ATMs, Credit and Debit Cards

359

Old No. 1732 Text / Section / 1 / 63 / 2026-6-30

Basic Circular for Banks No. 63
Also addressed to financial institutions, and to Lebanese and foreign institutions and companies licensed to issue settlement, payment, or credit cards 1 and to institutions that manage point-of-sale (POS) terminal networks

We hereby enclose Basic Decision No. 7299 dated June 10, 1999, concerning ATMs and credit and debit cards.

Beirut, June 10, 1999
Governor of Banque du Liban
Riad T. Salamah

1

• Addressed to these institutions pursuant to Intermediate Decision No. 13823 dated May 21, 2026 (Intermediate Circular No. 767).

360

Basic Decision No. 7299
ATMs and Credit and Debit Cards

The Governor of Banque du Liban,
Pursuant to the Law on Currency and Lending, particularly Articles 70 and 174 thereof, And pursuant to the decision of the Central Council adopted in its session held on June 9, 1999,

Decrees as follows:

Article 1: 1

• Banks and financial institutions are permitted to operate an ATM at a location they deem suitable, provided that:
• The number of devices operated outside the main office and branches shall not exceed five times the number of such branches plus the main office.
• ATMs installed at the main office and branches shall not be counted toward the aforementioned limit, regardless of their number.
• Banque du Liban and the Banking Control Commission shall be notified annually of the number and locations of these devices within a maximum deadline of fifteen days after the end of the year.
  2 - Any other Lebanese institution not specified in paragraph (1) of this Article may place, install, and operate an ATM at a location it deems suitable, subject to:
• Prior approval from Banque du Liban.
• A contract between the institution and the relevant bank specifying and limiting the respective responsibilities, the number of ATMs intended for installation and operation, and those to be transferred by the bank after deducting their number from the total quota permitted for installation and operation outside its operational centers.

1

• This paragraph replaces paragraphs (1) and (1 bis) pursuant to Intermediate Decision No. 13800 dated January 23, 2026 (Intermediate Circular No. 757).

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3
1

• All ATMs must:
  a. Accept all local and international credit and debit cards approved by Banque du Liban in accordance with Article 2 of this Decision. b. Be equipped with high-quality cameras capturing no fewer than four images per transaction conducted via a bank card.
  c. Be equipped to secure the surrounding area, particularly to prevent any party other than the cardholder from reading the associated PIN when entered.
  d. Be technically and physically equipped to securely adjust the card insertion slot to prevent misuse for purposes other than those intended. e. Contain at least 75% of the cash trays in each ATM with circulating Lebanese banknotes, provided that a single denomination is not placed in more than one tray. In the event of multiple ATMs at a single location (at the bank's main office, any of its branches, or outside them), Lebanese and foreign banknotes may be distributed across all trays as deemed appropriate by the relevant bank, provided the aforementioned percentage is respected. 4 3
• Banks and institutions authorized to install and operate ATMs must:
  a. Conduct periodic inspections of all these devices and cameras to ensure proper operation and verify the safety and security of the surrounding environment.

1

• This paragraph was amended pursuant to Article 1 of Intermediate Decision No. 10384 dated February 23, 2010 (Intermediate Circular No. 216), whose Article 3 stipulated:
  "The concerned banks and institutions are granted a maximum deadline of June 30, 2010, to equip ATMs installed prior to the issuance of this Decision with the technical and physical devices referenced in paragraphs (b), (c), and (d) of paragraph (3) of Article 1 of Basic Decision No. 7299 dated June 10, 1999." 2
• This paragraph was added pursuant to Intermediate Decision No. 12011 dated June 15, 2015 (Intermediate Circular No. 390), and subsequently amended pursuant to Intermediate Decision No. 12108 dated October 9, 2015 (Intermediate Circular No. 402).
• Banks and institutions authorized to install and operate ATMs were granted a maximum deadline of December 31, 2015, to comply with the provisions of this paragraph, pursuant to Article 2 of Intermediate Decision No. 12011 dated June 15, 2015 (Intermediate Circular No. 390).
  3
• This paragraph was added pursuant to Article 2 of Intermediate Decision No. 10384 dated February 23, 2010 (Intermediate Circular No. 216).

