How to enter

How to enter

The Central Banking Awards are free to enter.

Central bank categories are open to all central banks and official institutions, regardless of size, location or ownership. Partner and service provider categories are open to any commercial organisation that provides services to a central bank, again regardless of size, location or ownership. Entrants are encouraged to self-nominate, but someone who works for a commercial organisation may also nominate a central bank for a central bank award and vice versa.

Requirements

To enter there are only two requirements:

1. A statement explaining why an individual/organisation should win the award (up to 500 words).
2. Details of one contact person in that organisation or for that individual.

How to enter – four easy steps

Entry to the Central Banking Awards is by online submission

1. Click on Enter Now and register an account (you can use this account to enter any number of awards and update entries).
2. Select the award you wish to enter.
3. Complete the online entry form for that award with your statement and contact details. (You will need to complete an online form for each award you enter)
4. Click save/submit

What happens next?

• You may amend your entry(ies) at any point up until November 17 when the awards process closes. For guidance on what to submit, please read the notes below and articles about previous winners.
• From November, all entries will be considered by the Central Banking Awards Committee with a view to shortlisting in December.
• Shortlists will not be disclosed or made public in any way.
• As part of this shortlisting process, individuals may be contacted to ask for more information to support or clarify an entry.
• Central Banking will request client reference details for partner and service provider awards during the shortlisting phase. This step is crucial for the judging process, as it provides essential confirmation and feedback. Without these references, judges may struggle to advance entries.
• Central Banking will also perform its own due diligence.
• Winners will be announced in March at the same time as the publication of articles explaining why institutions and individuals won their awards.
• On the record and/or unattributed client references need to be agreed for inclusion in the award write-ups published in March.

Good to know

• The word count for each award entry is restricted to 500 words. You may attach pdfs or other files containing additional information to your entry, but this is not a requirement.
• You may also submit an entry for the awards directly to the Editor-in-chief.
• All details, including those of references, are held in strictest confidence until agreed otherwise. We can sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), if required.
• Entries should describe why the entity/person should win an award for activities during the period November 2024 to November 2025 (with an exception for the lifetime achievement award). There is some leeway for multi-year efforts.
• For central bank awards, entries can describe activities, policies and initiatives that have improved the effectiveness of the institution, raised its integrity and furthered its public policy goals.
• Entries for partner and service provider categories can describe case studies, deals and innovations completed. For example, successful entries have outlined the goal of clients and described how this goal was achieved, including the benefits offered to official institution clients.
• Please note the quality of your entry (reference clients, general information, lay-out, etc) has a bearing on the outcome of judging for each category. Customised entries stand a far greater chance of success than those consisting of a ‘cut-and-paste’ from a website, marketing materials or an annual report.
• To find out more or to enquire about your award entry, please contact eleanor.piotrowicz@infopro-digital.com 

The rules

Judging is conducted by the Central Banking Awards Committee – comprising members of Central Banking’s editorial staff, the Advisory Board and Contributing Editors – chaired by Central Banking’s Editor-in-chief, Christopher Jeffery. The Editor’s decision is final.

Winners will be asked to keep the progress of their application private until March 2026, when the awards will be announced online alongside the publication of awards articles explaining why institutions and individuals won their awards. There will be an opportunity for award winners to be recognised at the Awards Ceremony on June 10, 2026, held at the same time as the Central Banking Summer Meetings.

Venue

Central Banking Summer Meetings

Past winners

Central Banking’s annual flagship awards were launched in 2014. Please take a look at our previous winners to find out more.