2026-01-21 | 13798The Central Bank of Lebanon issued Basic Decision No. 13798 to mandate all domestic banks and financial institutions to implement a unified Cash Transaction Slip (CTS) for daily cash deposits of 10,000 USD or more. This requirement strengthens the regulatory "Fence Ring" framework by enforcing stricter Know Your Customer (KYC) verification, matching transaction data with account records, and ensuring transparent monitoring of illicit funds to support Lebanon's exit from the FATF Grey List. The decision takes immediate effect and applies to both direct account holders and authorized transaction executors, with banks obligated to retain identity documents and request additional details when deposit values exceed expected customer activity.
Basic Decision No. 172 To Banks and Financial Institutions
We enclose a copy of Basic Decision No. 13798 dated 2026/1/21 regarding the Cash Transaction Slip (CTS).
Beirut, 21 January 2026 Governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon Karim Saeed
Basic Decision No. 13798 (Cash Transaction Slip - CTS)
The Governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon, Pursuant to the provisions of Law No. 44 dated 2015/11/24 on combating money laundering and terrorist financing, Pursuant to the provisions of Basic Decision No. 7818 dated 2001/5/18 on the system for monitoring financial and banking operations to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, Whereas Lebanon has been facing since 2019 an unprecedented systemic financial and monetary crisis in terms of size and severity, The repercussions of which have led to a fundamental change in payment behaviors and an expanded reliance on the cash economy, Whereas the expansion of cash operations constitutes a primary risk to financial stability, facilitates tax evasion, and materially increases money laundering and terrorist financing risks, Whereas the Central Bank of Lebanon, acting within its powers to safeguard monetary and financial stability, has initiated a series of precautionary, supervisory, and regulatory measures aimed at restoring trust and realigning the Lebanese financial sector with internationally recognized standards, Whereas the Central Bank of Lebanon considers that effective monitoring of illicit financial flows and re-establishing transparency in financial operations are two essential conditions without which Lebanon can exit the "Grey List" issued by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), Whereas, to achieve these objectives, the Central Bank of Lebanon has gradually and systematically adopted an integrated regulatory framework that serves as a protective shield for the Lebanese banking and financial sector, Whereas, as an initial and fundamental measure (1st Fence Ring - 1RF), the Central Bank of Lebanon issued Basic Decision No. 13769 dated 2025/11/14 (regarding the Know Your Customer (KYC) model for cash and foreign exchange operations), which obliged all non-banking financial institutions operating in Lebanon to apply enhanced procedures and comply with "Know Your Customer" (KYC) requirements for any cash transaction amounting to or exceeding 1,000 USD (or its equivalent), Whereas, as a second measure (2nd Fence Ring - 2RF), the Central Bank of Lebanon has decided to issue this present Basic Decision, which imposes on all banks and financial institutions operating in Lebanon the application of stricter rules and the adoption of a unified model for cash deposits equal to or exceeding 10,000 USD (or its equivalent in any other currency), on a daily basis, Whereas the aforementioned Basic Decisions constitute a dual protection system for the Lebanese financial and banking sector, and simultaneously serve as a deterrent against any funds that may be illicit, derived from money laundering, or related to terrorist financing, Pursuant to the decision of the Central Bank Council taken in its session held on 2026/1/21,
It is decided as follows:
Article One: Banks shall ensure that the customer completes the Cash Transaction Slip (CTS) according to the attached model (2RF) when conducting a cash deposit or multiple cash deposits in a specific bank, amounting to or exceeding 10,000 USD (or its equivalent in any other currency), on a daily basis. The information provided in this slip shall be matched with the Know Your Customer (KYC) model to verify their compatibility.
Article Two: This decision shall take effect upon its issuance.
Article Three: This decision shall be published in the Official Gazette. Beirut, 21 January 2026 Governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon Karim Saeed
Annex (RF2 Model) – Cash Transaction Slip (CTS)
I. Bank Information (The information below relates to the bank branch where the cash operation takes place)
II. Account Information (Please complete the following information regarding the account of the natural or legal person)
III. Information about the Transaction Executor (Please complete the following information regarding the cash transaction executor)
IV. Information about the Beneficial Owner (Please complete the following information regarding the natural person legally benefiting from the deposited funds)
(Continuation of Form) Please provide the additional information below if the beneficial owner is a natural person.
V. Information about the Cash Transaction
I, the undersigned, certify that the deposited funds are not directly or indirectly related to any illegal activity or sanctioned entities. Signature of Transaction Executor
*The transaction executor must be explicitly authorized to conduct the cash deposit in the account. **Identity Verification: Banks shall retain a copy of the identity document submitted by the transaction executor. This document must include a photograph of the person whose identity is verified. ***Banks shall request additional information if the deposit value exceeds the account holder's expected activity.