Lebanon: fintech & payments regulation

Who regulates

• Banque du Liban (Central Bank of Lebanon)

  Primary supervisor for electronic payment services, card issuance, e-money, lending, and microfinance.

  ^[1][2][3][4]

• Capital Markets Authority (CMA)

  Supervisor for securities intermediaries, investment firms, and wealth managers under Laws 161 and 234.

  ^[5][6][7]

Core laws & rules

• Code of Money and Credit (1963)

  Foundational legislation governing banking and monetary operations, under which the BDL issues circulars and decisions for electronic payments and financial institutions.

  ^[8]

• Basic Decision No. 7548 (2001 (amended))

  Core regulatory framework for electronic banking and financial operations, establishing licensing, capital, and operational rules for non-bank electronic payment providers.

  ^[4][9]

• Law No. 161 (2011)

  Capital Markets Law governing the licensing and regulation of financial intermediation institutions by the CMA.

  ^[5]

Licensing & registration

• Electronic Payment Services Provider (EPSP)

  Licensing framework established by Fundamental Decision No. 13790 for non-bank entities providing electronic payment services, excluding banks and financial institutions. Capital: 50 billion LBP (minimum paid-up capital for non-bank institutions per Decision 13547) Timeline: Ongoing; strict capital and corporate governance requirements mandated.

  ^[1][9]

• Card Issuance and Acquiring

  Entities must obtain a specific license to provide card issuance and acquiring services, mandating allocation of 55 billion LBP for compliance. Capital: 55 billion LBP (allocation for compliance) Timeline: Mandatory for all licensed banks and financial institutions.

  ^[2]

• Finance Companies (Lending/Microfinance)

  Comprehensive licensing for Finance Companies under Basic Decision No. 13819, covering Lending, Fiduciary, and Microfinance services. Capital: Strict capital thresholds mandated; specific amounts vary by category. Timeline: Existing 'Lending Accounts' (Constatours) granted one-year deadline to convert; microfinance institutions granted six-month window.

  ^[10][8][11]

• Financial Intermediation Institutions

  Licensing for securities dealers, advisors, and asset managers under CMA Laws 161 and 234. Capital: 1.5 billion to 60 billion LBP (based on activity type per Notice 93) Timeline: Annual registration and listing required.

  ^[7][5]

Restrictions & warnings

• Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) capped at 1.25% per transaction (including interchange fee not exceeding 0.9%) for locally issued cards in five vital sectors.

  ^[3]

• All POS transactions for locally issued cards must be settled in Lebanese Lira through the Central Bank's electronic settlement system.

  ^[12][13]

• Money dealers are prohibited from conducting financial and banking transactions via electronic payment means unless compliant with specific regulations.

  ^[14]

• Financial institutions ceasing operations for six consecutive months face automatic strike-off from the statutory list and license cancellation.

  ^[15]

Direction of travel

• Regulatory focus is shifting towards formalizing the fintech sector, with increased capital requirements and stricter supervision of electronic payment providers and lending entities.

  ^[1][10]

• The BDL is actively removing restrictions on local Lira card transactions to promote domestic payment usage, while maintaining tight control over foreign currency flows.

  ^[12]

Sources

1. Electronic Payment Services Providers · 2026-01-09
2. ATMs and Credit and Debit Cards · 2026-05-21
3. Setting a Cap on the Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) · 2026-04-28
4. Electronic Banking and Financial Operations · 2025-05-23
5. A List of Financial Intermediaries Duly Registered Issued by the CMA · 2024-08-08
6. On Amending the Licensing and Registration Regulation Series 2000 Related to Exam Exemptions for Registered Persons · 2025-02-12
7. On Amending the Licensing and Registration Regulation Series 2000, Related to Change of Capital Requirements for Approved Institutions · 2023-04-05
8. Conditions for Conducting Lending Operations as per the Provisions of Articles 183 and 184 of the Code of Money and Credit · 2026-05-21
9. Circular No. 667: Electronic Banking and Financial Operations · 2023-04-13
10. Conditions for the Establishment and Functioning of Finance Companies · 2026-05-21
11. Central Bank of Lebanon Circular No. 765 on Microloans · 2026-05-21
12. Central Decision No. 13750 Amending the Electronic Settlement System for Lebanese POS Cards · 2025-09-10
13. Central Bank of Lebanon Circular No. 629 on the Electronic Settlement System for Credit, Debit and Charge Cards Issued in Lebanon and Used Locally at POS Terminals · 2022-07-19
14. The Application of Law 347 Dated 6/8/2001 concerning the Regulation of Money Dealers · 2026-01-09
15. Conditions for Establishing and Operating Financial Institutions · 2022-03-29