Exceptional Measures for the Gradual Repayment of Foreign Currency Deposits

Circular No. 768
To the Banks

We hereby enclose a copy of Interim Decision No. 13824 dated 2026/6/4 concerning the amendment of Basic Decision No. 13335 dated 2021/6/8 (Exceptional Measures for the Gradual Repayment of Foreign Currency Deposits) attached to Basic Circular No. 158.

Beirut, on 4 June 2026

Governor of Banque du Liban

Karim Saeed

Interim Decision No. 13824
Amendment of Basic Decision No. 13335 dated 2021/6/8

The Governor of Banque du Liban,
Pursuant to the Monetary and Loan Law, particularly Articles 70 and 174 thereof, Pursuant to the provisions of Basic Decision No. 13335 dated 2021/6/8 and its amendments concerning exceptional measures for the gradual repayment of foreign currency deposits, Pursuant to the decision of the Central Council of Banque du Liban adopted in its meeting held on 2026/6/3, Decides as follows:

Article One: The text of both item (4) and item (5) of paragraph "secondly" from "Article Two repeated" of Basic Decision No. 13335 dated 2021/6/8 is repealed and replaced with the following text:
« -4 The "Account Holder" must request from the "Bank transferring from him", after providing the information referred to in item (2) above, the re-opening of an account with him designated to receive the amount he is entitled to benefit from in accordance with the provisions of this Decision. The concerned Bank must comply with his request, except in cases related to compliance rules, a judicial dispute between the parties, or the absence of any required information in the aforementioned information, under penalty of exposing him to the sanctions stipulated in this Decision, provided that the amount transferred to the "Bank transferring from him" does not exceed USD 54,200. -5 In the event that the account with the "Bank transferring from him" remains open, the "Account Holder", after providing the concerned Bank with the information referred to in item (2) of this Article, may request its re-funding from the account open with the "Bank transferring to him", provided that the total amount re-funded to the account, in addition to the amount he can benefit from in accordance with the provisions of this Decision with the "Bank transferring from him", does not exceed an amount of USD 54,200.»

Article Two: The text of both paragraph "thirdly" and paragraph "fourthly" of Article Three of Basic Decision No. 13335 dated 2021/6/8 is repealed and replaced with the following text:
« Thirdly: An amount equivalent to USD 54,200 or less shall be transferred to this account, according to the amounts available in the "Account Holder's" accounts with the concerned Bank in US Dollars or any other foreign currency.
However, the "Account Holder" may request the transfer of an amount of USD 10,000 to the "Special Sub-Account" to benefit from the provisions of this Decision for a period of one year. Upon the expiration of this year, contrary to the provisions of item two of paragraph "fifthly" of this Article, he shall retain the right to request the transfer of additional amounts to the aforementioned account within the maximum limit mentioned above, in order to continue benefiting from the provisions of this Decision until the expiration of its application period. The total amount the "Account Holder" can benefit from under the provisions of this Decision from all banks combined shall not exceed USD 54,200. ../.. -2- Fourthly: In the event that the "Account Holder" has multiple accounts with a specific bank, the "Account Holder" must specify the account or accounts from which the transfer to the "Special Sub-Account" will be made. In the event that the account is a joint or unified account, it shall not be utilized except for an amount with a maximum limit of USD 54,200 or its equivalent. Joint account holders shall agree among themselves on the percentage of benefit each shall receive from the provisions of this Decision. In the event that one of the parties to the joint account decides not to benefit, any of the remaining parties to the account may benefit from the maximum limit permitted. In the event that a joint account holder has a separate individual account and decides to benefit from the individual account, his partner may benefit from the joint account.»

Article Three: The text of paragraph "firstly" of Article Six of Basic Decision No. 13335 dated 2021/6/8 is repealed and replaced with the following text:
« Firstly: Banks are entitled, to secure the liquidity required under this Decision, to utilize the available foreign liquidity within the 3% ratio referred to in Basic Decision No. 13262 dated 2020/8/27 (Basic Circular No. 154), provided that this ratio is replenished within a maximum deadline of 2027/12/31.»

Article Four: This Decision shall take effect as of 2026/7/1, whereby the conditions of Basic Decision No. 13335 dated 2021/6/8, as amended by this Decision, shall apply for a period of one year, renewable or amendable, and shall remain in force until the release of all funds that can be transferred to the "Special Sub-Account".

Article Five: This Decision shall be published in the Official Gazette.

Beirut, on 4 June 2026

Governor of Banque du Liban

Karim Saeed