362 b. Retain images captured from ATM transactions for a sufficient period not less than the contractual or legal deadline for objections by the cardholder.
c. Enable any entitled party to object to a transaction conducted on an ATM to access the images referenced in paragraph (b) above.
1 Article 1 bis:

First: Banks and financial institutions exclusively may provide card issuance and acquiring services, which include issuing bank cards, contracting with merchants to enable them to accept card payments, processing transactions on these cards, and settling and paying their values. Second: Banks must notify Banque du Liban in advance before commencing card issuance services. Third: Banks and financial institutions must obtain a license from Banque du Liban to provide card issuance and acquiring services, subject to the following conditions:

1. Allocate a specific amount of their own funds: 150 billion Lebanese Lira for card issuance and acquiring services, and 50 billion Lebanese Lira for banks providing card issuance services only.
   15% of the amount allocated for these services (i.e., 22,500,000,000 L.L. for issuance and acquiring services, and 7,500,000,000 L.L. for issuance services only) must be deposited in cash in a dedicated Lebanese Lira account at Banque du Liban and shall not be returned to the concerned banks and institutions until they cease providing the service.
2. Ensure continuous sufficient liquidity to meet all settlement obligations in the same currencies owed, amounting to at least the average daily settlement obligations calculated on a monthly basis, plus a precautionary liquidity margin of 20%. Banque du Liban may impose additional liquidity ratios or margins depending on transaction volume and associated risk levels.
3. Adopt appropriate Card Management Systems (CMS).

1

• This Article was added pursuant to Intermediate Decision No. 13823 dated May 21, 2026 (Intermediate Circular No. 767).

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4. Comply with Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) security standards.
5. Join international payment card networks (...Mastercard/Visa...) and comply with their adopted technical and security standards.
6. Adopt specific procedures to combat money laundering and terrorist financing arising from payment card transactions.
7. Ensure the necessary infrastructure to accept payments, execute settlement operations, monitor merchant activity and risk classification, implement ongoing due diligence measures, and manage payment recalls and dispute settlements.
Fourth: Banks and financial institutions must pay Banque du Liban an annual fee of:

• 3,000,000,000 L.L. (three billion Lebanese Lira) for providing card issuance and acquiring services.
• 1,000,000,000 L.L. (one billion Lebanese Lira) for banks providing card issuance services only.
  This fee shall be paid for the first time upon obtaining the license and subsequently before January 31 of each year, under penalty of license revocation. Fifth: Banks and financial institutions that provided the services subject to this Article before May 1, 2026, are granted a maximum deadline of June 30, 2026, to:
• Notify Banque du Liban of providing these services and comply with the conditions in the "Third" section of this Article.
• Pay the fee mentioned in the "Fourth" section of this Article.
• Deposit in cash at Banque du Liban the 15% share mentioned in paragraph (1) of the "Third" section of this Article.

Article 2: Banque du Liban shall issue:
1 - A list of approved international cards and their derivatives.

---

1

• This Article was last amended pursuant to Article 1 of Intermediate Decision No. 8216 dated August 26, 2002 (Intermediate Circular No. 24).

362 bis 1

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2 - A list of approved local cards that must comply with international technical standards, such as those available in Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Diners Club cards, and their derivatives. 1

1

• A list of credit and debit cards used in Lebanon was published pursuant to Decision No. 13095 dated August 23, 2019:
  "A list of credit and debit cards used in Lebanon" "The Governor of Banque du Liban," "Pursuant to Basic Decision No. 7299 dated June 10, 1999 (ATMs and Credit and Debit Cards), particularly Article 2 thereof," "Decrees as follows:" "Article 1: The list of credit and debit cards used in Lebanon and complying with the conditions stipulated in Basic Decision No. 7299 dated June 10, 1999, is published as follows:" "1 - Visa) and all cards issued by Visa company" "2 - Mastercard) and all cards issued by Mastercard company" "3 - American Express" "4 - Diners Club" "5 - China UnionPay" "6 - JCB Card" "Article 3: Decision No. 12782 dated April 10, 2018 is repealed." "Article 3: This Decision shall be published in the Official Gazette and notified as necessary." "Beirut, August 23, 2019" "Governor of Banque du Liban" "Riad T. Salamah" 2
• This Article was added pursuant to Article 1 of Intermediate Decision No. 12220 dated March 24, 2016 (Intermediate Circular No. 415), whose Articles 2 and 3 stipulated:
  "Article 2: Banks and institutions issuing prepaid cards circulating prior to the issuance of this Decision must:
  -1 Refrain from reloading them in any form.
  -2 Take measures to regularize their status regarding these cards before September 30, 2016.
  Article 3: Banks and institutions mentioned above may appeal to the Central Council of Banque du Liban if they are unable to apply the provisions of paragraph (2) of Article 2 of this Decision."

362 bis 2

• Cards linked to a bank account and issued to a specific person (e.g., cards linked to a client's account issued in their name or a family member's name, and cards issued upon an employer's request, whether natural or legal, to pay salaries or allowances to their employees...).
• Cards issued upon request by legitimate international organizations designated for local humanitarian and social assistance, subject to obtaining Banque du Liban's approval.

