clear

Creating new perspectives since 2009

Egypt banks double interest rate on US dollar accounts

October 10, 2022 at 2:53 pm

An employee counts banknotes at currency exchange shop in Cairo [KHALED DESOUKI/AFP/Getty Images]

The Banque Misr and the National Bank of Egypt, the two largest state-owned banks in Egypt, on Saturday decided to double the interest rate on US dollar saving certificates to about 5.5 per cent, up from about 2.25 per cent. The new rate came into effect yesterday.

The National Bank of Egypt said the new interest rate will apply for saving certificates of three, five and seven years and returns would range between five and 5.5 per cent, depending on the certificate duration.

The prices of US dollar savings certificates range between $500 and $1,000 per certificate, while the interest rate on the bank’s three dollar savings certificates was about 2.25 percent, regardless of their duration.

For its part, Banque Misr announced that it will raise the rate on US dollar certificates for periods of three, five and seven years to about 5.3 per cent, up from 2.25 per cent.

Sources in local banks said the Central Bank had directed the banks to prepare for launching new financial derivative tools for clients to protect them against the risks of fluctuation in the currency exchange rate.

Egypt suffers from an acute shortage of foreign currency, which prompted the government to dim lighting in city squares and to close shops and malls earlier to save on energy.

The Egyptian pound has lost 24.8 per cent of its value against the US dollar so far this year.

READ: Merchants in Egypt demand payment in dollars