The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) has issued new regulations permitting banks to establish service units outside their traditional branches, in a move designed to expand geographical coverage and guarantee broader access to financial services across all governorates.

The measure comes within the framework of Egypt’s Vision 2030, which seeks to promote economic empowerment and enhance financial inclusion nationwide. According to a statement from the CBE, the regulations aim to improve access to banking for individuals and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), while raising financial literacy in areas that remain underserved by the sector.

These service units will provide a wide array of offerings, ranging from account openings, customer data updates, loan processing, card issuance and delivery, to money transfers and digital banking services. They will also include ATM facilities for withdrawals and deposits, as well as advisory and literacy programmes for individuals, entrepreneurs, and MSMEs, alongside mechanisms for handling customer complaints.

The regulations define three categories of service units. Mobile units will operate through buses or vehicles equipped with banking tools. Fixed units will serve as low-cost outlets in locations such as youth centres, agricultural associations, or retail spaces. Temporary units will primarily be deployed to promote financial literacy, increase awareness of banking services, provide advisory support, and deliver limited banking services.

The CBE emphasised that the new framework represents a strategic step towards introducing innovative models to expand banking services in line with international best practices. It also reinforces national efforts to achieve greater financial inclusion, with a particular focus on women, young people, and people with disabilities. Moreover, the initiative is expected to encourage businesses in the informal sector to transition into the formal economy, while supporting entrepreneurship and enhancing the banking sector’s role as a driver of economic growth and sustainable development.

A circular issued by the CBE sets out detailed requirements for banks establishing such units. Institutions must present an annual plan for deployment, along with a marketing strategy to reach governorates and districts that lack sufficient coverage, in coordination with the Financial Inclusion Sector. They are also obliged to notify the Banking Supervision Sector at least one month prior to commencing or suspending operations, and to report immediately any operational disruptions or electronic system outages.

Banks must implement robust risk management measures, publish the working hours of these units on their websites, and ensure that at least two staff members—excluding security—are present at each location. The regulations also require banks to preserve their brand identity by displaying logos prominently and to apply strict confidentiality and security measures to protect customer data across all networks.

In addition, the CBE stressed full compliance with existing account-opening regulations and due diligence requirements set by the Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Unit. Temporary units are prohibited from handling cash transactions, with customers directed instead to ATMs or nearby banking facilities. Such units may operate for a maximum of three months, unless banks request an extension at least two weeks before the approved period expires, subject to CBE approval.

Egypt has witnessed remarkable progress in financial inclusion in recent years, driven by initiatives from both the CBE and the banking sector. Between 2016 and 2024, financial inclusion rates rose by around 204 percent, while lending portfolios directed towards MSMEs expanded by approximately 381%.

The CBE noted that the new regulatory framework builds on this momentum, aiming to ensure that access to financial services continues to deepen and spread across the nation.