Regulatory Alerts2026-02-12
Circular 131 on the Protection of Consumers of Financial Products and Services
The Bank of the Republic of Haiti (BRH) issued Circular 131 to establish mandatory minimum standards for the fair, transparent, and non-discriminatory treatment of consumers of financial products and services. The circular requires all regulated financial institutions, including microfinance entities, cooperatives, and electronic payment providers, to implement comprehensive consumer protection policies, robust risk management frameworks, and strict prohibitions against abusive, misleading, or discriminatory commercial practices. It further mandates clear disclosure of all costs and risks, formalized internal complaint mechanisms, strict data privacy safeguards, and specific operational rules regarding inactive accounts, debt collection, and the handling of abandoned funds.