2021-12-29

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Circular dated December 29, 2021 regarding extending the exemption of some banking services from commissions in light of the precautionary measures to confront the Corona virus

The Central Bank of Egypt extends the exemption of certain banking service fees and commissions for customers until June 30, 2022. This extension covers Egyptian Pound bank transfers, mobile wallet issuance and inter-account transfers, free contactless prepaid cards for citizens, free ATM cash withdrawals (excluding credit cards), and waived interchange fees for contactless payments without PINs. Additionally, banks licensed for electronic commerce must waive all activation, monthly, and additional service fees for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) activating internet collection services for the first time during this period.

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Egypt

Central Bank of Egypt

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Cairo on: December 29, 2021

Dear Mr./ Chairman of the Board of Directors

Bank

Greetings,

With reference to the circular letter issued on March 15, 2020 and its subsequent circular letters regarding the procedures and precautionary measures that must be taken to ensure the continuity of banks' operations and various activities to meet customer needs in light of continuous monitoring of the banking market and banking operations, and to provide more support and facilitation with the aim of benefiting from the achievements made during the past period of increasing customer inclination towards using electronic payment methods and channels, as well as achieving the current trend of the Central Bank of Egypt and the banking sector towards transforming into a less cash-dependent society, please be so kind as to direct taking the necessary steps to implement the following:

Firstly, implementing the following instructions regarding currencies and fees applied to banking services:

From January 1, 2022 until June 30, 2022:

-1 Regarding bank transfers: Customers are exempted from all expenses and currencies related to all bank transfer services in Egyptian Pounds.

-2 Regarding mobile phone payment services, the following continues: • Issuance of electronic wallets for free.

  • Cancellation of all currencies and fees related to transfers between mobile phone accounts.

-3 Regarding bank cards: The issuance of prepaid cards is continued, provided that those contactless cards for citizens are free of charge. "Contactless" when the bank starts issuing this type of card.

-4 Regarding ATM transactions for bank cards: The cancellation of fees and currencies related to cash withdrawal operations continues throughout the aforementioned period, with the issuing bank bearing those fees and currencies, and this does not include credit card revenues.

-5 Regarding payment services using contactless payment instruments: Banks licensed for electronic acceptance are committed to cancelling all fees and currencies borne by private sector merchants on transactions carried out using contactless payment instruments issued by banks operating in the Arab Republic of Egypt and without entering the password, with the commitment of the issuing bank of the contactless payment instrument to refund the interchange fees (Interchange fees) to the acquiring bank during the aforementioned period.

-6 Regarding the initiative to increase the number of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) wishing to activate Electronic Collection Services via Internet (Commerce-E) from private sector merchants: Acquiring banks licensed for electronic acceptance via the Internet (Commerce-E) are committed to cancelling all fees borne by private sector merchants from Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) wishing to activate Electronic Collection Services via the Internet (Commerce-E) for the first time, during the aforementioned period, with the necessity of committing to activate the Quick Response Code (QR code) as well as accepting national payment cards "Mada" through those applications and websites, including the fees mentioned above, which include:

  • Service activation fees, which are paid once before starting the activation of the service.

  • Monthly service fees during the aforementioned period.

  • Additional service fees (if any), which include, for example, but not limited to, "Tokenization" card encryption services, "Recurring" payment services - etc.

In light of the foregoing, it is essential to alert for strict compliance with the above immediately.

And please accept our highest respect,