Longer Counter Hours
The Commercial Bank of Syria extended service at its branches until 5 p.m. on Tuesday, 28 July 2026, and Wednesday, 29 July 2026, specifically to handle currency-exchange operations. The bank said the decision followed a marked rise in demand and crowding at its counters, and that the longer day is meant to speed the processing of citizens' transactions.
Weekend Shift Added
Beyond the two extended weekdays, the bank said its branches will also open the following Saturday. That session is being run in coordination with the Central Bank of Syria to keep the collection and exchange of old Syrian pound (SYP) notes moving. The additional shift is intended to keep transactions from piling up as the cutoff nears.
The Approaching Deadline
The Central Bank fixed 30 July 2026 as the last day on which the old notes may be exchanged. From 31 July 2026, that currency loses its payment force and is no longer legally fit for circulation or for any financial transaction. Anyone who misses the window is left holding paper that cannot be spent in everyday trade.
Pressure on Cash Holders
The withdrawal reaches every household and business still holding pre-cutoff notes, from wage earners to shopkeepers who take cash across the counter each day. With only days left before the deadline, exchange traffic has bunched into the final stretch of July, turning branch queues into the immediate face of the changeover.
A Banking-System Response
The extended weekday hours and the added Saturday session are the banking system's answer to that concentrated demand, aimed at moving as many holders as possible through the process before the window closes. Keeping the exchange running smoothly in the final days is the practical test of a transition set in motion over the past days.