Fresh USD Checks Reached 57,085 Checks Valued at $771.22M by October 2025

According to the data published by the Association of Lebanese Banks’ (ABL), the total number of cleared checks in the Lebanese financial system decreased remarkably by 43.65% year over year (YoY) to 92,393 checks by October 2025. Similarly, the cumulative value of cleared checks in local currency decreased by 23.48%YoY to LBP 52.44B by October 2025. Likewise, the cumulative value of cleared checks in foreign currency dropped by 49.24% year-over-year (YoY) to reach $571M by October 2025.

Moreover, the volumes of cleared checks in Lebanese Pounds and foreign currencies witnessed substantial yearly drop of 41.32% and 68.41% respectively to settle at 87,941 and 4,452 checks, by October 2025. Accordingly, the dollarization rate of checks in terms of volume fell from 8.59% in October 2024 to 4.82% in October 2025. 

Notably, the number of returned checks was dropped substantially by 47.99% YoY to stand at 479 checks by October 2025. Moreover, the value of returned checks in local currency decreased by 17.34% YOY to record LBP 491B, however, the value of returned checks in foreign currency increased significantly by 50.83% YOY to record $93.47M in October 2025.

Banque du Liban (BDL) recently issued Circular 165, which permits depositors to make payments by check starting June 1st, 2023, as long as their accounts are in either fresh US dollars or Lebanese lira. To support this initiative, BDL has introduced a new clearing system, distinct from the one dedicated to pre-crisis deposits. This circular serves a dual purpose: it encourages customers to open new accounts in both Lebanese pounds and US dollars, while also aiming to decrease the country’s dependence on cash and stimulate economic recovery. As such, in October 2025, the cumulative number of checks issued from fresh accounts reached 77,247, of which 57,085 checks are in USD currency amounting $771.22M and 20,162 checks are in LBP currency amounting LBP 32,973B. On a monthly basis, the number of fresh cleared checks in both currencies in October 2025 was 12,786 checks.

Cleared Checks by October 2025 (in 000s)

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