Highlights

• Latvia – euro area leader in the field of modern payment services

  13.11.2018

  Latvia was the first euro area country to introduce instant payments. Currently, those innovative interbank transfers, executed in a matter of seconds and available on any day and at any time of the day, can be used by already over 90% of the customers of Latvian commercial banks. Instant payments that are now available between the customers of the three large commercial banks, AS Citadele banka, AS SEB banka and Swedbank AS. With instant payments continuing to develop, commercial banks and financial sector companies can soon be expected to start offering their customers an option to execute instant payments based on their mobile phone number ; the use of instant payments could be extended to trade and e-commerce in the future.
• Securities totalling 41.7 million euro were purchased under the PSPP in October

  12.11.2018

  In October 2018, implementing the public sector purchase programme (PSPP), Latvijas Banka purchased securities issued by the Latvian government and international organisations located in the euro area amounting to 41.7 million euro. Overall, Latvijas Banka has purchased securities totalling 7 393.9 million euro under the PSPP, including 1 808.4 million euro in 2015, 2 548.9 million euro in 2016, and 2 362.7 million euro in 2017.
• The facade of Latvijas Banka's building coming to life during Staro Rīga 2018 festival

  12.11.2018

  During this year's light festival Staro Rīga 2018, for the first time in the history of the festival, the facade of Latvijas Banka's central building at K. Valdemāra iela 2A will also be illuminated. From 16 November to 19 November 2018, from 5.00 p.m. to 11 p.m., festival visitors will be able to hear and watch one of the stories dedicated to the celebrations of Latvia's centenary projected on Latvijas Banka's building. It will be an emotional and informative message concerning the history, present and future of the Republic of Latvia, its financial system and the national central bank.
• Latvijas Banka announces a Competition of Student Scientific Research Papers

  25.10.2018

  To promote the research and analysis of Latvia's and euro area's macroeconomic issues by involving the most talented young economists in this work, Latvijas Banka announces the annual Competition of Student Scientific Research Papers.