The College of Law – University of Baghdad discussed a master’s thesis entitled “Supervision of Foreign Bank Branches – A Comparative Study” by the student Fatima Hassoun Alawi, in the Private Law Department, on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, in the Model Court Hall at the college.
The discussion committee consisted of
1. Prof. Dr. Ali Fawzi Ibrahim (Chairman)
2. Asst. Prof. Dr. Rabab Hussein Kashkoul (Member)
3. Asst. Prof. Dr. Haifa Mazhar Falhi (Member)
4. Asst. Prof. Dr. Khalis Nafi’ Amin (Member and Supervisor)
The thesis aimed to clarify the nature of foreign bank branches, determine the rules for supervising these branches, and identify the authorities responsible for internal and external supervision, given their role in developing the banking and financial sector in the host country. It also sought to identify gaps and deficiencies in supervisory rules to improve and complete them.
The thesis was divided into three chapters: the first addressed the nature of foreign bank branches; the second examined internal supervision of foreign bank branches, and the third focused on external supervision of foreign bank branches.
The thesis concluded with several recommendations, the most notable of which are:
1. Including in the Banking Law that the activities of foreign bank branches must align with Iraq’s economic interests, following the example of Egypt, France, and Lebanon.
2. Amending the Iraqi Banking Law to include provisions regulating internal supervision, defining it, and organizing its operations, given the importance of internal supervision in both local and foreign banks.
3. Amending the Iraqi Banking Law to define the concept of the Compliance Officer, specifying the qualifications required for this role and detailing their responsibilities, as this position is crucial to the proper functioning of banks.
