Iraq Economic News and Points To Ponder Late Wednesday Evening 8-12-26
"My Account" project: Countdown begins for the complete abolition of "cash salaries" in Kurdistan by the end of this month
Erbil (Kurdistan24) - The Kurdistan Regional Government's "My Account" (Hizami Man) financial project team has issued a decisive notice to public sector employees and retirees, announcing that they have only 20 days left to receive their bank cards before cash payments are completely and finally stopped as of August 31, 2026.
The project management statement urged all employees and beneficiaries to expedite the receipt of their cards to avoid delays in the disbursement of their upcoming entitlements, noting that it is possible to verify the card's readiness via text messages (SMS), or applications (Viber and WhatsApp), or by direct inquiry at bank outlets during the current payment period.
Financial inclusion achievement in numbers
Official project data revealed that financial inclusion is nearing completion of all its phases, with the overall rate of employee registration with accredited banks reaching 96% across the region, distributed as follows:
Erbil and Duhok governorates: achieved a record registration rate of 99%.
Sulaymaniyah Governorate: 92% of the total number of employees and beneficiaries were registered.
Expanding the ATM network
As part of strengthening the infrastructure and facilitating cash withdrawals around the clock, the project team confirmed the deployment and equipping of approximately 700 automated teller machines (ATMs) distributed across all cities, districts and sub-districts in the Kurdistan Region.
https://www.kurdistan24.net/ar/story/931812/مشروع-حسابي-بدء-العد-التنازلي-لإلغاء-الرواتب-النقدية-نهائيا-في-كوردستان-نهاية-الشهر-الجاري
Kurdistan Region To Halt Cash Salaries By August 31 Deadline
Daban Mohammed
At a Glance
Cash-based payroll distribution in the Kurdistan Region concludes this month.
The MyAccount project urges 25,000 unregistered employees to expedite their enrollment.
The federal government and the KRG have agreed to terminate cash-based payrolls.
Cash salary distribution for public sector employees will be completely halted in the Kurdistan Region after August 31; approximately 150,000 public sector bank cards have not yet been collected by beneficiaries.
Key Statements and Focus Area
In an official statement, the MyAccount project warned public sector employees that cash salary distribution will no longer be available after August 31 of this year.
Any employee without a bank card will face difficulties receiving their financial dues.
In terms of logistical preparations and distribution status, the MyAccount project management stated that 80,000 finalized bank cards are currently stationed at state-run banks, calling on account holders to collect their respective cards before the end-of-month deadline.
Distribution updates and mandatory pickup schedules specifying the designated holding branch will be communicated exclusively to public sector employees through direct SMS notifications.
For beneficiaries who have not yet received this correspondence, project officials confirmed that automated text alerts will be dispatched incrementally over the next three weeks.
Furthermore, the specialized hotline 1991 has been fully activated as a dedicated customer support center tasked with handling inbound inquiries and resolving individual card issuance issues.
FYI
MyAccount, a digital payroll initiative, was launched by the Kurdistan Regional Government in September 2023 to transition public sector workers from cash payments to electronic bank deposits.
According to the agreement between Erbil and Baghdad, the salary distribution system is shifting, and cash will no longer be disbursed for payroll.
This marks the final deadline for approximately 25,000 employees who have not yet registered in the project.
The project emphasizes that collecting bank cards before August 31 is the only way to protect employees' salaries from being suspended by the federal government. https://channel8.com/english/news/63577
By October 1st, Iraq Will Be Free Of Foreign Military, No Weapons Outside The State Control, Says PM Al-Zaidi
BAGHDAD - INA - 8/12/2026 PM Ali Faleh al-Zaidi and Commander of U.S. Central Command Admiral Charles Brad Cooper confirmed on Wednesday a full and final agreement to end the international coalition's military mission, while stressing that Iraqi-US relations will move towards cooperation and partnership in the economic, development, and security fields.
During the meeting, PM Al-Zaidi reaffirmed the commitment to the agreed timelines, under which September 30 will be the fixed and final date for ending the military mission of the Global Coalition to Defeat Daesh in Iraq and completing the departure of its forces, according to a statement from the PM Media Office, received by the Iraqi News Agency - INA.
“October 1st will mark a new day in the path of the Iraqi state, as Iraq will be free of any foreign military presence, will exercise full national sovereignty over its territory, and will continue building its security and military capabilities, enabling it to protect its security and stability on its own,” he stated.
The Prime Minister called “for adherence to the principles of the Constitution and the fundamental principles upon which the state is founded, safeguarding its supreme interests, and directing the energies of the Iraqi people toward construction, reconstruction, and development. “
“Iraq today needs the efforts of all its people to build a strong economy, a stable state, and a better future for generations to come,” he affirmed.
Al-Zaidi stressed that “confining arms exclusively to state authority, in accordance with the law, protects everyone, strengthens the authority and sovereignty of the state, ensures security and stability, and represents an essential prerequisite for moving Iraq into a new phase of development and prosperity.”
Both sides affirmed their full and final agreement on ending the military mission of the Global Coalition to Defeat Daesh in Iraq, in accordance with what was agreed upon during the Prime Minister’s visit to Washington in mid-July.
They stressed that “Iraqi-U.S. relations will transition toward cooperation and partnership in the economic, development, and security fields, based on mutual respect for sovereignty and the mutual interests of both countries.”