Baghdad’s central exchanges registered a rate of 1,401 IQD per $1. Earlier in the day, the rate stood at 1,403
In local currency exchange shops across Baghdad, the dollar was selling at 1,400 IQD and buying at 1,390 IQD per $1.
In Erbil, the dollar was selling for 1,397 IQD and buying for 1,396 IQD per $1.
If you are New Here welcome and I have the best followers, they rock: Just know the parallel Market rate must be the same as the CBI's offical rate 1,320 for Iraq to revalue their currency. The Central Bank's plans to unify the two dollar exchange rates gradually in the second half of 2025
Gradual unification aims to minimize economic shocks, stabilize inflation, and restore confidence in the Dinar currency.
Parliamentary Finance Committee: OPEC informed SOMO that 280,000 barrels smuggled from the region are counted against Iraq's share.
The head of the Parliamentary Finance Committee, MP Atwan al-Atwani, confirmed on Friday that OPEC informed the State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) that approximately 280,000 barrels of oil smuggled daily from the Kurdistan Region are counted as part of Iraq's quota.
Al-Atwani said in a televised interview followed by ( IQ ):
"The region is smuggling oil and exporting about 280,000 barrels per day in an undeclared manner. A message arrived from OPEC to SOMO stating: 'We are receiving oil from your side. It is true that it is not in your name, but it is your oil.' It is estimated at about 280,000 barrels per day."
The MP pointed out that "our share has been reduced. We are now exporting about 3.2 million barrels per day, but this smuggled oil from the region is counted within the amount allocated to Iraq, and therefore is considered part of the revenue reduction link
...As investors in the dinar, we have to fully understand here what is going on and stop wishing on a rainbow for the RV...it is coming and sooner than you think, I assure you! ...
When the time is ready for the reinstatement it will kick off with the Project to Delete the Zeros, then monitor for inflation and then if all goes well they will move to reinstate the dinar back to FOREX..
Today’s articles once again only confirm what I have been hearing from my CBI contact and what other past articles have told us...
Since 2011 there was a vision developed for Iraq and it took years to push Iraq in the direction needed, if they ever wanted to get their currency back. But this is the time and we are watching this vision play out...
Even though the vision for Iraq has changed since the Dr. Shabibi time, the process to move the currency back to FOREX has not.
Has The Central Bank Destroyed The Private Banking Sector In Iraq Forever?
A dysfunctional banking sector in an oil country July 17, 2025 Last updated: July 17, 2025
Al-Mustaqilla / Investigative Report / - Although Iraq possesses vast oil wealth, its banking sector remains primitive, lacking depth and reliability. This is clearly demonstrated by the weakness of financial inclusion, with only 19% of citizens owning a bank account, one of the lowest rates in the region.
This weakness reflects a profound structural flaw in the relationship between citizens and banks and raises fundamental questions about the effectiveness of monetary policies and banking supervision in Iraq.
Controversial Monetary Policies
In recent years, the Central Bank of Iraq has pursued erratic monetary policies, most notably uncontrolled monetary expansion.
The money supply increased from 46 trillion dinars to more than 100 trillion dinars in just two years, without corresponding real economic growth.
This led to inflation exceeding 7.5%,prompting the Central Bank to raise interest rates to 7.5% before later reducing them to 5.5%, a move that had no tangible impact on the market.
Furthermore, a large gap remained between the interest rate on loans, which exceeds 10%, and the interest rate on deposits, which barely reaches 7%, deepening citizens' reluctance to deposit and weakening banks' ability to provide financing.
Out-Of-System Criticism And Loss Of Trust
The problem lies not only in policies, but also in the grim reality that the vast majority of cash in circulation is outside the banking system.
This massive leakage weakens banks' ability to perform their role as financial intermediaries and reflects a genuine crisis of confidence between citizens and banks.
Following banking bankruptcy scandals, the dominance of partisan figures in some private banks, declining services, and the absence of any effective deposit insurance system, citizens have come to view banks as a threat rather than a refuge.
Consumer Loans Without Real Development
One of the most notable failures is that most of the loans granted by banks in recent years have been directed toward consumption, not production.
Car financing, personal loans, and installments for recreational purposes have gone unmet, with no real focus on supporting productive projects or small businesses.
This has led to increased speculation in the real estate market and rising land prices, without any real production or job creation. Instead, it has led to population growth and urbanization without a corresponding economic structure.
Government Monopoly And Administrative Laxity
The Iraqi banking sector revolves around Rafidain and Rashid Banks, which control most of the sector's assets.
However, their performance is weak, their administrative structures are clearly lax, and their branches are not electronically connected and lack a modern technical infrastructure.
Meanwhile, the Central Bank has failed to develop a strict regulatory framework or impose governance on bank boards of directors,
allowing small financial institutions to operate outside regulatory control for many years.
Currency Window As An Entry Point For Money Laundering
One of the most dangerous tools that contributed to undermining the banking system is the foreign exchange window.
