Making Remittances Work

Making Remittances Work

Author: Emiko Todoroki

Publisher: World Bank Publications

Published: 2014-06

Total Pages: 267

ISBN-13: 1464801096

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Migrant workers routinely send small sums back to their families -- often a crucial lifeline for their survivial. But sending money across countries for these low income people is not easy and often very expensive and risky. Better regulation and supervision of these payment channels can make the process easier to access and more secure.


Reference Guide to Anti-money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism

Reference Guide to Anti-money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism

Author: Paul Allan Schott

Publisher: World Bank Publications

Published: 2006

Total Pages: 296

ISBN-13:

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Efforts to launder money and finance terrorism have been evolving rapidly in recent years in response to heightened countermeasures. The international community has witnessed the use of increasingly sophisticated methods to move illicit funds through financial systems across the globe and has acknowledged the need for improved multilateral cooperation to fight these criminal activities. The World Bank and International Monetary Fund have developed this guide to help countries understand the new international standards. It will hopefully serve as a comprehensive source of practical information for countries to fight money laundering and terrorist financing. It discusses the problems caused by these crimes, the specific actions countries need to take to address them, and the role international organizations, such as the Bank and the IMF, play in the process. This guide is a tool for countries to establish and improve their legal and institutional frameworks and their preventive measures according to international standards and best practices. -- From Foreword (p. ix).


Preventing Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing

Preventing Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing

Author:

Publisher: World Bank Publications

Published: 2009

Total Pages: 304

ISBN-13: 0821379135

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"Money laundering and terrorist financing are serious crimes that affect not only those persons directly involved, but the economy as a whole. According to international standards, every bank has the obligation to know its customers and to report suspicious transactions. Although these obligations sound straightforward, they have proved challenging to implement. What information precisely has to be gathered? How should it be recorded? If and when does one have to file a suspicious transaction report? It is here that a supervisor can play a crucial role in helping supervised institutions; first, in understanding the full extent of the obligations of Customer Due Diligence and Suspicious Transaction Reports (STR) and, second, in ensuring that those obligations are not just words on paper but are applied in practice. Effective supervision is key to the success of a country's AML/CFT system. In this regard, field work in both developed and developing countries has shown an overall low compliance in the area of supervision of banks and other financial institutions; supervisory compliance is indeed generally lower than the average level of compliance with all Financial Action Task Force recommendations. As a result, by providing examples of good practices, this book aims to help countries better conform to international standards. In this regard, this handbook is specifically designed for bank supervisors.


FinTech in Sub-Saharan African Countries

FinTech in Sub-Saharan African Countries

Author: Mr.Amadou N Sy

Publisher: International Monetary Fund

Published: 2019-02-14

Total Pages: 61

ISBN-13: 1484385667

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FinTech is a major force shaping the structure of the financial industry in sub-Saharan Africa. New technologies are being developed and implemented in sub-Saharan Africa with the potential to change the competitive landscape in the financial industry. While it raises concerns on the emergence of vulnerabilities, FinTech challenges traditional structures and creates efficiency gains by opening up the financial services value chain. Today, FinTech is emerging as a technological enabler in the region, improving financial inclusion and serving as a catalyst for the emergence of innovations in other sectors, such as agriculture and infrastructure.


The Withdrawal of Correspondent Banking Relationships

The Withdrawal of Correspondent Banking Relationships

Author: Mrs.Michaela Erbenova

Publisher: International Monetary Fund

Published: 2016-06-30

Total Pages: 42

ISBN-13: 1498336531

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This paper focuses on the withdrawal of correspondent banking relationships (CBRs) in some jurisdictions post-global financial crisis. It describes existing evidence and consequences of the withdrawal of CBRs and explores drivers of this phenomenon drawing on recent surveys and select country information. While the withdrawal of CBRs has reached a critical level in some affected countries, which can have a systemic impact if unaddressed, macroeconomic consequences have not been identified so far at a global level. The paper presents responses from the international community to address this phenomenon, and explains the role that the IMF has been playing in this global effort, especially with regards to supporting member countries in the context of surveillance and technical assistance, facilitating dialogue among stakeholders, and encouraging data gathering efforts. The paper concludes by suggesting policy responses by public and private sector stakeholders needed to further mitigate potential negative impacts that could undermine financial stability, inclusion, growth and development goals.


The Promise of Fintech

The Promise of Fintech

Author: Ms.Ratna Sahay

Publisher: International Monetary Fund

Published: 2020-07-01

Total Pages: 83

ISBN-13: 1513512242

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Technology is changing the landscape of the financial sector, increasing access to financial services in profound ways. These changes have been in motion for several years, affecting nearly all countries in the world. During the COVID-19 pandemic, technology has created new opportunities for digital financial services to accelerate and enhance financial inclusion, amid social distancing and containment measures. At the same time, the risks emerging prior to COVID-19, as digital financial services developed, are becoming even more relevant.


Oversight Issues in Mobile Payments

Oversight Issues in Mobile Payments

Author: Tanai Khiaonarong

Publisher: International Monetary Fund

Published: 2014-07-15

Total Pages: 35

ISBN-13: 1498331572

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This paper examines oversight issues that underlie the potential growth and risks in mobile payments. International experience suggests that financial authorities can develop effective oversight frameworks for new payment methods to safeguard public confidence and financial stability by establishing: (i) a clear legal regime; (ii) proportionate AML/CFT measures to prevent financial integrity risks; (iii) fund safeguarding measures such as insurance, similar guarantee schemes, or “pass through” deposit insurance; (iv) contingency plans for operational disruptions; and (v) risk controls and access criteria in payment systems. Such measures are particularly important for low-income countries where diffusion is becoming more widespread.


Gibraltar

Gibraltar

Author: International Monetary Fund

Publisher: International Monetary Fund

Published: 2007-05-21

Total Pages: 203

ISBN-13: 1451815085

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Gibraltar’s Detailed Assessment Report on Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Combating the Financing of Terrorism is reviewed. The principal AML risk to Gibraltar is lodged in its professional sector, which is likely to be involved in the layering and integration of proceeds of crime. There is also some risk to Gibraltar at the placement stage, in connection with drug trafficking, migrant smuggling, and organized crime in southern Spain. The Financial Services Commission in Gibraltar has established a strong, risk-based framework for financial institutions for AML.


Fintech and Financial Inclusion in Latin America and the Caribbean

Fintech and Financial Inclusion in Latin America and the Caribbean

Author: Mr. Dmitry Gershenson

Publisher: International Monetary Fund

Published: 2021-08-20

Total Pages: 77

ISBN-13: 1513592238

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Despite some improvement since 2011, Latin America and the Caribbean continue to lag behind other regions in terms of financial inclusion. There is no clear evidence that fintech developments have supported greater financial inclusion in LAC, contrary to what has been observed elsewhere in the world. Case studies by national policy experts suggest that barriers to entry in the financial sector, along with a constraining regulatory environment, may have hindered a faster adoption of fintech. However, fintech development seems to have accelerated in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and with the support of recent policy initiatives.