Regulatory AlertsLebanon: lending & credit regulation
RegulatedBDL centralizes lending; Finance Companies licensed for micro/SME; P2P unregulated
- Lead regulator
- Banque du Liban (BDL)
- Also involved
- Ministry of Economy (commercial registration) · Ministry of Finance (tax)
- Core law
- Code of Money and Credit (Basic Decision No. 12174; Basic Decision No. 13819)
- Entry capital
- LL 2 billion (Lending Account); LL 500 million (Finance Company)
- Approval timeline
- 3-6 months for Finance Company license; Lending Account conversion pending
- Customer assets
- Segregated in licensed institution accounts
- Data protection
- Law 81/2018 · Ministry of Telecommunications
- Sandbox
- No
Lebanon's lending market is dominated by the Banque du Liban (BDL), which regulates banks and non-bank financial institutions. The regulatory landscape has recently tightened, with BDL suspending new 'Lending Account' permits and mandating their conversion to licensed Finance Companies. Finance Companies are now the primary vehicle for non-bank lending, categorized into Lending, Fiduciary, and Microfinance services. P2P lending remains largely unregulated, while credit scoring is integrated into the BDL's Central Office for Credit Risk system.
Which licence do you need?
| Your activity | Requirement | Capital | Timeline | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer lending | LicenceFinance Company (Lending Category)[1] Banks also lend; non-banks require Finance Company license. | LL 500 million | 3-6 months | Banque du Liban |
| SME / commercial lending | LicenceFinance Company (Lending Category)[1] Banks dominate SME lending; Finance Companies permitted. | LL 500 million | 3-6 months | Banque du Liban |
| Microfinance | LicenceFinance Company (Microfinance Category)[1] Dedicated microfinance license tier within Finance Companies. | LL 500 million | 3-6 months | Banque du Liban |
| Buy-now-pay-later | Uncertainverify with regulator No specific BNPL regime; likely falls under general lending. | — | — | — |
| P2P lending platform | Unregulated No specific P2P lending regulation identified. | — | — | — |
| Credit bureau / scoring | RegistrationCentral Office for Credit Risk[2] Mandatory reporting to BDL's Central Office for Credit Risk. | — | — | Banque du Liban |
| Debt collection | Uncertainverify with regulator Debt collection not explicitly regulated; likely requires commercial license. | — | — | — |
New — what changed recently
- 2026-05-21Basic Decision No. 13819 — Established comprehensive licensing for Finance Companies, mandating LL 500m capital and suspending new Lending Accounts.[1]
- 2026-05-21Basic Decision No. 12174 (Amended) — Suspended new Knowledge and Experience Permits for Lending Accounts, requiring existing ones to convert to licensed institutions.[3]
- 2026-03-16Central Office Decision No. 13807 — Raised the credit reporting threshold to total facilities exceeding LL 20,000,000.[2]
Market-entry checklist
- 1Secure BDL Finance Company LicenseApply for a Finance Company license with LL 500 million paid-up capital.
- 2Convert Existing Lending AccountIf holding a Lending Account, convert to a Finance Company within the one-year deadline.
- 3Register with Central Credit RiskEnroll in the BDL Central Office for Credit Risk system for mandatory reporting.
- 4Obtain Commercial RegistrationRegister the entity with the Ministry of Economy for commercial operations.
- 5Implement AML/CFT FrameworkEstablish internal controls compliant with BDL and NFIU anti-money laundering requirements.