According to BDL statistics, interest rate levels sustained their downturn during the month of March in the light of BDL circular no. 536 dated December 4, 2019 that placed caps on interest rates paid on USD deposits at 5% and on LBP deposits at 8.5% and the subsequent intermediate circular no. 544 dated February 13, 2020 which lowered the ceilings paid on new or renewed local and foreign currency denominated deposits to much lower levels. In figures, the weighted average interest rate on Lebanese Pound denominated deposits dropped to 1.96% during the month of March, from 2.11% in the previous month and 5.13% a year earlier. In the same vein, the weighted average interest rate on U.S. Dollar denominated deposits fell to 0.52% in March 2021, down from 0.54% in February and 2.53% in March 2020. Commercial banks’ discount and lending rate on LBP denominated loans came in higher at 8.02% in March 2021, with that on USD denominated loans increasing to 7.14%. Consequently, the average monthly spread between LBP lending and deposit rates stood at 592 basis points in March 2021, while that between USD lending and deposit rates reached 631 bps.