2025-11-28 | 13770

Exceptional measures for the gradual withdrawal of deposits in foreign currencies

Banque du Liban’s Governor issued Intermediary Decision No. 13770 to amend Basic Decision No. 13335, granting individual institutions and licensed associations access to a gradual foreign currency withdrawal scheme. The revised framework mandates a $1,000 monthly and $12,000 annual withdrawal cap per account holder, allocated as $800 in cash or transfers and $200 via POS cards, with a reduced annual cap of $11,000 for the current cycle ending June 2026. Furthermore, it requires account holders to exclusively waive banking secrecy on their Special Sub-Accounts in favor of the Central Bank and Banking Control Commission, while extending proportional withdrawal rights to joint account holders and unions.

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Intermediary Circular No. 746 To Banks We enclose herewith a copy of Intermediary Decision No. 13770 dated 28/11/2025 concerning the amendment of Basic Decision No. 13335 dated 8/6/2021 (Exceptional measures for the gradual withdrawal of foreign currency deposits) attached to Basic Circular No. 158. Beirut, on 28 November 2025 Governor of Banque du Liban Karim Saeed

Intermediary Decision No. 13770 Amending Basic Decision No. 13335 dated 8/6/2021 The Governor of Banque du Liban, pursuant to the Monetary and Exchange Law, particularly Articles 70 and 174 thereof, and pursuant to the provisions of Basic Decision No. 13335 dated 8/6/2021 and its amendments concerning exceptional measures for the gradual withdrawal of foreign currency deposits, while awaiting a complete plan to restore financial stability and the issuance of necessary laws for restructuring public debt on one hand, and Banque du Liban’s obligations towards commercial banks and subsequently depositors on the other, and since Banque du Liban currently lacks legal and legislative tools to adopt a comprehensive financial policy that fairly treats all stakeholders, and since the core and largest portion of banks’ mandatory foreign currency placements at Banque du Liban belongs exclusively to depositors, and in response to the urgent and humanitarian need of hundreds of thousands of depositors whose funds have remained frozen in the financial and banking system for several years, and in order to contribute to strengthening social stability and economic growth, and to encourage citizens to use bank cards in order to reduce the use of cash, and based on the decision of the Central Council of Banque du Liban taken in its meeting held on 26/11/2025 hereby decides the following:

Article One: The following paragraph "Fourth" is added to Article Two of Basic Decision No. 13335 dated 8/6/2021: "Fourth: As an exception to the provisions of paragraph 'First' of this Article, the following benefit from the provisions of this Decision:

  • Individual institutions.
  • Associations licensed by the competent authorities."

Article Two: The first paragraph of item (2) under paragraph "Second" of the duplicate Article Two of Basic Decision No. 13335 dated 8/6/2021 is repealed and replaced with the following text: "- The waiver of banking secrecy on the account held at the 'transferred bank' in favor of Banque du Liban and the Banking Control Commission, according to the attached forms (PP-02-BDR-BDL for natural persons and MP-02-BDR-BDL for legal entities referred to in paragraph 'Fourth' of Article Two above, to ensure the correct application of this Article's provisions, in addition to waiving banking secrecy as per paragraph 'Sixth' of Article Three of this Decision."

Article Three: The text of paragraph "Sixth" of Article Three of Basic Decision No. 13335 dated 8/6/2021 is repealed and replaced with the following: "Sixth: To benefit from the provisions of this Decision, the 'account holder' must exclusively waive banking secrecy on the 'Special Sub-Accounts', and not on all accounts belonging to them, solely in favor of Banque du Liban and the Banking Control Commission, according to the attached forms (PP-01-BDR-BDL for natural persons and MP-01-BDR-BDL for legal entities referred to in paragraph 'Fourth' of Article Two above)."

Article Four: The text of items (1), (2), and (3) under paragraph "First" of Article Four of Basic Decision No. 13335 dated 8/6/2021 is repealed and replaced with the following: "1. An amount of $1,000 per month, without any direct or indirect commission or expense of any kind being charged on this operation, and the total amount that can be withdrawn annually under item (1) shall not exceed $12,000 from all banks, paid as follows:

  • $800 to the 'account holder' in cash (Banknotes) and/or via transfer abroad and/or by bank cards that can be used in Lebanon and abroad and/or deposited into a new account (Fresh Account).
  • $200 via bank cards used on Point of Sale (POS) machines, exclusively. This amount is subject to adjustment by Banque du Liban according to its monetary policy.
  1. The annual withdrawal cap from all banks during the current cycle ending on 30/6/2026 is adjusted to $11,000.
  2. In case two or more persons benefit from joint accounts or unions according to this Decision's provisions, the amounts specified in item (1) of this paragraph, including those paid via Point of Sale (POS) machines, shall be paid proportionally (Prorata) (i.e., according to the share allocated to each person of the amounts transferred to 'Special Sub-Accounts' from these joint accounts or unions)."

Article Five: This Decision takes effect as of 1/12/2025, such that the conditions of Basic Decision No. 13335 dated 8/6/2021, as amended by the current Decision, apply for a period ending on 30/6/2026, subject to amendment or renewal. The aforementioned Basic Decision remains in force until the release of all funds that can be transferred to the "Special Sub-Account".

Article Six: This Decision is published in the Official Gazette. Beirut, on 28 November 2025 Governor of Banque du Liban Karim Saeed

Banque du Liban / Special Sub-Accounts Central Registry BDL-BDR-01-MP Bank Secrecy revelation proxy form BANQUE DU LIBAN / Banks Depositors Registry Name Bank: ____________________________________________________________________________ Name Branch: __________________________________________________________________________ Date /_/_ Referral No. _________ Internal Reference Number: _____________________________________________________________ Unique Client Number at BDR: ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Client Information: Name: __________________________________________________________________________________ Legal Form: _____________________________________________________________________________ Foundation Date: ________________________________________________________________________ Registration No. – Place: Place_________ I, the undersigned, authorized signatory on behalf of the above mentioned client, In accordance with BDL basic circular No. 158 dated 8/6/2021, hereby waive the banking secrecy on the “Special sub-account” of the above mentioned client in favor of the Central Bank of Lebanon and the Banking Control Commission. (Authorized Signatory Signature) __________________________________________ (Bank stamp and signature) _________________________________________ (The director of the bank is held personally responsible for the authenticity of the signature)

Banque du Liban / Special Sub-Accounts Central Registry BDL-BDR-02-MP Bank Secrecy revelation proxy form (Article 2 bis of basic decision 13335 of 8/6/2021) BANQUE DU LIBAN / Banks Depositors Registry Name Bank: ____________________________________________________________________________ Name Branch: __________________________________________________________________________ Date // Referral No. __________ Internal Reference Number: ____________________________________________________________ Unique Client Number at BDR: ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Client Information: Name: __________________________________________________________________________________ Legal Form: _____________________________________________________________________________ Foundation Date: ________________________________________________________________________ Registration No. – Place: Place_________ I, the undersigned, authorized signatory on behalf of the above mentioned client, In accordance with BDL basic circular No. 158 dated 8/6/2021, hereby waive the banking secrecy on the “Special sub-account” of the above mentioned client in favor of the Central Bank of Lebanon and the Banking Control Commission. (Authorized Signatory Signature) __________________________________________ (Bank stamp and signature) _________________________________________ (The director of the bank is held personally responsible for the authenticity of the signature)