2018-08-16 | 12860The Central Bank of Lebanon issued Circular No. 505 to amend Basic Decision No. 8779 regarding the definition and regulation of microcredits. The amendment raises the maximum loan limit to 30 million Lebanese Lira, allows banks to lend using funds deposited by microfinance institutions, and caps total guarantees from any single microfinance institution at 15 billion Lira. Additionally, the decision mandates enhanced reporting requirements and sets a July 31, 2019 deadline for microfinance institutions to regularize their direct lending operations or liquidate.