The Lebanese Central Bank issued on March 27, 2025 intermediate decision 13716 under intermediate circular 733 directed to banks and auditors concerning some restrictions on banking operations, whereby it amended some of the provisions of the basic decision number 13353. In details, the circular allowed banks to buy foreign currencies from their customers as per the provisions of basic circular 157 (i.e. to cover customers’ personal and commercial needs) as well as from financial institutions and licensed exchange offices, on the condition that commissions/margins are capped at 1% of the purchase price. Prior to this amendment, banks were only permitted to do such operations on inward foreign transfers to their customers, and to use the proceeds strictly for medium & long-term investment purposes or to improve liquidity levels or to settle foreign commitments. The circular also restricted banks from selling non-fresh foreign currencies except to BDL, and from buying/selling foreign currency denominated assets (BSE listed securities, Lebanese Eurobonds, etc.) unless via fresh foreign currencies or their equivalent in LBP, and from selling Lebanese Eurobonds to external parties without getting the prior approval of BDL.