2010-04-05

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Central Bank of Libya Decision No. 7 of 2010 on Rules and Standards for Debt Write-offs

The Central Bank of Libya mandates that commercial banks may only write off or cancel debts after they have been classified as doubtful or bad for at least five years, or three years if the debt value does not exceed 3,000 Libyan Dinars. Banks are required to maintain 100% provisions for such debts, obtain external auditor reviews, and secure approval from the Banking and Currency Supervision Department before proceeding. The decision further requires banks to maintain off-balance sheet records of written-off debts to preserve the right to pursue recovery if the debtor's financial situation improves.

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No Democracy Without Popular Conferences

Central Bank of Libya P.O. Box 1103 Tripoli - The Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Telegram Address: Central Bank of Libya - Tripoli

Reference: ARM No. 852 Circular No. ARM No. (2010/6) Date: 7 Nouran Corresponding: 22 Rabiee 1378 AH {2010 AD}

To: Brothers/ General Managers of Commercial Banks To: Brother/ General Manager / Libyan External Bank

Greetings,

Subject: Rules and Standards to be Observed Before Taking Debt Write-off Decisions at Banks

Based on the provisions of Law No. (1) of the year (2005 AD), issued on 1373/1/12 AH (2005), concerning Banks. And with reference to Circular ARM No. (2006/15) dated 1374/7/27 AH (2006 AD), through which the decision of the Board of Directors of the Central Bank of Libya No. (32) of the year 1324 AH (2006 AD), issued on 2006/7/6 AD, was referred to, amending the conditions for exemption from accrued and graphically calculated interest.

We inform you that the Board of Directors of the Central Bank of Libya, in its first meeting of the year 1378 AH (2010 AD) held on 1378/2/21 AH (2010 AD), issued Decision No. (7) of the year 1378 AH (2010 AD), concerning the Rules and Standards to be observed before taking debt write-off decisions at banks.

And while we refer to you the aforementioned decision, it is hoped that the necessary measures will be taken to comply with its provisions and to put its contents into practice.

Peace, mercy, and blessings of God be upon you.

Dr. Muhammad Abdul Jalil Abousnina Director of Banking and Currency Supervision Department

Copies to:

  • To: Banks
  • To: Deputy of Banks
  • To: Secretary of the Board of Directors - Central Bank of Libya
  • To: Analysis and Supervisory Review Department
  • To: Banking Follow-up and Compliance Monitoring Department

======================================== 1378 AH / 2010 AD / Circular 8


No Democracy Without Popular Conferences

Central Bank of Libya P.O. Box 1103 Tripoli - The Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Telegram Address: Central Bank of Libya - Tripoli

Board of Directors

Decision of the Board of Directors of the Central Bank of Libya, No. (7) of the year 1378 AH (2010 AD), Concerning the Rules and Standards to be Observed Before Taking Debt Write-off Decisions at Banks

The Board of Directors of the Central Bank of Libya Having reviewed Law No. (1) of the year 1373 AH (2005 AD), concerning Banks. And having reviewed the Decision of the Board of Directors of the Central Bank of Libya, No. (35) of the year 1376 AH (2008 AD), concerning the authorization to establish a Credit Information Office at the Central Bank of Libya. And having reviewed the Decision of the Governor of the Central Bank of Libya No. (48) of the year 1377 AH (2009 AD), establishing the Libyan Credit Information Center and organizing it, and approving the manual of tasks and responsibilities of its departments and units. And having reviewed the memorandum submitted by the Banking and Currency Supervision Department, concerning the Rules and Standards to be observed before taking debt write-off decisions at banks. And having reviewed what the Board concluded, in its first meeting of the year 1378 AH (2010 AD), held on 1378/02/21 AH (2010 AD).

Decided

Chapter One General Provisions on Debt Write-offs and Cancellation

Article (1) Debt Eligible for Write-off or Cancellation The debt eligible for write-off or cancellation is the debt for which a period of not less than five years has elapsed since its classification into the category of (doubtful debts) or (bad debts), according to the instructions issued by the Central Bank of Libya regarding this matter, without any positive development in its collection.


Central Bank of Libya P.O. Box 1103 Tripoli - The Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Telegram Address: Central Bank of Libya - Tripoli

Board of Directors -2-

Article (2) Special Exception for Debts of Small Value As an exception to the ruling stipulated in the previous article, the debt is eligible for write-off or cancellation if its value does not exceed the amount of (3,000.000 L.D.) three thousand Dinars, after the passage of three years since its classification into the category of (doubtful debts) or (bad debts), if the bank's management determines that collection is impossible, or that collection requires costs exceeding its value.

