Regulatory Alerts2026-01-21 | 13799Banks Statement on Electronic Cash Money Settlement Operations and Ensuring Equity in Foreign Currency Deposits
The Central Bank of Lebanon issued Intermediate Decision No. 13799 on January 21, 2026, amending three foundational decisions to redefine "Cash Money" for electronic settlements and enforce equitable repayment of foreign currency deposits. The directive requires all Lebanese banks to withhold pre-October 17, 2019 foreign currency account balances exceeding regulatory ceilings unless granted prior written approval, while formally recognizing newly transferred or received foreign banknotes as eligible for conversion into Lebanese Lira accounts. Effective immediately upon publication in the Official Gazette, these amendments operationalize recent constitutional council rulings to standardize cross-border fund treatments and stabilize banking liquidity.
Central Bank Directive No. 756 To Banks
We enclose for your reference a copy of Intermediate Decision No. 13799 dated January 21, 2026, concerning the amendment of:
- Basic Decision No. 13548 dated April 19, 2023 (Electronic "Cash Money" Settlement Operations), attached to Basic Circular No. 165;
- Basic Decision No. 13729 dated July 1, 2025 (Ensuring Equity in the Repayment of Foreign Currency Deposits), attached to Basic Circular No. 169;
- Basic Decision No. 7723 dated December 2, 2000 (Status of Banks), attached to Basic Circular No. 76.
Beirut, January 21, 2026 Governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon Karim Saeed
Intermediate Decision No. 13799 Amending Basic Decision No. 13548 dated April 19, 2023 and Basic Decision No. 13729 dated July 1, 2025 and Basic Decision No. 7723 dated December 2, 2000
The Governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon, Pursuant to the Monetary and Exchange Law, particularly Articles 70 and 174 thereof; Pursuant to Basic Decision No. 13548 dated April 19, 2023 and its amendments regarding electronic "Cash Money" settlement operations; Pursuant to Basic Decision No. 13729 dated July 1, 2025 regarding ensuring equity in the repayment of foreign currency deposits; Pursuant to Basic Decision No. 7723 dated December 2, 2000 and its amendments regarding the status of banks; Pursuant to Constitutional Council Decision No. 2025/16 dated October 3, 2025 issued following a challenge to the provisions of Law No. 2025/23 (Law Amending and Restructuring the Status of Banks in Lebanon); Pursuant to a decision by the Central Council of the Central Bank of Lebanon taken during its session held on January 21, 2026; Has decided as follows:
Article One: The text of "Article 1" of Basic Decision No. 13548 dated April 19, 2023 is repealed and replaced with the following text: « For the purpose of applying the provisions of this Decision, "Cash Money" refers to funds transferred from abroad and/or received as foreign currency banknotes after October 17, 2019, and funds deposited or to be deposited as banknotes in new Lebanese Lira accounts that meet the conditions specified in Article 2 of Basic Decision No. 13217 dated April 9, 2020. »
Article Two: The text of Article 1 of Basic Decision No. 13729 dated July 1, 2025 is repealed and replaced with the following text: « Subject to the provisions of Law No. 283 dated April 12, 2022, all banks operating in Lebanon are required to refrain from repaying any amount from foreign currency accounts established by any of them before October 17, 2019, whether such amounts were established with the concerned bank or transferred to it after this date, insofar as they exceed the ceilings specified in regulatory texts issued by the Central Bank of Lebanon, without obtaining prior written approval from the Central Bank of Lebanon. »
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Article Three: The text of paragraph (6) of Article 1 of Basic Decision No. 7723 dated December 2, 2000 is repealed and replaced with the following text: « -6 The monthly status of Lebanon branches regarding new funds, as defined in Basic Decision No. 13548 dated April 19, 2023, which were transferred from abroad and/or received in foreign currency banknotes after October 17, 2019. »
Article Four: This Decision shall take effect upon its issuance. Article Five: This Decision shall be published in the Official Gazette.
Beirut, January 21, 2026 Governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon Karim Saeed