From October 15 to 31, 2026, eligible accounts can be opened without fees or a minimum balance. Participating banks will also offer selected cards and digital services under the CBE campaign.
Participating banks will decide which eligible products they offer and what terms apply. Under a Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) campaign, customers can open qualifying accounts without fees or a minimum balance from October 15 through October 31, 2026. The campaign coincides with Global Financial Inclusion Week and World Savings Day.
Prepaid and debit cards are among the listed services, though debit cards remain subject to each bank's conditions. Where available, banks will offer digital banking subscriptions. Electronic wallets are also included.
Banks will introduce customers to financing and savings products. They will also hold financial-awareness activities and seminars. Availability varies by bank, so customers should check the terms of each product, especially for debit cards and digital services.
The CBE's financial inclusion indicators show that the number of Egyptians with transaction accounts rose from 17.1 million in 2016 to 48.1 million in June 2024. Those 48.1 million account holders represented 48.1 million of the 67.3 million citizens aged 16 and older, or about 71.5% of that age group. The CBE reported a 181% increase in financial inclusion over the period, as Ahram Online reported.
The CBE launched Egypt's National Financial Inclusion Strategy for 2022-2025 in November 2022. The strategy set out to widen access to banking and other formal financial services. It also aimed to support the economic empowerment of women and young people, while encouraging a gradual move toward a less cash-dependent economy. The CBE tracks account ownership as one measure of progress and publishes financial inclusion indicators as part of its monitoring.
In October 2024, the CBE allowed banks to open financial inclusion accounts in foreign currencies as well as Egyptian pounds. Banks set the terms for opening and maintaining these accounts, as they do for other products.
The current campaign aims to bring more people, including rural residents, into the formal banking system. It also promotes saving and the safe use of financial products. In a financial stability report issued in March 2025, the CBE described significant growth in the number of people with bank accounts or using formal financial services. The campaign pairs account access with opportunities to learn about financial products.
The offer for individual customers sits alongside other banking initiatives for different client groups. A separate report on corporate banking tools covered services aimed at businesses rather than this account-opening campaign.
The free-service period is scheduled to run from October 15 through October 31, 2026.
