Iraq Economic News And Points To Ponder Monday Evening 4-13-26
The Iraqi Banking Sector Is At A Crossroads… Either Reform Or Forced Merger
April 13, 2026Last updated: April 13, 2026
The Iraqi banking sector stands at a pivotal moment in 2026 that could completely reshape its landscape, amid mounting internal pressures and escalating external challenges related to international compliance, the flow of the dollar, and its relationship with the global financial system. Between talk of structural reforms and more stringent options that may include mergers or closures, the banking landscape in Iraq appears poised for profound changes that extend beyond the purely technical to encompass broader economic and political dimensions.
Iraq has more than 75 banks, including government, private, and foreign institutions, but actual activity is concentrated in a limited number of them. Government banks hold the largest share of deposits and transactions related to government salaries and public spending. In contrast, private banks face increasing challenges related to liquidity, compliance, and foreign exchange requirements, especially after the tightening of controls on dollar transactions in recent years.
Financial sources indicate that the Central Bank of Iraq is considering several avenues for restructuring the sector, ranging from tightening solvency and compliance standards and mandating mergers between small and weak banks, to potentially revoking the licenses of institutions unable to adapt to the new standards. These steps, if implemented, would effectively mean a shift from a phase of "gradual reform" to a more profound restructuring that may be imposed by the realities on the ground.
The exchange rate remains at the heart of this equation. The gap that has emerged between the official and parallel market rates in recent years has presented monetary policy with a significant challenge, especially given the Iraqi economy's near-total dependence on dollar-denominated oil revenues. Any disruption to the flow of hard currency or to the external transfer mechanism is immediately reflected in imports, prices, and market confidence.
The future of the foreign currency auction window remains one of the most sensitive issues. This mechanism, which for years served as a primary tool for supplying the market with dollars, is now subject to rigorous scrutiny, amid discussions about restructuring it to align with international standards for combating money laundering and terrorist financing. Restructuring this window effectively means changing the way private banks, money transfer networks, and foreign trade operate.
The biggest challenge is not limited to regulatory aspects, but extends to a crisis of confidence. A large segment of the Iraqi population still prefers to keep cash outside the banking system, due to past experiences, withdrawal restrictions, and weak digital services. Unofficial estimates indicate that a significant portion of the circulating cash does not pass through banking channels, limiting the central bank's ability to manage liquidity effectively.
In the background, integration with the global financial system stands out as a crucial test. Fully reintegrating Iraqi banks into international banking networks requires rigorous transparency standards, modernized compliance systems, and a rebuilding of trust with global financial institutions. Without this, the sector will remain vulnerable to restrictions, sanctions, or partial isolation.
Based on these facts, Iraq appears to face only two options: either to proceed with gradual reforms that calmly restructure the sector and gradually restore confidence, or to confront a scenario of mergers and coercive measures imposed by financial and regulatory pressures. In either case, this year could represent a turning point in the history of the Iraqi banking system, where the question is no longer whether change will occur, but how, when, and at what cost. https://mustaqila.com/القطاع-المصرفي-العراقي-عند-مفترق-طرق/
Iraq Has Fallen Out Of The Economic Equation... Huge Reserves With No Trace, And The Dinar Faces Ongoing Challenges
Baghdad Today – Baghdad Economic expert Duraid Al-Anzi confirmed on Wednesday (April 8, 2026) that Iraq’s gold reserves do not play a direct role in improving the performance of the local economy, noting that they are effectively isolated within the management of the Central Bank and are used primarily to enhance its international standing.
Al-Anzi explained in a statement to “Baghdad Today” that Iraq possesses one of the most prominent gold reserves in the Arab world, and occupies advanced positions compared to a number of countries, but this has not been reflected in its credit rating, which is still within the (B) category, reflecting a clear gap between the size of the reserve and the overall economic performance.
He explained that owning gold gives the Central Bank of Iraq financial strength, and may indirectly support the dinar within the local market, but it has not succeeded in strengthening the position of the Iraqi currency globally, as the dinar is still among the weakest currencies, and the effect of the reserve is limited to achieving limited internal stability.
He pointed out that the relationship between the government and the central bank is governed by a strict legal framework that prevents the use of reserves, whether gold or cash, to finance the deficit or support the budget, except in exceptional cases that require special legislation, such as severe crises related to the cessation of oil revenues.
