1998-02-14 | 6895

Deposits, Cheques, Transfers and Payment Orders to the Public Sector

Issued by the Governor of Banque du Liban, this decision requires all banks to refrain from accepting public sector deposits, cheques, transfers, and payment orders without explicit legal exceptions, while mandating monthly reporting of public sector deposits and loans via Form PSDL-01 within the SEBIL system. It defines the public sector to encompass ministries, municipalities, independent funds, and commercial/public institutions attributed to the Ministry of Finance, and stipulates that non-compliant banks face administrative sanctions under Article 208 of the Monetary and Loans Law. Effective upon issuance, the decision repeals seven prior circulars dating from 1986 to 1994 and requires precise matching of automated sorting account balances in Form 2010.

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175

Basic Circular for Banks No. 38

We enclose a copy of Basic Decision No. 6895 dated 14/02/1998 regarding Deposits, Cheques, Transfers and Payment Orders to the Public Sector ¹ and Loans granted to them.

Beirut, on 14 February 1998 Governor of Banque du Liban Riad T. Salamé

¹ Title amended pursuant to Article 1 of Interim Decision No. 13817 dated 08/05/2026 (Interim Circular No. 763), effective as of the suspended status dated 31/05/2026. Old No. 1598

176

Basic Decision No. 6895 Deposits, Cheques, Transfers and Payment Orders to the Public Sector ¹ and Loans granted to them

The Governor of Banque du Liban, pursuant to the Monetary and Loans Law, particularly Article 174 thereof, and pursuant to the clearing house systems established at Banque du Liban, and pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (a) of Article 85 of the Monetary and Loans Law, and pursuant to the decision of the Central Council of Banque du Liban taken in its meeting held on 04/02/1998,

decides as follows:

Article 1: All banks are requested, except for explicit exceptional cases stipulated in legal texts, to refrain from:

  • accepting deposits from the public sector, whether in the name of the public entity directly or in the name of one of its employees or staff.
  • accepting any cheques, transfers or payment orders in favor of any public sector entity to collect their value and deposit them into the account opened with them, subject to being returned when presented at clearing houses.
  • granting loans/facilities to public sector entities.

¹ Title amended pursuant to Article 1 of Interim Decision No. 13817 dated 08/05/2026 (Interim Circular No. 763), effective as of the suspended status dated 31/05/2026. ² This article amended pursuant to Article 2 of Interim Decision No. 13817 dated 08/05/2026 (Interim Circular No. 763), effective as of the suspended status dated 31/05/2026.

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Article 2: All banks are requested to provide the Data Management and Economic Analysis Unit at Banque du Liban, monthly, with details of their public sector deposits and/or loans granted to the public sector, according to the following guidelines: First: The term "public sector" includes public administrations, public institutions including those with a commercial character, municipalities, independent services, the National Social Security Fund, independent funds, revenue collectors, and are attributed to the Ministry of Finance. Second: The "public sector deposits" section of the monthly balance sheet, bearing number (20900) from Form 2010, must encompass all accounts of known public sector depositors as defined in the first item above. Third: The required information is submitted according to the attached form (PSDL-01) and sent with the monthly balance sheets via the project for electronic transmission of statistical reports (eSTR) within the SEBIL system. This form is sent even if there are no public sector deposits or loans at the concerned bank. Fourth: Attention is drawn to the necessity of matching:

  • the total of the public sector item with the balance of the automated sorting number (20900) plus various debtors (public sector 21220) in Form 2010.
  • the total of the public sector loans item with the automated sorting number (11600) in Form 2010.

Article 3: Any bank violating the provisions of this decision is referred to the Higher Banking Authority, and consequently subject to administrative sanctions stipulated in Article 208 of the Monetary and Loans Law. ¹ This article amended pursuant to Article 3 of Interim Decision No. 13817 dated 08/05/2026 (Interim Circular No. 763), effective as of the suspended status dated 31/05/2026.

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  • Article 4: The following circulars issued by Banque du Liban are hereby repealed: Circular for Banks No. 667 dated 01/08/1986, Circular for Banks No. 685 dated 18/11/1986, Circular for Banks No. 767 dated 19/11/1987, Circular for Banks No. 921 dated 03/01/1990, Circular for Banks No. 1120 dated 01/09/1992, Circular for Banks and Financial Institutions No. 1233 dated 26/02/1994, and Circular for Banks and Financial Institutions No. 1234 dated 04/03/1994.
  • Circular numbers are according to the old numbering.

