Regulatory Alerts2025-09-10 | 13749Exceptional Restrictions Relating to Some Banking Operations
The Governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon has issued Interim Decision No. 13749 to amend Basic Decision No. 13353 by repealing and replacing Article Two bis, which mandates that banks issuing Lebanese Lira bank checks and certified checks must verify under their own responsibility that the issuance serves legitimate personal, commercial, or tax-related purposes and does not drive currency speculation. The amended provision requires these checks to bear the explicit phrase "Payable only to the first beneficiary (non-transferable)" and takes immediate effect upon publication in the Official Gazette. This regulatory update directly tightens exceptional restrictions on banking operations to stabilize domestic currency markets and curb speculative check issuance.
Circular No. 742
For Banks and Supervisory Authorities
We enclose herewith a copy of Interim Decision No. 13749 dated 2025/9/10, concerning the amendment of Basic Decision No. 13353 dated 2021/8/17, relating to exceptional restrictions on certain operations carried out by banks, attached to Basic Circular No. 159.
Beirut, on September 10, 2025
Governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon
Karim Saeed
Interim Decision No. 13749
Amending Basic Decision No. 13353 dated 2021/8/17
The Governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon, pursuant to the Monetary and Exchange Law, particularly Articles 70 and 174 thereof, and pursuant to Basic Decision No. 13353 dated 2021/8/17 and its amendments, relating to exceptional restrictions on certain operations carried out by banks, and pursuant to the decision of the Central Council of the Central Bank of Lebanon adopted in its session held on September 3, 2025,
hereby decides as follows:
Article One: The text of Article Two bis of Basic Decision No. 13353 dated 2021/8/17 is repealed and replaced with the following text: « Banks, when issuing Lebanese Lira bank checks and certified checks in Lebanese Lira, must ensure, under their own responsibility, that the purpose of requesting the issuance of these checks is legitimate (personal or commercial purposes, payment of taxes, fees, and judicial costs...), does not lead to speculation on the national currency, provided that these checks include the phrase "Payable only to the first beneficiary (non-transferable)".»
Article Two: This decision takes effect upon its issuance.
Article Three: This decision is published in the Official Gazette.
Beirut, on September 10, 2025
Governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon