Central Bank of Lebanon

Counterfeit Bills: A Closer Look at the Dollar

Are counterfeit dollar bills circulating in the market? If so, it's clear that this issue is not limited to Lebanon but also affects other global markets. However, the Lebanese are particularly sensitive to it due to the country's economic crisis, which has left the cash economy in a fragile state, all amid a "neither peace nor war" situation ...

Lebanese Forces Urge Hezbollah to Legalize All Its Institutions

The Lebanese Forces (LF) have urged Hezbollah to “incorporate” itself into the state by legalizing all its institutions, particularly the financial entity al-Qard al-Hassan. The institution recently announced the reopening of 16 branches across various regions in Lebanon, just days after a ceasefire was declared on November 27. In a press ...

Reinsurers Reluctant Toward Lebanese Insurance Companies Over Conflict

Reinsurers are hesitant to renew reinsurance contracts with Lebanese insurance companies — an expected approach in view of the conflict sparked by Hezbollah’s front against Israel. As the year-end approaches, most annual reinsurance agreements for the 40 insurance companies operating in Lebanon are set to expire. Negotiations have been ...

2025 Budget: A Looming Fiscal Crisis

With spending on the rise and revenues falling short of expectations, the 2025 budget proposal is now effectively obsolete. The government must act swiftly to withdraw it from Parliament, where it was submitted on time, to prevent a deepening crisis. Why is a crisis inevitable? The current draft budget relies on unrealistic revenue projections, ...

Trump's Economic Policies and Lebanon's Dollar Crisis

While the dollar’s value is primarily shaped by US domestic factors, its fluctuations continue to ripple through the global economy. A 2023 International Monetary Fund (IMF) study found that the negative impact of a strong dollar tends to last around two and a half years in emerging markets, compared to just one year in developed economies. The ...

Bank Depositors: The Central Bank Loosens Its Stance

According to reliable sources, This is Beirut has learned that, in the coming months, the Central Bank (BDL) plans to continue providing two monthly payments instead of one to the beneficiaries of circulars 158 and 161, which allow exceptional withdrawals in fresh dollars. The BDL has decided to respond to the current critical situation by ...

All Eyes on Central Bank’s Reserves

Political pressure from the Amal-Hezbollah duo on the government is mounting, driven by rising complaints among the displaced population and the decrease in international aid. Faced with limited options, Lebanon is now in a state of voluntary default. All eyes are set on the foreign currency reserves of Lebanon’s central bank (BDL) and the ...

Hijacking Lebanon's Treasury Account 36

The Shiite duo (Amal-Hezbollah) reportedly has its sights set on the funds in Lebanon's Treasury Account 36 to support the displaced. This account comprises funds collected by the Lebanese state, primarily from taxes, customs duties, donations and other sources of public revenue. Recently, Hezbollah and Amal MPs and ministers, including Hussein ...

The Hezbollah-Israel War: A Blow to the Lebanese Economy

Lebanon is undergoing an unprecedented economic collapse, worsened by the recent war, which deepened the financial crisis that began in 2019 when the state declared bankruptcy, and banks, along with the Central Bank (BDL), faltered. The financial sector’s collapse triggered a widespread crisis, affecting every facet of economic and daily life. ...

Two Payments for Bank Depositors in November Instead of One

Beneficiaries of Central Bank (BDL) circulars 158 and 166 will receive two monthly payments for November instead of one, as announced by This is Beirut on Wednesday. Due to the “urgent circumstances” that Lebanon is currently experiencing, the BDL Central Council requested in a statement released on Thursday that banks provide two ...

Bank Audi Quarterly Report: Economic Reality and Outlook in a War-Torn Lebanon

Lebanon has suffered enormous human, material and economic losses due to the bombings, compounded by a massive wave of displacement not seen since the end of the Civil War in 1990. Most sectors of the Lebanese economy are currently stagnating, with significant declines in tourism and agriculture. The report indicates that the damages are colossal, ...

Depositors May Have Two Monthly Payments Instead of One!

In the coming 48 hours, beneficiaries of Banque du Liban (BDL) Circulars 158 and 166, related to exceptional withdrawals of fresh dollars, will receive updates regarding potential amendments. A source close to the Central Bank has indicated that the number of monthly payments available to eligible depositors will be reduced to two, instead of the ...