Article (3) Evaluation and Monitoring of Collateral Banks must evaluate the legal status of the collateral provided to them against the debts granted, and ensure the integrity of the documents and papers related to them, and their sufficiency to cover the value of the debt and the accrued interest, and their liquidity, and the expenses, time, and effort required to liquidate the collateral. They must re-evaluate these collaterals and update their status and positions periodically, in terms of their sufficiency, liquidity, and the resulting expenses, time, and effort. And the bank's Board of Directors may, in cases it deems appropriate, decide to instruct the bank's management to request the debtor to provide additional collateral, whether in kind or of another nature, which it deems sufficient to secure the bank's rights, according to the ruling stipulated in Article (79 / second / 2) of the Banks Law.

Chapter Two Conditions for Debt Write-off and Cancellation

Article (4) Fulfillment of Necessary Procedures for Debt Collection The bank shall not write off or cancel any debt except after fulfilling the administrative and legal procedures prescribed for debt collection and recovery, including administrative seizure procedures, for banks authorized to take such measures. If debt collection is impossible despite taking the necessary measures, the bank may write off or cancel the debt, in accordance with the controls and conditions stipulated in this Decision.


Central Bank of Libya P.O. Box 1103 Tripoli - The Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Telegram Address: Central Bank of Libya - Tripoli

Board of Directors -3-

Article (5) Formation of Necessary Provisions The bank shall not write off or cancel any debt except after forming a provision for this debt, at a rate equivalent to (100%) one hundred percent, of the value of the debt and the accrued interest.

Article (6) Review of Debts Before Cancellation or Write-off The bank shall not write off or cancel any debt except after entrusting its external auditors to review it. Each of them must indicate, in their report, the debts required to be cancelled or written off, stating their opinion clearly, and the reasons supporting this opinion, after verifying the integrity of the accounting treatment followed in debt write-offs and cancellations, the volume and percentage of debts, and the provisions formed for them during the financial year.

Article (7) Notification of the Central Bank of Libya Except for the small debts stipulated in Article (2) of this Decision, the bank shall not write off or cancel any debt except after notifying the Banking and Currency Supervision Department at the Central Bank of Libya of the debts it intends to cancel or write off, the administrative and legal procedures it has taken in an attempt to collect or recover them, and the opinion of each of the external auditors, according to the ruling stipulated in the previous article. If the bank receives the approval of the said department, or if a period of one month elapses without receiving an objection from it, the bank may proceed with the debt cancellation or write-off procedures.

Article (8) Mechanism for Debt Write-off and Cancellation The write-off or cancellation of debt shall be by a decision of the bank's Board of Directors, based on a proposal from the General Manager, accompanied by a study prepared by the Risk and Legal Affairs departments, and after the approval of the Banking and Currency Supervision Department at the Central Bank of Libya, as indicated in the previous article. This decision shall not be effective until approved by the General Assembly of the bank.


Central Bank of Libya P.O. Box 1103 Tripoli - The Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Telegram Address: Central Bank of Libya - Tripoli

Board of Directors -4-

Chapter Three Supervisory Controls

Article (9) Submission of Data on Written-off Debts Each bank is obliged to submit detailed data to the Central Bank of Libya regarding what it has cancelled or written off from debts, and regarding the customers whose debts were cancelled, such that it is documented according to the provisions stipulated in Articles (63) and (80) of the Banks Law.

Article (10) Adherence to Accounting Standards Each bank must adhere to sound accounting principles and established international standards in the accounting entries in its records related to debt write-off and cancellation operations, by writing them off as expenses, within the Profit and Loss account, and processing the provisions formed against these debts, and working to utilize the provisions that are released to cover any shortfall in required provisions, while considering all of this in relation to tax obligations.

Article (11) Retention of Data on Written-off Debts and Their Files The cancellation or write-off of debt does not mean the discharge of the debtor's obligation. The bank must retain the data and files related to the debts that are cancelled, and prepare side registers, including the balances of these debts and their details, and the accrued interest, so that they can be referred to and reviewed when needed, thereby enabling the possibility of pursuing debtors if positive developments occur in subsequent periods after the write-off of debts, allowing for the recovery of the bank's rights.

Article (12) This Decision shall be implemented from the date of its issuance, and the Banking and Currency Supervision Department shall take the necessary measures to put it into practice.

Farhat Omar Bin Qadara Governor and Chairman of the Board of Directors

Issued on: 21 Nouran 1378 AH (2010 AD).

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