2 Article 3:
ATMs must be connected to electronic interconnection networks, which must be interconnected with each other mandatorily, and local transactions shall only be conducted via these networks. The concerned companies must notify Banque du Liban via a letter undertaking to maintain banking secrecy, accompanied by a report containing:
1 - Names of owners.
2 - Number of network subscribers.
3 - Operating systems and rules.
Any modifications to the information required in this Article must be reported to Banque du Liban.

2 Article 3 bis:
First: Banks and institutions issuing credit and debit cards must:
1
4

• Periodically provide the cardholder, according to agreement with the client, with a statement (card account or linked account) including:
• Transactions executed via this card.
• The objection deadline for accounts listed in the statement.
• A clarification that the statement is issued periodically on a specific date and that the client may visit the concerned bank or institution if the statement is not received within one week from this date.
  The statement shall be delivered directly at the bank or institution or sent to an address chosen by the client, via regular mail

1

• This section was added pursuant to Intermediate Decision No. 12239 dated April 22, 2016 (Intermediate Circular No. 418).
  2
• This Article was last amended pursuant to Article 1 of Intermediate Decision No. 8216 dated August 26, 2002 (Intermediate Circular No. 24).
  3
• This Article was added pursuant to Article 1 of Intermediate Decision No. 10119 dated April 14, 2009 (Intermediate Circular No. 184).
  4
• This paragraph was amended pursuant to Article 1 of Intermediate Decision No. 10268 dated October 2, 2009 (Intermediate Circular No. 203).

362 bis 3

Text / Section / 1 / 63 / 2026-6-30 and/or electronically, provided measures are taken to ensure the client's receipt.
-2 Immediately notify the cardholder upon card usage, especially at ATMs or POS terminals or online, via an SMS sent to their mobile phone (unless the client has explicitly refused in writing), containing at least the location, date, time, transaction value, and currency, either free of charge or according to current market practice. -3 Include the following clauses in POS terminal installation agreements signed with merchants:
1 a

• Restrict card usage by merchants to their installed POS terminals and completely prohibit using or swiping it on any other device (double swipe).
  b. Prohibit using, publishing, or retaining information stored on the card except to pay for purchased goods or provided services.
  c. Maintain the confidentiality of card-related information.
  Second: Institutions managing ATM and POS networks in Lebanon must, by a maximum deadline of September 30, 2009, modify the receipt printing software for these devices regarding cardholder information as follows:
  -1 Print only the last four digits of the card number and replace the remaining digits with letters or symbols (e.g., "×", "#", or "*"), provided they are not numeric or blank spaces, on both merchant and cardholder receipts. -2 Do not print the cardholder's name on merchant or cardholder receipts.

1

• This paragraph was amended pursuant to Article 1 of Intermediate Decision No. 12774 dated March 23, 2018 (Intermediate Circular No. 489).

362 bis 4
-3 Do not print the card expiration date on merchant or cardholder receipts.
1 Third:
Banks and institutions issuing credit and debit cards must use EMV technology, which relies on electronic chips and PINs, for issuing all credit and debit cards. The concerned banks and institutions are granted a maximum deadline of June 30, 2019, to comply with this section.

2 Article 4:
Banks, financial institutions, and card issuers must provide the Statistics Department at Banque du Liban monthly, within ten days following the end of each month, with information related to credit and debit cards, ATMs, and POS terminals, according to the attached Form (PCD 3), as follows:

• Via the eSTR project for electronic submission of statistical reports, for banks.
• On diskette, for financial institutions and card issuers.

4 Article 5:
All clearing and settlement operations resulting from or related to the use of local cards issued in the Lebanese market and used locally (i.e., without passing through global networks), as well as arbitration procedures to resolve disputes according to systems contracted by the parties, must be conducted locally within a maximum deadline of December 31, 2002. For international cards issued and used locally, all related clearing and settlement operations must be conducted locally within the aforementioned deadline,

1

• This section was added pursuant to Intermediate Decision No. 10268 dated October 2, 2009 (Intermediate Circular No. 203), and subsequently amended pursuant to Article 2 of Intermediate Decision No. 12774 dated March 23, 2018 (Intermediate Circular No. 489).
  2
• This Article was last amended pursuant to Article 1 of Intermediate Decision No. 10984 dated April 30, 2012 (Intermediate Circular No. 296), which takes effect from the suspended status dated June 30, 2012.
  3
• The name of this department was changed to "Statistics Department" instead of "Statistics and Economic Research Department" pursuant to Decision No. 13779 dated November 28, 2025.
  4
• This Article was last amended pursuant to Article 1 of Intermediate Decision No. 8216 dated August 26, 2002 (Intermediate Circular No. 24).