Article 5: This decision takes effect upon its issuance. Article 6: This decision is published in the Official Gazette.

Beirut, on 14/02/1998 Governor of Banque du Liban Riad T. Salamé

179 Data Management and Economic Analysis Unit Form PSDL-01 No. 1 Details of Public Sector Deposits and Loans Numbers in thousands of Lebanese Lira

Account Number / Item NameDeposits (Lebanese Lira) ResidentDeposits (Lebanese Lira) Non-residentLoans (Lebanese Lira) ResidentLoans (Lebanese Lira) Non-residentAutomated Sorting Number
1000+1200+1300+1400+1500+1600+1900 1000
1000 Ministries and Public Administrations
1100 Ministry of Finance
1200 Ministry of Telecommunications
1300 Ministry of Public Works
1400 Ministry of Health
1500 Ministry of Energy
1600 Ministry of Interior
1900 Other Ministries
2000 Municipalities
3000 National Social Security Fund
4100+4200 4000
4000 Non-financial Public Institutions
4100 Investment Institutions (commercial character)
4101 Electricity Lebanon Company (EDL)
4102 Tobacco and Matches Monopoly Administration
4103 Railways and Public Transport
4104 Lebanon TV
4105 National Investment Guarantee Company
4106 Public Institution for Beirut Airport Investment Projects
4107 National Employment Guarantee Company
4108 Beirut Port Authority
4109 National Litani River Service
4110 Sidon Port Investment Service
4111 Tripoli Port Investment Service
4112 Tyre Port Investment Service
4113 Internal Fund for Vocational and Technical Education Directorate
4114 Industrial Centers Establishment Authority
4115 National Office for Drugs
4116 National Center for Research and Development

180 | 4117 Aéroports du Liban Authority (AAL) | | | | | | | 4118 Public Institution for Southern Suburb Rearrangement - Yassar | | | | | | | 4119 National Music Institute | | | | | | | 4120 Water Services | | | | | | | 4190 Other non-financial public institutions | | | | | | | 4200 Administrative Institutions (non-commercial) | | | | | | | 4201 Public Institution for Alternative Crops | | | | | | | 4202 Public Institution for the Encouragement of Investments | | | | | | | 4203 Public Institution for Popular Markets and Consumer Protection | | | | | | | 4204 National Employment Institution | | | | | | | 4205 National Archives Institution | | | | | | | 4206 Lebanese Standards and Specifications Institution | | | | | | | 4207 Development and Reconstruction Council | | | | | | | 4208 South Council | | | | | | | 4209 National Council for Scientific Research | | | | | | | 4210 Council for Executing Major Projects in Beirut City | | | | | | | 4211 Council for Executing Construction Projects | | | | | | | 4212 National Council for Tourism Development | | | | | | | 4213 Independent Housing Fund | | | | | | | 4214 Central Fund for Displaced Persons | | | | | | | 4215 Independent Municipal Fund | | | | | | | 4216 Agricultural Research Service | | | | | | | 4217 Tripoli International Fair Authority | | | | | | | 4218 Sports City Service | | | | | | | 4219 Silk Office | | | | | | | 4220 Lebanese University | | | | | | | 4221 Green Project | | | | | | | 4222 State Employees Cooperative | | | | | | | 4223 Civil Aviation Safety Center | | | | | | | 4224 Cooperative Center | | | | | | | 4225 National Union for Real Estate Loans | | | | | | | 4226 High Relief Authority | | | | | | | 4227 Zahrani Oil Facilities | | | | | | | 4228 National Institution for Managing Government Hospitals | | | | | | | 4229 Government Hospitals | | | | | | | 4290 Other administrative institutions | | | | | | | 1000+2000+3000+4000 4999 Total | | | | | |

Notes

  1. Banque du Liban, the Housing Bank, and the Beirut Stock Exchange are classified within the financial sector and do not fall under the public sector.
  2. The term "public sector" includes: public administrations, public institutions including those with a commercial character, municipalities, and independent services.
  3. Attention is drawn to the necessity of matching the total of the public sector item with the balance of the automated sorting number (20900) plus various debtors (public sector 21220) in Form 2010.
  4. Attention is drawn to the necessity of matching the total of the public sector loans item with the automated sorting number 11600 in Form 2010.

¹ This form amended pursuant to Article 4 of Interim Decision No. 13817 dated 08/05/2026 (Interim Circular No. 763), effective as of the suspended status dated 31/05/2026.