The central bank sells dollars at the official rate to private banks, then resells them on the parallel market at a significant profit margin.
This mechanism provided an ideal environment for money laundering and smuggling abroad, exploiting weak banking oversight and duplicate names and documents in transfer requests.
Many banks exploited these differences to make illicit profits, and some had their licenses later revoked following international intervention.
International Sanctions Indicate A Defect
Beginning in 2022, the United States began imposing a ban on a number of Iraqi banks from dealing in dollars due to suspicions of suspicious transfers and money laundering.
The list was later expanded to include new banks, disrupting a significant portion of foreign trade and remittance operations and negatively impacting the Central Bank of Iraq's credibility with international institutions and correspondent banks.
Banking Licenses Without Clear Controls
In recent years, the Central Bank of Iraq has granted unprecedented numbers of new banking licenses, bringing the number of private banks to over 70, without any economic justification or genuine assessment of market needs.
This quantitative expansion has come at the expense of quality and oversight, contributing to the fragmentation of the banking market and the creation of fragile entities, both financially and administratively weak, often exploited as fronts for partisan agendas or foreign interests.
Negligence Of Banking Sovereignty
Although the Private Banking Law clearly sets a maximum foreign ownership limit in Iraqi banks, not exceeding 25%, the Central Bank has unjustifiably overlooked this restriction.
Foreign financial institutions have been allowed to own significant stakes in a number of banks, either directly or through local front companies.
This has led to an imbalance in the ownership structure and created external financial dependency that threatens Iraq's economic decision-making and undermines the independence of the national banking system.
Bleeding Profits Abroad Without Investment
In a dangerous precedent, the Central Bank allowed bank managements—most of which are owned by foreign institutions—to transfer more than 75% of their annual profits abroad in the form of dividends, without requiring them to reinvest a portion of these profits within the Iraqi market.
This behavior violates the most basic rules of development banking and should have been countered by clear measures compelling these banks to develop their services, strengthen their capital, or contribute to national investment projects, rather than becoming mere channels for transferring hard currency abroad.
Urgent International Advice For Reform
Several international institutions, including the US Treasury, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank, have made clear recommendations.
Prominent among them are: stricter compliance with anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing laws, enhanced transparency in dollar transactions, strengthened internal and external oversight of banks, reviewed asset quality, and modernized the sector's digital infrastructure.
These institutions also called for raising minimum bank capital and merging or liquidating distressed banks to create a more robust system.
Direct Responsibility Of The Central Bank
The Central Bank is not only a neutral supervisory body; it is also a genuine partner in the crisis.
It has allowed the currency window to continue despite its risks, failed to require banks to adhere to international governance standards, been lax in enforcing controls on foreign ownership, and failed to establish an effective legislative framework to protect depositors or regulate the banking structure.
Its responsibility is not merely technical, but also ethical and institutional in the face of an economy being drained.
The Opportunity For Reform Still Exists.
Despite the bleak outlook, there is still a chance to save the Iraqi banking system.
This requires political and professional will, beginning with legislative reform, imposing strict oversight, enhancing transparency, and cooperating with international institutions to restore confidence.
There can be no real development without a strong banking sector, and no successful banking sector without an independent and effectivecentral bank that understands that it is not just a guardian of liquidity, but also a stabilizing force. https://mustaqila.com/القطاع-المصرفي/
Tony says, in the mosques today in Iraq, they were told a big announcement was being made today. This evening they were told the new economy will begin in the morning, their world will change.
"This is what we've been waiting for."
Tony talked to a lot of people. A lot is happening. Bank people are on standby or notified they will be working tomorrow. Some are not. The banks say they are waiting for an announcement to release. Tony thought this would be between 3 and 5 but now it might be in the morning.
From the 3-letter agencies, he was told the announcement was to be made upon signing of the Genius Bill. Now waiting for the Secretary of the Treasury to make an announcement TODAY.
All banks are waiting, prepared, with this showing on Bloomberg and other screens. Therefore an unnecessary precaution to wait until Sunday. So it should be any moment, waiting to go. Waiting on the Treasury Secretary. Will it be one of their regular emails? Something on CNN? Tony doesn't know.
Ray said something about 8 a.m. Iraq time, Tony laughed! When they wake up, it will be a new world. It didn't mention purchasing power but we know what that is. Their typical day starts at that time. Tomorrow is the first day of business. They are 7 hours ahead of EST/DST. It should start before they go to their markets, which is around 5:00 a.m. So, in another 2 or 3 hours.
The Treasury Secretary announcement will be to the banks. The rate is out there. Iraq made its announcements. There is nothing more to do. People do not think this will extend past this weekend.
Tony is waiting for the 800 numbers. The people sending them to him have said it is all done, which we've heard before, we're just waiting. All banks are waiting to be given the green light.
Could they have posted the rate on Forex just before it closed, to make small banks comfortable? Or will they wait until Forex opens on Sunday? The next 3 hours will tell whether we go today or Sunday.