362 bis 5

Text / Section / 1 / 63 / 2026-6-30 according to systems to be established in coordination with Banque du Liban and the relevant international institutions.

362 bis 6
1 Article 5 bis:
Card issuers must comply with applicable laws and regulations issued by Banque du Liban, particularly those related to combating money laundering and terrorist financing, including defining and identifying the "beneficial owner."

2 Article 6:
All electronic interconnection networks currently operating and referenced in Article "Third" above must, within a one-month period, regularize their status in accordance with the provisions of this Decision, particularly Article 3 thereof. 2 Article 7:
Banks must, within a deadline ending September 30, 2002, remove any ATM whose specifications and provisions do not comply with this Decision, under penalty of appropriate administrative sanctions.

2 Article 8:
The provisions of this Decision shall not apply to proprietary cards issued by institutions to serve their clients, which do not acquire a financial or banking service character.

3 Article 9:
The following are repealed: Decision No. 5678 dated September 16, 1994, attached to Circular for Banks No. 1282 dated September 16, 1994; and Decision No. 6754 dated October 3, 1997, attached to Circular for Banks, Financial Institutions, and Financial Intermediation Institutions No. 1564 dated October 3, 1997.

5 Article 10:
This Decision shall take effect upon its issuance and be published in the Official Gazette.
Beirut, June 10, 1999
Governor of Banque du Liban
Riad T. Salamah

1

• This Article was added pursuant to Article 6 of Intermediate Decision No. 12826 dated June 13, 2018 (Intermediate Circular No. 498).
  2
• This Article was added pursuant to Article 3 of Intermediate Decision No. 8216 dated August 26, 2002 (Intermediate Circular No. 24).
  3
• This Article became Article 9 instead of 6 pursuant to Article 2 of Intermediate Decision No. 8216 dated August 26, 2002 (Intermediate Circular No. 24).
  4
• Circular numbers are according to the old numbering.
  5
• This Article became Article 10 instead of 7 pursuant to Article 2 of Intermediate Decision No. 8216 dated August 26, 2002 (Intermediate Circular No. 24).

Annex to Basic Circular No. 63, Page 1

Text / Section / 1 / 63 / 2016-6-30

Banque du Liban
Statistics & Economic Research Dept
1
Banque du Liban
Statistics & Economic Research Dept
PCD 3
2

Distribution of cards issued in Lebanon according to functions Local / Non-resident / Total 10100 MASTERCARD Total number of cards issued in Lebanon irrespective of the number of functions of the card - 10100 Total number of cards (irrespective of the number of functions of the card) 10101 o/w: Co-branded retailer's cards / Affinity Cards Cards with a credit function (revolving) 10110 Cards with a debit function 10120 Cards with a delayed debit function or charge card 10130 10140 Prepaid cards 10150 Cards with a cash function Others 10190 10200 VISA Total number of cards issued in Lebanon irrespective of the number of functions of the card - (number of functions of the card Total number of cards (irrespective of the 10201 o/w: Co-branded retailer's cards / Affinity Cards Cards with a credit function (revolving) 10210 Cards with a debit function 10220 Cards with a delayed debit function or charge card 10230 10240 Prepaid cards 10250 Cards with a cash function Others 10290 10300 AMEX Total number of cards issued in Lebanon irrespective of the number of functions of the card - (number of functions of the card Total number of cards (irrespective of the 10301 o/w: Co-branded retailer's cards / Affinity Cards Cards with a credit function (revolving) 10310 Cards with a debit function 10320 Cards with a delayed debit function or charge card 10330 10340 Prepaid cards 10350 Cards with a cash function Others 10390

1

• The name of this department was changed to "Statistics Department" instead of "Statistics and Economic Research Department" pursuant to Decision No. 13779 dated November 28, 2025.
  2
• This form replaces previously used forms pursuant to Article 2 of Intermediate Decision No. 10984 dated April 30, 2012 (Intermediate Circular No. 296), which takes effect from the suspended status dated June 30, 2012.

