The Lebanese Central Bank issued on August 17, 2026 basic decision 13836 under basic circular no. 174 to banks and financial institutions. According to the circular, a “Central Depositors System” will be established within the Banking Directorate at Banque Du Liban (BDL), which will be in charge of managing the central database relating to depositors and deposits, as well as assigning a unified number to each depositor for the purpose of identifying the depositor and consolidating the information and data of said depositor. As per the circular, deposits are to be divided between fresh funds as specified by basic circular 165 and non-fresh funds. The circular added that banks will provide the Central Depositors System with all required information, data, and documents within the specified deadlines and in accordance with the rules and procedures stipulated in the regulations attached to the circular and the implementation instructions issued by BDL. Furthermore, the circular mentioned that the IT division at BDL will prepare, operate, maintain and develop the information technology systems and software required for the implementation of the concerned decision as well as provide banks, where necessary, with the required technical support and training. Basic circular 174 commented that any violation of the provisions of decision 13836 will be subject to administrative penalties as stipulated in article 208 of the Code of Money and Credit (plus late-payment fines) and will be considered as an offense under Article 770 of the Penal Code, granting BDL the right to prosecute any institution in violation. The circular stated that BDL will issue the implementation guidelines regarding the provisions of basic decision 13836 in due course. The circular noted that decision 13836 will become effective as soon as the implementation mechanism is issued.