Banque du Liban Announces Measures to Remove Lebanon from the Grey List
11/14/2025 11:50:00 AM
The following was issued by the Banque du Liban (BDL):
As part of efforts to remove Lebanon from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list, since a country’s inclusion on this list indicates gaps in combating illicit financial transactions and leads to increased international scrutiny, tighter oversight, and declining confidence from global financial institutions, Banque du Liban has taken an initial step in a series of precautionary measures aimed at strengthening the compliance environment within the financial sector.
This step consists of imposing preventive measures on all non-banking financial institutions licensed by BDL, including money transfer companies, currency exchange firms, and other entities that carry out cash operations in foreign currencies and handle transfers to and from Lebanon.
These protective measures aim to prevent the movement of illicit or unlawfully acquired funds through these institutions by enforcing stricter compliance requirements and enhanced due diligence on all legal and natural persons involved in cash transactions, including ultimate beneficial owners.
Additional steps will follow to impose further precautionary measures on commercial banks, which will establish multiple layers of controls and checkpoints designed to detect, contain, and prevent the circulation of illicit funds through the banking system and the wider financial sector.
Accordingly, the Banking Control Commission of Lebanon will monitor the implementation of these measures and ensure compliance by all concerned banks and non-banking financial institutions, taking corrective action when necessary.
Banque du Liban has also issued a circular addressed to financial institutions, exchange companies, and entities providing money transfer services, which is attached.
As part of efforts to remove Lebanon from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list, since a country’s inclusion on this list indicates gaps in combating illicit financial transactions and leads to increased international scrutiny, tighter oversight, and declining confidence from global financial institutions, Banque du Liban has taken an initial step in a series of precautionary measures aimed at strengthening the compliance environment within the financial sector.
This step consists of imposing preventive measures on all non-banking financial institutions licensed by BDL, including money transfer companies, currency exchange firms, and other entities that carry out cash operations in foreign currencies and handle transfers to and from Lebanon.
These protective measures aim to prevent the movement of illicit or unlawfully acquired funds through these institutions by enforcing stricter compliance requirements and enhanced due diligence on all legal and natural persons involved in cash transactions, including ultimate beneficial owners.
Additional steps will follow to impose further precautionary measures on commercial banks, which will establish multiple layers of controls and checkpoints designed to detect, contain, and prevent the circulation of illicit funds through the banking system and the wider financial sector.
Accordingly, the Banking Control Commission of Lebanon will monitor the implementation of these measures and ensure compliance by all concerned banks and non-banking financial institutions, taking corrective action when necessary.
Banque du Liban has also issued a circular addressed to financial institutions, exchange companies, and entities providing money transfer services, which is attached.