New Exchange Counter in Raqqa
The Central Bank of Syria opened a dedicated currency exchange counter at its Raqqa branch on 5 August 2026, allowing residents to swap withdrawn banknotes directly at the bank. The new window operates alongside the exchange service already offered through the postal network, widening the points where residents in the governorate can trade in old notes.
The branch said the added counter is meant to ease access and reduce reliance on a single channel during the final stretch of the exchange.
Deadline Pushed to 20 August
Authorities extended the currency exchange deadline across the eastern governorates of Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor, and Hasaka to 20 August 2026. The later cutoff applies specifically to these three provinces and gives residents there additional time to convert holdings of the Syrian pound (SYP) being withdrawn from circulation.
Limits on Each Swap
Cash exchanges were set at between five million and ten million pounds per person, according to the figures released with the announcement. Amounts of up to 25 million pounds can instead be moved through the "Sham Cash" transfer service rather than handled as cash over the counter.
The two-tier arrangement separates small over-the-counter swaps from larger sums routed through digital transfer.
Longer Hours and Added Staff
The branch director said the counter runs from early morning until evening to absorb demand. Postal staffing was increased and service locations expanded to speed processing and shorten the queues that formed as the deadline neared.
Calls for Rural Access
Residents who used the service described the procedures as smoother, while several asked for additional exchange points in rural districts to cut travel and waiting times. The requests point to thinner coverage outside the main urban centers of the northeast.