He added that the dollar reserve, which exceeds $100 billion and is deposited with international financial institutions, is subject to strict restrictions and controls, and cannot be used freely to address internal crises, which reduces the government's ability to rely on it as a direct solution.
He stressed that addressing the financial crises in Iraq cannot rely on cash or gold reserves, but requires activating internal revenues such as taxes, customs and fees, in addition to combating corruption and reducing financial waste, noting that there are internal files that can contribute to solving the crisis within a short period if they are managed seriously.
Al-Anzi cited the experiences of countries such as Lebanon, Turkey and Iran, which have large gold reserves, but at the same time suffer from severe monetary crises, which confirms that gold does not represent a direct solution to economic crises.
He added that the impact of Iraq’s gold reserves remains symbolic and indirect, and cannot be relied upon as a tool to address financial or monetary crises, considering that employing it in this way is not in line with sound economic principles.
The economies of countries, including Iraq, rely on a mix of financial and monetary tools to achieve stability. Gold reserves are one element of financial strength, but they are often used as currency cover or to boost international confidence, rather than as a direct tool for addressing crises.
Given the Iraqi economy's heavy reliance on oil revenues, challenges remain in diversifying income sources and strengthening non-oil sectors, meaning any decline in oil prices or revenues will directly impact financial stability. https://baghdadtoday.news/296735-.html
The Reconstruction And Development Coalition: There Is A Possibility That Al-Sudani Will Be Tasked With Forming The New Government Within The Next 48 Hours
Baghdad – One News 4/13/2026 The Reconstruction and Development Coalition confirmed the possibility of assigning its leader, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, the task of forming the new Iraqi government within the next 48 hours.
A leader in the coalition said that the Reconstruction and Development bloc is strongly putting forward the coalition’s leader, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, as a candidate to form the next Iraqi government. Al-Sudani currently has a very large majority within the coordination framework, as there are more than 9 leaders of the framework who support al-Sudani and his renewal for a second term.
He indicated that at the national level, outside the coordination framework of other Iraqi political parties, there is support from a majority of those parties for Al-Sudani to be tasked with forming the new government.
He added that the Sudanese candidate is the best option in light of the challenges facing Iraq, which needs to form a government with broad political support capable of overcoming all the crises the country is going through.
https://1news-iq.net/ائتلاف-الإعمار-والتنمية-هناك-إمكانية/
Iraq’s Premiership: Al-Maliki Signals Willingness To Drop In Exchange For Blocking Al-Sudani
2026-04-13 Shafaq News- Baghdad Nouri al-Maliki, head of the State of Law Coalition, has told Coordination Framework leaders he is willing to withdraw his candidacy for prime minister on the condition that incumbent PM Mohammed Shia al-Sudani is not nominated for a second term, a source told Shafaq News Monday.
Read more: Iraq Government Formation: The Constitution that cannot enforce its own deadlines
Al-Maliki also stipulated that no figure who previously served as prime minister be nominated, a condition, the source pointed out, understood by other figures, to target Haider al-Abadi, leader of the al-Nasr Coalition, who previously served as prime minister from 2014 to 2018 during the war against ISIS.
According to the source, several names are under consideration for the post, though no candidate has been finalized, and today’s Coordination Framework meeting is expected to discuss al-Maliki's conditions and examine alternative candidates.
The source noted that PMF (Popular Mobilization Forces) leadership is expected to play a role in determining the final nominee, and that the meeting may not produce a conclusive decision, with a final choice potentially deferred to a subsequent session.
Read more: Nouri Al-Maliki’s return rekindles Iraq’s divisions as Iran and the US pull apart
The Reconstruction and Development Coalition (Al-Ima'ar wal-Tanmiya) confirmed Monday it is strongly pushing its leader, al-Sudani, as its candidate to form the next Iraqi government, with a decision potentially expected within 48 hours.
The Coordination Framework, which holds the largest bloc in parliament, was formally tasked by the Speaker of the Council of Representatives on April 11 to nominate a prime ministerial candidate within 15 days. Once a candidate is approved, the designated premier has 30 days to present a cabinet and secure a parliamentary confidence vote, in accordance with Article 76 of the Iraqi constitution.
Read more: Al-Maliki sounds different this time — the world is not convinced yet