. Discussions included personal finance management, fintech solutions, fraud schemes, and the National Bank's Anti-Fraud Center's efforts. The event also featured a financial quiz and a video contest with winning entries showcased nationwide.
The Agency for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market of Kazakhstan urged borrowers to review loan agreements to avoid financial difficulties. Key points include checking loan terms, interest rates, repayment schedules, and understanding penalties and data processing conditions. Borrowers should seek clarification from lenders and recognize the impact of timely repayments on credit history.
The People's Bank of China, led by Governor Pan Gongsheng, outlined its 2026 priorities, maintaining a "moderately loose" monetary policy with targeted financial support and risk mitigation. Strategies include reserve requirement adjustments, bond transactions, and enhanced interest-rate policy supervision to ensure liquidity and stable renminbi exchange rates. The agenda emphasizes structural monetary policy optimization, local government debt risk management, and reforms to strengthen macroprudential frameworks and cross-border financial connectivity.
China's National Financial Regulatory Administration, with other agencies, set 2026 priorities to clean up non-compliant local financial organizations and market misconduct. The program targets microloan, financing guarantee, pawnshops, financial leasing, commercial factoring, and local asset management companies, using public disclosure and withdrawal of qualifications. By 2025's end, these organizations decreased by 26% year-on-year, with over 5,600 non-compliant institutions exited since 2024.
The Swiss National Bank kept its policy rate at 0 % on 19 Mar 2026, maintaining the post-June-2025 stance and signalling greater readiness to intervene in foreign-exchange markets to counter rapid franc appreciation. While energy-linked pressures lifted headline inflation to 0.1 %, the SNB’s conditional forecast remains at 0.5 % for 2026-27 and 0.6 % for 2028, supporting its view that medium-term price stability is intact.
Sveriges Riksbank held the policy rate at 1.75 % and reiterated that it expects to keep it there “for some time”, arguing this stance balances activity support with a return of inflation to the 2 % target amid Middle-East conflict uncertainty. The board noted weaker core inflation but higher energy costs and said it stands ready to adjust policy if the outlook shifts.
The Financial Stability Coordination Council, led by Central Bank of the Philippines Governor Eli M. Remolona, Jr., reaffirmed the strength of the Philippine financial system but stressed vigilance on concentration risks and systemic vulnerabilities. The council noted strong capital and liquidity support banking resilience but expressed concerns over concentrated corporate exposures and rising leverage. It plans to expand surveillance, improve data quality, and enhance oversight, especially for non-bank financial institutions and early intervention frameworks.
The Central Bank of Jordan kept its key rate at 5.75% and left all other policy rates unchanged, saying this supports monetary stability, banking soundness and the dinar’s appeal amid global and regional uncertainty. It underscored solid fundamentals—foreign reserves at USD 28.2 bn (9.9 months of imports), lower dollarisation and 1.11% YTD inflation—and pledged readiness to act if conditions shift.
Payments Canada has approved Meridian Credit Union as its first credit union member following amendments to the Canadian Payments Act, which now allow provincial credit unions to join directly. This membership grants access to policy development and payment expertise, and is a step toward direct participation in Payments Canada systems. Additionally, five new payment service providers were approved as members in January, marking the first wave of new members since the eligibility expansion.
Lithuania's Ministry of Finance and the Bank of Lithuania have developed a supervisory model for the National Development Bank ILTE, incorporating insights from the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The framework applies banking prudential standards with proportionate capital, risk management, governance, and control requirements to enhance risk supervision, transparency, and digital security. A draft law outlining the implementation principles will be submitted for coordination.
The Finnish Financial Supervisory Authority (FIN-FSA) reported that Finland's financial sector remained well-capitalised and solvent in 2025 despite geopolitical and market uncertainties. FIN-FSA supports EU regulatory simplification but warns against compromising resilience and stability, noting a rise in payment fraud. Banking capital ratios improved slightly, while the employee pension sector's solvency capital increased, and insurance sector solvency showed mixed results.
Latvia's Ministry of Finance and the Bank of Latvia have proposed draft laws for public consultation to establish a recovery and resolution framework for insurance and reinsurance undertakings and update the framework for credit institutions and investment brokerage firms. The drafts align with the EU's Directive (EU) 2025/1, enhancing financial stability and policyholder protection while minimizing public sector financial support. The initiative aims to harmonize national regimes and improve crisis management for cross-border insurance groups.
The European Payments Council has issued guidelines recommending a "Federated Approach" to enhance the adoption of the SEPA Request-to-Pay scheme. This approach aims to facilitate a smooth transition for existing intra-community initiatives and ensure cross-community interoperability. Governance of technical and functional components will be standardized, while business aspects remain at the discretion of individual communities.
The Chile Financial Market Commission announced leadership changes with three senior directors stepping down and deputy appointments effective from 20 March. Nicolás Álvarez, Alfredo Pistelli, and Claudia Soriano will assume roles in Market Conduct Supervision, Studies, and the General Legal Directorate, respectively. The CMF described these changes as a leadership renewal to address new priorities and challenges.
Chile’s Financial Market Commission has updated its Mutual Funds Portal with data as of December 2025, showing the industry managing over USD 98 billion and serving more than 3.7 million participants. The portal will be updated quarterly.
Chile's Financial Market Commission announced leadership changes in three General Directorates, effective March 20. Nicolás Álvarez, Alfredo Pistelli, and Claudia Soriano will assume deputy leadership roles in Market Conduct Supervision, Studies, and the General Legal Directorate, respectively. The CMF described these changes as a leadership renewal to address new priorities and challenges.