Annex to Basic Circular No. 63, Page 2

10400
CUP Total number of cards issued in Lebanon irrespective of the number of functions of the card - number of functions of the Total number of cards (irrespective of the (card 10401 o/w: Co-branded retailer's cards / Affinity Cards Cards with a credit function (revolving) 10410 Cards with a debit function 10420 Cards with a delayed debit function or charge card 10430 10440 Prepaid cards 10450 Cards with a cash function Others 10490 10500 CARDS PROPRIETARY' BANKS Total number of cards issued in Lebanon irrespective of the number of functions of the card - Total number of cards (irrespective of the number of functions of the card the 10501 o/w: Co-branded retailer's cards / Affinity Cards Cards with a credit function (revolving) 10510 Cards with a debit function 10520 Cards with a delayed debit function or charge card 10530 10540 Prepaid cards 10550 Cards with a cash function Others 10590 10900 Others Total number of cards issued in Lebanon irrespective of the number of functions of the card - (number of functions of the card Total number of cards (irrespective of the 10901 o/w: Co-branded retailer's cards / Affinity Cards Cards with a credit function (revolving) 10910 Cards with a debit function 10920 Cards with a delayed debit function or charge card 10930 10940 Prepaid cards 10950 Cards with a cash function Others 10990

Annex to Basic Circular No. 63, Page 3

Text / Section / 1 / 63 / 2016-6-30

Monthly movement of payments and withdrawals on cards issued and granted in Lebanon Issuing

Lebanese Lira Foreign Currencies
Number of Transactions in Thousands of Lira Number of Transactions in US Dollars 12000 Credit cards 12100 Payments at POS terminals 12110 Inside Lebanon for Residents 12120 Outside Lebanon for Residents 12130 Inside Lebanon for Non-residents 12140 Outside Lebanon for Non-residents 12200 ATM Cash Withdrawals 12210 Inside Lebanon for Residents 12220 Outside Lebanon for Residents 12230 Inside Lebanon for Non-residents 12240 Outside Lebanon for Non-residents 12300 Cash Advances at POS Terminals 12310 Inside Lebanon for Residents 12320 Outside Lebanon for Residents 12330 Inside Lebanon for Non-residents 12340 Outside Lebanon for Non-residents 12400 e-commerce - Payments via internet 12410 Inside Lebanon for Residents 12420 Outside Lebanon for Residents 12430 Inside Lebanon for Non-residents 12440 Outside Lebanon for Non-residents 12500 Other means of Payment 12510 Inside Lebanon for Residents 12520 Outside Lebanon for Residents 12530 Inside Lebanon for Non-residents 12540 Outside Lebanon for Non-residents Lebanese Lira Foreign Currencies Number of Transactions in Thousands of Lira Number of Transactions in US Dollars 13000 Debit cards 13100 Payments at POS terminals 13110 Inside Lebanon for Residents 13120 Outside Lebanon for Residents 13130 Inside Lebanon for Non-residents 13140 Outside Lebanon for Non-residents 13200 ATM Cash Withdrawals 13210 Inside Lebanon for Residents 13220 Outside Lebanon for Residents 13230 Inside Lebanon for Non-residents 13240 Outside Lebanon for Non-residents 13300 Cash Advances at POS Terminals 13310 Inside Lebanon for Residents 13320 Outside Lebanon for Residents 13330 Inside Lebanon for Non-residents 13340 Outside Lebanon for Non-residents 13400 e-commerce - Payments via internet 13410 Inside Lebanon for Residents 13420 Outside Lebanon for Residents 13430 Inside Lebanon for Non-residents 13440 Outside Lebanon for Non-residents 13500 Other means of Payment 13510 Inside Lebanon for Residents 13520 Outside Lebanon for Residents 13530 Inside Lebanon for Non-residents 13540 Outside Lebanon for Non-residents

Annex to Basic Circular No. 63, Page 4

Lebanese Lira Foreign Currencies

Number of Transactions in Thousands of Lira
Number of Transactions in US
Dollars
14000
Delayed Debit cards or Charge cards
14100 Payments at POS terminals
14110 Inside Lebanon for Residents
14120 Outside Lebanon for Residents
14130 Inside Lebanon for Non-residents
14140 Outside Lebanon for Non-residents
14200 ATM Cash Withdrawals
14210 Inside Lebanon for Residents
14220 Outside Lebanon for Residents
14230 Inside Lebanon for Non-residents
14240 Outside Lebanon for Non-residents
14300
Cash advances at POS Terminals
14310 Inside Lebanon for Residents
14320 Outside Lebanon for Residents
14330 Inside Lebanon for Non-residents
14340 Outside Lebanon for Non-residents
14400 e-commerce - Payments via internet
14410 Inside Lebanon for Residents
14420 Outside Lebanon for Residents
14430 Inside Lebanon for Non-residents
14440 Outside Lebanon for Non-residents
14500 Other means of Payment
14510 Inside Lebanon for Residents
14520 Outside Lebanon for Residents
14530 Inside Lebanon for Non-residents
14540 Outside Lebanon for Non-residents