Week of
Laos and Libya account for the week's regulatory output, covering gold bank reserves and foreign currency access for citizens. The Bank of the Lao PDR issued a decision setting required gold reserve ratios for gold banks, aligning them with foreign currency reserve ratios for commercial banks plus a 1% add-on for maturities of one year or less, and prescribing how gold reserve balances are calculated and maintained at the central bank. The Central Bank of Libya published two circulars on the same day. One adopts a mechanism for selling personal purpose foreign currency allocations in cash to citizens through the personal purpose allocations system, with banks responsible for securing receipt and transport of currency, documenting operations by serial number and verifying customer identities, and permitting a profit margin of no more than 1% on the official exchange rate. The other adopts a restricted Libyan Dinar deposit product as an unconventional banking tool, giving users priority in obtaining foreign exchange at specified percentages, with banks required to open accounts and facilitate procedures. Both Libyan records concern access to foreign exchange, while the Lao decision addresses reserve requirements for gold banks.
Laos
Decision on the Required Gold Reserve Ratios for Gold Banks
The Governor of the Bank of the Lao PDR issues a decision setting the required reserve ratios for gold banks on gold, deposits and liabilities, aligning them with the foreign currency reserve ratios applicable to commercial banks plus a 1% add-on for maturities of one year or less. It also prescribes how gold reserve balances must be calculated and maintained at the Bank of the Lao Pdr, and assigns implementation responsibility to several Bank departments and Lao Gold Bank.
RegulationTranslated to EnglishLaoCapital requirementsInterest rates
Libya
Circular No. (11/2026) regarding the adoption of the mechanism for selling personal purpose allocations in "cash" to citizens through the personal purpose allocations system
The Central Bank of Libya adopts a mechanism for disbursing foreign currency allocations for personal purposes to citizens in cash through the personal purpose allocations system, allowing citizens to receive them through commercial banks after purchasing them through exchange companies and offices. The circular specifies the responsibilities of banks in securing the receipt and transport of currency, documenting operations with serial numbers, and verifying customer identities, while permitting a profit margin not exceeding (1%) on the official exchange rate.
CircularTranslated to EnglishArabicForeign exchangeAnti-money launderingCircular No. (12 / 2026) regarding the adoption of the restricted Libyan Dinar deposit product as an unconventional banking tool
The Central Bank of Libya adopts the restricted Libyan Dinar deposit product as an unconventional banking tool, in exchange for granting users of this product priority in obtaining foreign exchange according to specific percentages. It obligates banks to open the necessary accounts for those wishing to benefit from the product and facilitate all procedures for them, while specifying the allocated foreign exchange percentages (50%, 60% for those entering during May 2026, and 55% for those entering during June 2026).
CircularTranslated to EnglishArabicForeign exchangeInterest rates
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