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand released a Summary of Submissions and Key Decisions from its Liquidity Management Review, confirming weekly full allotment liquidity injections at a fixed spread to the Official Cash Rate. This new Open Market Operations framework, effective 2 April 2026, aims to enhance market liquidity and support financial stability. Additionally, the Committed Liquidity Facility will be operational by December 2028, aligning with the Deposit Takers Act standards.
Chile’s Financial Market Commission has refreshed its Mutual Funds Portal with data as of December 2025, detailing mutual fund profitability, costs, portfolio holdings, and industry activity. The update shows the industry managing over USD 98 billion in investments for more than 3.7 million participants. The portal will be updated quarterly.
At the 21st Capital Markets and Corporate Finance Symposium, CNV chair Roberto E. Silva outlined efforts to modernize and deregulate Argentina's capital markets while ensuring transparency and investor protection. He reported a 90% increase in private financing since 2018 and highlighted initiatives like the Automatic Public Offering framework and crowdfunding proposals. Silva also discussed regulating Labour Assistance Funds and enforcement actions, including sanctions against ALYCs and a cease order against a virtual asset service provider.
The Central Bank of the Philippines hosted its second Iftar in Manila to strengthen partnerships for Shari’ah-compliant finance development. BSP Deputy Governor Lyn I. Javier and Senior Assistant Governor Arifa A. Ala emphasized Islamic finance's role in integrating into the financial system and expanding access to value-aligned products. The BSP highlighted IFCF-led initiatives, including roadshows, sukuk issuances, and licensing of Islamic banking and takaful providers.
The National Bank of the Republic of Tajikistan published results of its 19 March 2026 foreign exchange intervention purchase auction, detailing participation and pricing. Nine participants were filled, with executed request sizes ranging from USD 200,000 to USD 35,000,000 at a weighted average rate of 9.5977 USD/TJS.
The Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission is consulting on allowing government-issued financial instruments to count toward the PHP 10 million portfolio threshold for qualified individual buyers. Existing financial and investment experience requirements would otherwise remain, and comments are due by March 31, 2026.
The Financial Stability Coordination Council affirmed the Philippine financial system’s resilience but warned that concentrated corporate exposures could amplify shocks. It is strengthening surveillance, data quality and oversight while monitoring corporate leverage, consumer credit and housing loans.
Israel's Ministry of Finance announced that its banking reform to enhance market competition, including establishing new small banks, was approved by the Knesset Public Enterprises Committee and awaits further readings in the Knesset plenum. The reform aims to increase competition in retail banking, improve deposit returns, and lower borrowing costs for households and SMEs. An economist estimates potential household savings of at least ILS 4.5 billion annually, with additional measures including a review team for deposit insurance and restrictions on mergers among small banks.
The Bank of Namibia used a staff engagement with Prime Minister Dr. Tjitunga Elijah Ngurare to outline its strategic priorities, including digital transformation, data and artificial intelligence capabilities, and its mandate for monetary and financial stability. It also highlighted the Instant Payment Platform and Digital Public Infrastructure as key projects to expand faster, more secure and more inclusive financial services. The Prime Minister reaffirmed government support and urged financial institutions to address socio-economic pressures through a more inclusive approach.
Central Bank of the Republic of China (Taiwan) kept its discount rate at 2.00% (secured-loan refinancing 2.375%, temporary accommodation 4.25%) while projecting 2026 GDP growth of 7.28% and CPI of 1.80% amid geopolitical and trade uncertainties. The Board also relaxed macro-prudential curbs by raising the loan-to-value ceiling on second-home mortgages to 60%.
The South Korea Financial Supervisory Service released preliminary 2025 data showing an 8.9% decline in net income for credit card companies to KRW2.3602 trillion, while other specialized credit finance companies saw a 43.1% increase to KRW3.5524 trillion. Credit card companies had flat revenues with rising expenses, improved asset delinquency, and increased capital adequacy. Specialized credit finance companies, excluding credit card companies, benefited from revenue growth in leases and securities, with improved delinquency and capital adequacy metrics.
The Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) reported a robust end to 2025 for Hong Kong's capital markets, driven by innovations in listings and digital assets. The SFC highlighted concerns over IPO gatekeeping, with plans for thematic inspections of sponsors following a January circular on deficiencies and misconduct. Hong Kong raised over HKD 280 billion in IPOs, saw significant growth in digital assets and ETFs, and secured its first custodial sentence against an unlicensed finfluencer.
The State Bank of Vietnam held a training conference on Circular 83/2025/TT-NHNN, updating internal control system requirements for banks to align with Basel Committee standards. Effective 1 July 2026, the circular mandates stress testing, a revised "three lines of defence" framework, and enhanced risk data management. The central bank plans to issue further risk governance frameworks and conduct additional training for consistent implementation.
The Thailand Office of Insurance Commission launched the "Warm-hearted Restaurant with Insurance Coverage" project, promoting risk management through labels for restaurants with liability insurance. Businesses receive stickers indicating coverage for third-party injury, property damage, and legal costs, with a "Plus+" label for additional food and beverage service coverage. The initiative collaborates with the insurance industry to support diverse food businesses.
The IMF's end-of-mission statement for the 2026 Article IV consultation with Solomon Islands projects growth slowing to 2.7% and inflation averaging 4.8%. Urgent priorities include fiscal consolidation, realistic budgeting, enhanced tax enforcement, and maintaining the fixed exchange rate regime. The financial sector is sound, but legislative upgrades and improved governance are needed, alongside addressing fiscal reporting delays and climate-related debt pressures.