Regulatory Alerts2026-03-16 | 13807The Status of the Central Office for Credit Risk
The Governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon issued Central Office Decision No. 13807 to amend the Central Office for Credit Risk System by raising the threshold for applying Article Two’s provisions to total credit facilities exceeding L.L. 20,000,000 (or equivalent in foreign currencies) per subscriber per person, effective from the November 2025 status. The decision also mandates that magnetic disk data submitted by banks and financial institutions carry absolute confidentiality, restricting their use to informing requesting institutions of total customer credit facilities and granting banks risk-review rights, with direct notification to customers when necessary. This amendment takes effect immediately upon issuance and is published in the Official Gazette.
Central Office Circular No. 758
For Banks, Financial Institutions, and Leasing Companies
We enclose a copy of Central Office Decision No. 13807 dated March 16, 2026, regarding the amendment of the Central Office for Credit Risk System attached to Basic Decision No. 7705 dated October 26, 2000, subject of Basic Circular No. 75.
Beirut, March 16, 2026 Governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon Karim Souaid
Central Office Decision No. 13807
Amendment of the Central Office for Credit Risk System attached to Basic Decision No. 7705 dated October 26, 2000
The Governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon, pursuant to the Monetary and Loan Law, particularly Articles 147 and 179 thereof; pursuant to the provisions of Article 3 of the Executive Law No. 5439 dated September 20, 1982; based on Basic Decision No. 7705 dated October 26, 2000, and its amendments regarding the Central Office for Credit Risk System; based on the decision of the Central Council of the Central Bank of Lebanon adopted in its meeting held on March 11, 2026;
Decrees the following:
Article One: The text of Article Three of the Central Office for Credit Risk System attached to Basic Decision No. 7705 dated October 26, 2000 is repealed and replaced with the following text: "The provisions of Article Two, Section 'First' of this system shall not apply unless the total credit facilities granted by one subscriber to a single person exceed L.L. 20,000,000 (twenty million Lebanese pounds) or its equivalent in foreign currencies, effective as of the November 2025 status."
Article Two: The text of Article Four of the Central Office for Credit Risk System attached to Basic Decision No. 7705 dated October 26, 2000 is repealed and replaced with the following text: "Data contained in magnetic disks submitted by banks and financial institutions to the Office shall bear absolute confidentiality and shall be used solely for informing the requesting banks and financial institutions of the total credit facilities granted to each customer, granting the bank the right to review its risks, and when necessary, for informing said customer directly."
Article Three: This decision takes effect upon its issuance.
Article Four: This decision shall be published in the Official Gazette. Beirut, March 16, 2026
Governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon Karim Souaid