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"BANK MARKAZI JOMHOURI ISLAMI IRAN" is the central bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Central Bank of Iran (CBI) was established in 1960 (1339 solar year). As stated in the Monetary and Banking Act of Iran (MBAI), CBI is responsible for the design and implementation of the monetary and credit policies with due regard to the general economic policy of the country. Four major objectives of CBI as stated in the MBAI are:
As banker to the government, the CBI is mandated to keep government accounts, grant loans and credits to state enterprises and agencies. The CBI also covers such functions as lending facilities to banks, purchase and sale of government participation papers as well as other legal banking operations. After the Islamic Revolution of Iran laws and regulations pertaining to money and banking institutions and monetary policy design and implementation were amended to reflect the priorities and principles as set out in the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran. At present, CBI is responsible for the design and conduct of monetary policy within the context of governments five year development plan and annual budget. In line with the articles of the constitution, the monetary and credit policies are formulated and implemented in consistent with the MBAI as amended, Usury-Free Banking Act of 1983, the Banks Nationalization Act of 1979, and the Law for the Administration of Banks, of 1979.According to Monetary and Banking Act, the Central Bank is responsible for formulating the monetary and credit system of the country, formulating the regulations pertaining to outflow as well as repatriation of Iranian and foreign currency, foreign exchange transactions, commitments and guarantees with the approval of the Money and Credit Council; formulating the required regulations so as to control gold transactions with the approval of the Board of Ministers, determining the required regulations, approvals and circulars applicable to banks and credit institutions in the framework of the monetary and credit system of the country. Since 2001 the Iranian Government has moved toward liberalising the banking sector, although progress has been slow. In 1994 Bank Markazi (the central bank) authorised the creation of private credit institutions, and in 1998 authorised foreign banks (many of whom had already established representative offices in Tehran) to offer full banking services in Iran's free-trade zones. The Iranian banking systems consist of a Central bank, Commercial government-owned banks and specialized banks, Non-government-owned banks and Gharzolhasaneh Banks. Commercial Government-Owned Banks
Specialized Government-Owned Banks
Non-Government-Owned Banks
Qarz Al-Hasaneh Banks
The Monetary and Banking Act of 1339 (1960) The Monetary and Banking Act of 1351 (1972) The Law on Usury (Interest-Free Banking) (1982) The Law for the Issuance of Participation Papers Source:http://www.cbi.ir/page/GeneralInformation.aspx |

