Region

Jurisdiction

Regulator

2016-01-01

Circular 06/2016: Revision of Item Value Limits on Cheques and EFTs

The Bank of Zambia issued Circular 06/2016 to revise Item Value Limits for cheques and electronic funds transfers, aiming to accelerate the adoption of electronic payment methods. The directive reduces the local clearing cheque threshold to K25,000, establishes a US$5,000 limit for foreign cheques, and increases direct debit and credit limits to K75,000 and K500,000 respectively. Effective 180 days after issuance, the circular prohibits cheque splitting to circumvent these thresholds and imposes a 25% penalty fee on violating banks, payable to the Zambia Electronic Clearing House.

Zambia

Bank of Zambia

# Bank Of Zambia
## OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY GOVERNOR - OPERATIONS

BOZ/EXEC/DGO/bcps/bp

October 14, 2016

CB Circular No. : 06/2016  
To : All Heads of Commercial Banks

# REVISION OF ITEM VALUE LIMITS ON CHEQUES AND ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFERS

In exercise of its powers contained in Section 5 (3) of the National Payment Systems Act 2007, the Bank of Zambia would like to advise all commercial banks on the revisions to the Item Value Limits (IVL) on cheques and electronic funds transfers as reflected in the schedule. The decision is aimed at promoting the use of electronic payment methods.

In the implementation of the new limits, that splitting of cheques to circumvent the prescribed limits is prohibited as it violates the spirit of this directive. Split cheques will attract a penalty fee on the paying Bank of 25% of the value of the split cheques up to a maximum of two hundred thousand penalty units as stipulated in Section 43 of the National Payment Systems Act of 2007. This fee will be paid to the Zambia Electronic Clearing House Limited (ZECHL) and will be collected on a monthly basis through the paying bank’s settlement account held at the Bank of Zambia. These limits shall take effect 180 days from the date of this Circular. CB Circular 03/2008 is therefore repealed.

Failure to comply with the above requirements could in addition attract penalties in line with Section 43 of the National Payment Systems Act of 2007.

Bwalya K. E. Ng’andu (Dr)  
DEPUTY GOVERNOR – OPERATIONS

Cc  
Governor  
Senior Director – Supervisory Policy  
Director – Banking, Currency and Payment Systems  
Director – Bank Supervision  
Director – Non-Bank Financial Institutions Supervision  
Chief Executive Officer – Zambia Electronic Clearing House Limited

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Bank Square, Cairo Road P.O. Box 30080, Lusaka, Zambia Tel: 260-211-226844, 228888 Fax: 260-211-237070 E-mail: dgo@boz.zm Web: http://www.boz.zm

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## Schedule

| Type of Payment Instrument | Old Item Value Limit | New Item Value Limit |
|----------------------------|----------------------|----------------------|
| **Local Currency Denominated Cheques** | | |
| Local Kwacha cheques cleared through the Clearing House | K100, 000.00 | K25, 000.00 |
| Local cheques presented over the Counter | K0.00 | K25, 000.00 |
| **Foreign Currency Denominated Cheques** | | |
| Foreign cheques cleared within Zambia | US$0.00 | US$5, 000.00 |
| Foreign cheques presented over the Counter | US$0.00 | US$5, 000.00 |
| **Electronic Funds Transfer** | | |
| Direct Debits | K50, 000.00 | K75, 000.00 |
| Direct Credits | K100, 000.00 | K500, 000.00 |

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Bank Square, Cairo Road P.O. Box 30080, Lusaka, Zambia Tel: +260-211-226844/228888/9 Fax: +260-211-237070 Email: bngandu@boz.zm. http://www.boz.zm