Also known as: Sarb
Central bank responsible for SADC regional payment system and cross-border financial cooperation with Namibia's central bank.
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The Namibian
South African Reserve Bank has started working with blockchain technology to create a decentralised ledger for bank transactions
“Barclays, one of the oldest and arguably most visionary banks to date, has already implemented this technology in its system, and even the South African Reserve Bank has started working with it to create a relatively decentralised ledger that keeps track of all transactions between banks in South Africa.”
The Future of the Internet – Economic DemocracyThe Bank of Namibia has lowered its 2026 economic growth forecast to 2.1%, down from its June projection and below the government's 3.1% target, citing sluggish mining, manufacturing, electricity and transport activity. The central bank held its repo rate at 6.75% in August as headline inflation plateaued at 4.4%, with foot-and-mouth disease and El Niño now identified as emerging risks.
1 September 2026 · Informanté →
The Bank of Namibia has lowered its 2026 economic growth forecast to 2.1%, down from its June projection and below the government's 3.1% target, citing sluggish mining, manufacturing, electricity and transport activity. The central bank held its repo rate at 6.75% in August as headline inflation plateaued at 4.4%, with foot-and-mouth disease and El Niño now identified as emerging risks.
1 September 2026 · Informanté →
Capital outflows from Namibia to South Africa fell to about N$10 billion year-to-date, down from N$18 billion in the corresponding period last year, Bank of Namibia governor Ebson Uanguta said. The central bank is monitoring the interest rate differential with South Africa, warning that a widening gap could increase capital outflows and pressure the country's foreign reserves and currency peg.
14 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The International Monetary Fund says Namibia's 1.7% economic growth in 2025 is too weak to meaningfully reduce unemployment, inequality and poverty, with growth expected to reach only 2.1% in 2026. The IMF attributes subdued performance to a narrow production base concentrated in public and extractive sectors, weak diamond production, declining gold output, and elevated fuel prices.
11 August 2026 · The Namibian →
The International Monetary Fund has raised concerns over Namibia's growing public debt in its 2026 Article IV consultation report and recommended that the government cut the wage bill, cautioning that rising debt levels and increased government financing needs could push up borrowing costs, weaken investment, and put pressure on the country's financial system.
8 August 2026 · The Namibian →
The South African Reserve Bank and Banco Nacional de Angola have formally introduced the Angolan kwanza as a settlement currency in the SADC real-time gross settlement system, which has settled transactions exclusively in South African rand since 2013. The addition aims to reduce cross-border transaction costs and supports regional financial integration efforts.
31 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Bank of Namibia increased the repo rate by 25 basis points to 6.75%, bringing the Prime lending rate to 10.25%, citing rising global and domestic inflationary pressures and shifting monetary policy stances among major central banks.
17 June 2026 · Informanté →
Namibia's headline inflation rose to 3.1% year-on-year in April from 2.1% in March, driven by higher transport costs following fuel price increases linked to Middle East tensions. FNB Namibia warns inflationary pressures are likely to persist, with further strain dependent on geopolitical developments that could push transport and food prices higher.
3 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Headline inflation jumped to 3.1% in April from 2.1% in March, primarily driven by transport costs reflecting currency depreciation and higher global fuel prices. With the repo rate held at 6.50%, real interest rates have fallen, supporting credit demand but eroding household purchasing power.
3 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Bank of Namibia announced its repo rate will remain at 6.50% until mid-June, keeping commercial bank prime lending rates at 10%. The central bank cited weak domestic economic activity, higher inflation forecasts for 2026, and the need to maintain the Namibia dollar's peg to the South African rand in its decision.
30 May 2026 · The Namibian →
ANC veteran Tokyo Sexwale has disputed President Cyril Ramaphosa's explanation of US dollars stolen from his Phala Phala farm, calling it a "cock-and-bull story" and demanding Ramaphosa appear before the impeachment committee. Ramaphosa has said the cash was proceeds from cattle and game sales to a Sudanese businessman and was left at the farm to secure future purchases before being stolen.
24 May 2026 · The Namibian →
FNB Namibia expects the central bank to keep the repo rate mostly unchanged in 2026 as inflation risks, weak economic growth, and exchange rate volatility pressure the economy, with the need to protect the currency peg and maintain import cover limiting scope for interest rate cuts despite mining inflows.
8 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Bank of Namibia has announced the repo rate will remain unchanged at 6.50% until mid-June, keeping commercial banks' prime lending rates at 10%. The central bank says the stance is necessary to safeguard the Namibia dollar's peg to the South African rand, citing weak domestic economic activity and higher inflation forecasts for 2026.
29 April 2026 · The Namibian →
The Bank of Namibia and South African Reserve Bank have signed a revised Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen institutional cooperation on central banking functions, supervision, regulation, and resolution planning of cross-border financial institutions. The agreement establishes a formal framework for collaboration on financial stability, monetary coordination, and capacity-building while protecting the statutory independence of both institutions.
5 March 2026 · Informanté →
The Bank of Namibia and the South African Reserve Bank signed a revised agreement to enhance cross-border cooperation, financial stability, and supervisory coordination. The updated accord replaces a 2015 agreement and establishes a framework for central banking cooperation while maintaining both institutions' statutory independence.
4 March 2026 · The Namibian →
South Africa's acting police minister confirmed that the Independent Police Investigative Directorate's report into a 2020 burglary at President Ramaphosa's farm has been declassified but remains inaccessible to the public, available only through formal legal channels under the Promotion of Access to Information Act. The report originally investigated allegations that VIP protection officers conducted questionable searches in Namibia following the theft of US dollars at the president's Limpopo property.
3 March 2026 · The Namibian →
The Bank of Namibia is scheduled to announce its repo rate decision today, with most economists expecting it to hold the rate at 6.50% to maintain the 25 basis point differential with South Africa and support currency stability amid low inflation and weak economic growth. Some analysts argue there is room for a cut given inflation below 3%, healthy foreign exchange reserves, and subdued credit extension, though others warn that cutting risks capital outflow and higher household debt.
18 February 2026 · New Era →