Lebanon's Central Bank announced on Wednesday permanent adjustments to Circulars 166 and 158, significantly raising the monthly allocations for beneficiaries.

Under the updated terms, monthly withdrawals under Circular 158 will rise from $500 to $800, while the ceiling for Circular 166 will be raised from $250 to $400. 

The revised limits will take effect on July 1, 2025, and remain valid for one year, with a potential extension through July 1, 2026.

The central bank also confirmed the extension of both circulars, which had been set to expire on June 30, 2025.

BDL reiterated its call for the swift enactment of laws that would guarantee the return of depositors’ funds and said it is working closely with the government and Parliament to advance this process.

Circulars 158 and 166 were introduced by the Banque du Liban in response to Lebanon’s deepening financial crisis, which has severely restricted depositors’ access to their funds since late 2019. Circular 158, issued in June 2021, allows eligible depositors to withdraw a limited amount from their frozen U.S. dollar accounts in a bid to provide minimal liquidity amid ongoing capital controls. Circular 166, introduced in April 2022, targets “fresh money” accounts, allowing limited monthly withdrawals of newly transferred U.S. dollars that are not subject to pre-crisis banking restrictions.