The Reserve Bank of New Zealand has strengthened its liquidity requirements for banks. It will be expensive, but at least they'll be operating on a sounder footing. Writer Michael Imeson

Is a bank website the same as a bank branch? Canada's finance minister thinks so, which means that banks, which are not allowed to sell insurance through branches, are to be banned from selling it online too. Writer Michael Imeson

The next time economic disaster strikes, the EC wants an EU-wide way of dealing with the fallout. But the framework it suggests is highly complex. Writer Michael Imeson

Global regulators are drawing up tougher capital adequacy standards, but German banks do not like what they are seeing. Writer Michael Imeson

By the end of the year, Ireland's government will start buying up €90bn of highly risky land and property loans, much to the relief of the country's struggling banks. Writer Michael Imeson

The EU directive on retail investment funds is being revised – yet again – but the proposals are flawed.

The EU’s Transparency Directive is not functioning properly because most states have failed to implement it, and where it is in force it has been gold-plated to varying degrees.

Banks in South Africa are being forced to open up the payments system to newcomers and slash transaction charges, writes Michael Imeson.