Circular Letter dated 17 August 2026 regarding the enhancement of financial literacy for individuals and small, micro, and medium-sized enterprises

Cairo on: 17 August 2026

Dear Sir/Madam, Chairman of the Board of Directors Bank

Greetings,

With reference to the circular letter issued by the Central Bank on 19 February 2019 regarding the instructions for protecting the rights of bank customers, which included the necessity for banks to publish banking culture and awareness, and to the circular letter issued on 5 March 2020 regarding the obligation for banks to establish an independent financial inclusion department responsible for preparing the bank's financial inclusion strategy, as well as preparing an annual work plan that includes publishing financial culture and caring for related activities.

And in light of the continuous interest that the Central Bank of Egypt pays to achieving financial inclusion and its keenness to spread and enhance financial culture and raise the level of financial awareness among all segments of society, and believing in the importance of the pivotal role of the banking sector in empowering citizens, entrepreneurs, and owners of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises to make sound financial decisions that reduce their exposure to financial risks, it is necessary to work on the following:

1. Including financial literacy in the bank's financial inclusion strategy.

2. Working to spread and enhance financial culture among citizens and providing advisory services to owners of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises and entrepreneurs according to the categories targeted by the bank, through the following, by way of example:

1-2 Preparing programs and content for financial literacy aimed at enhancing financial knowledge and skills and consolidating sound financial behavior, keeping pace with developments in financial products and services and digital transformation, and enhancing data protection concepts, thereby enabling individuals and companies to use financial products and services safely and effectively and understand the associated risks.

2-2 Educating citizens and company owners of all sizes about the importance and benefits of using cards and digital payment methods and various electronic payment channels, and enhancing awareness of payment acceptance means and electronic transfers, and setting up appropriate incentive programs and informing customers about them, thereby enhancing trust in digital financial services and supporting their effective use and the transition towards a society less dependent on cash.

3-2 Making non-financial and advisory services available in line with the bank's policies, through guidance, counseling, capacity building, and technical support for entrepreneurs and owners of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, thereby supporting the growth and sustainability of their businesses and integrating them into the formal economy.

4-2 Building partnerships with relevant authorities and institutions (for example: universities, government authorities, financial institutions, etc.), to participate in national events and campaigns aimed at raising financial awareness, thereby allowing for the exchange of expertise and the application of best practices in this regard.

5-2 Using diverse tools and channels to spread financial culture to reach targeted categories in all governorates of the Republic, while providing financial literacy materials in diverse and accessible formats that take into account the needs of different categories, especially the most vulnerable categories, using appropriate means such as sign language or the Braille method.

6-2 Expanding interactive financial literacy initiatives through field programs and awareness campaigns, such as educational simulation models (Gamification), in addition to using simple and direct messages with effective impact and using electronic channels such as the bank's website, social media, and mobile applications, considering them low-cost and widely available channels capable of reaching broad segments of society.

7-2 Marketing financial products and services must be accompanied by a comprehensive and clear explanation of their characteristics, benefits, and how to use them optimally, so that the promotion of financial products and services does not constitute a substitute for financial literacy programs.

8-2 Implementing programs and awareness campaigns to raise the level of customer awareness regarding the risks of fraud and its new methods, and enhancing their ability to detect fraudulent attempts and how to prevent them.

9-2 Establishing clear and methodical mechanisms to measure the impact of financial literacy programs and evaluate their effectiveness in improving financial behavior and knowledge, thereby supporting the continuous development of these programs and ensuring the achievement of their objectives.

3. Building the capacities of bank employees through the following:

1-3 Providing periodic training programs for bank employees (for example: call center staff and branch customer service staff), enabling them to understand the instructions related to financial inclusion and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, to ensure effective implementation and enhance their ability to provide appropriate information and guidance to customers and build customer trust, and support underserved categories in accessing appropriate financial services.

2-3 Developing employee capacities to enable them to apply responsible sales standards when offering suitable financial products and services to all targeted customer categories, adopting a customer-centric approach in the design and development of financial products and services.

3-3 Enhancing employees' skills in detecting fraud attempts and prevention mechanisms, thereby contributing to enhancing their awareness role towards customers and supporting the safe use of banking services.

4. Submitting the following plans and reports to the Financial Inclusion Sector of the Central Bank:

1-4 A comprehensive annual work plan for spreading and enhancing financial culture during the last quarter of each year for the following year, including measurable activities, specific results, impact measurement mechanisms, and effectiveness evaluation, with due care given to its preparation and implementation.

2-4 A periodic quarterly report on implemented activities, to be sent no later than the end of the first month of the following quarter, according to the form that will be provided to you.

In light of the above, the Financial Inclusion Department in your esteemed bank shall undertake the tasks of implementing the foregoing and coordinating between the relevant bank sectors in this regard.

Please be so kind as to direct the necessary actions.

Yours faithfully,

Tarek Al-Kholy