New Rules on Bank Fees
The Central Bank of Syria has issued a decision overhauling how banks and financial institutions set and charge commissions and fees, requiring them to base pricing on written policies and clear criteria. Decision No. 748, issued on 5 November 2026, states that fees must reflect the actual cost of each service and be reviewed periodically. The stated aim is to strengthen transparency and fairness in the pricing of bank commissions and fees.
The measure bars institutions from levying charges that correspond to no real service, or that a customer has not agreed to in advance where a service is optional. It also prohibits relabeling fees — for example as account management or subscription charges — to work around the rules.
Protection for Salary Accounts
Under the decision, banks may not impose any direct or indirect commission or fee on employees for accounts used to receive, transfer, deposit, or withdraw salaries. The provision applies to accounts used to pay wages routed through the banking system.
The rules also prohibit charging a commission on a current account simply because it holds no balance, where doing so would push the account into a debit position without an actual service or a valid, disclosed contractual basis.
Disclosure and Advance Notice
Institutions must disclose all commissions, fees, and costs before a service begins or a contract is signed, and publish up-to-date fee schedules prominently in their branches and on their official websites and applications. Customers are to be told of any change at least five working days before it takes effect.
Changes may not be applied retroactively to services already in place. Banks that offer bundled packages must spell out the included services, the amount charged, and the billing frequency, and obtain explicit consent, with clear terms for cancellation or modification.
One Month to Comply
Banks have one month from the decision's effective date to align their internal policies and fee schedules and to submit them to the Government Commissioner at the banks. Earlier rules that conflict with the decision are repealed once that period ends.
The Government Commissioner is charged with monitoring compliance and may request documents, re-examine individual fees, and order institutions to correct violations.