The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) has reported that the consolidated financial position of banks operating in the domestic market—excluding the CBE itself—rose to EGP 22.039trn in February 2025, up from EGP 21.294trn in January. This reflects a monthly increase of EGP 745bn.
In its latest statistical bulletin, the CBE detailed that, on the asset side, banks’ cash holdings totalled EGP 183.588bn. Interbank balances within Egypt amounted to EGP 3.640trn, while balances held with foreign banks stood at EGP 1.117trn.
Customer loans and discounts reached EGP 8.848trn, while banks’ investments in securities and treasury bills amounted to EGP 6.837trn. Other assets stood at approximately EGP 1.411trn.
Bank Capital and Liabilities
On the liabilities side, the CBE indicated that total bank capital reached EGP 579.378bn, with reserves amounting to EGP 836.769bn. Provisions stood at EGP 598.426bn.
Interbank liabilities within Egypt were recorded at EGP 1.849trn, while those to foreign banks reached EGP 605.554bn. Long-term bonds and loans totalled EGP 918.556bn. Other liabilities were estimated at EGP 2.618trn.
Surge in Customer Deposits
Customer deposits saw a substantial rise in February, reaching EGP 14.151trn, compared to EGP 13.821trn in January—an increase of EGP 330bn in just one month.
Government deposits stood at EGP 2.977trn, comprising EGP 2.486trn in local currency and the equivalent of EGP 490.571bn in foreign currencies. Non-government deposits totalled EGP 11.174trn, including EGP 8.019trn in local currency and EGP 3.154trn equivalent in foreign currencies.
Of the local currency deposits, the public business sector held EGP 190.125bn, the private business sector EGP 1.354trn, and the household sector EGP 6.439trn. Non-residents held EGP 36.513bn.
Regarding non-government foreign currency deposits, the public business sector held EGP 184.228bn, the private business sector EGP 1.037trn, the household sector EGP 1.816trn, and non-residents EGP 116.873bn.
Growth in Credit Facilities
Credit facilities provided by banks rose to EGP 8.848trn in February 2025, up from EGP 7.209trn in June 2024—an increase of approximately EGP 1.639trn.
Credit facilities include loans, letters of credit, and guarantees extended to support import operations.
The CBE attributed the growth to an increase in facilities extended to the government, which rose by EGP 1.077trn (30.1%), and to non-government entities, which increased by EGP 561.5bn (15.5%).
Government credit growth was split between EGP 566.9bn in local currency and EGP 510.8bn equivalent in foreign currencies.
As of February, 60.1% of non-government credit facilities were allocated to the private business sector. By sector, industry accounted for 33.1%, services 27.6%, trade 8.5%, and agriculture 1.7%. Unclassified sectors made up 29.1%, of which 29% was directed to the household sector.
Rise in Domestic Liquidity
The banking sector’s domestic liquidity increased by approximately EGP 1.6trn between July 2024 and February 2025, reaching EGP 12.218trn—representing a growth rate of 15.1%.
This increase was driven by a rise in quasi-money of EGP 1.247trn (15.8%) and a growth in the money supply of EGP 352.8bn (13.1%).
The expansion in quasi-money was due to an EGP 736.7bn rise in non-current local currency deposits (13.7%) and an EGP 510.3bn equivalent rise in foreign currency deposits (20.2%). The increase in money supply stemmed from a EGP 382.2bn rise in current local currency deposits (25.9%), partially offset by a decline of EGP 29.4bn (2.4%) in currency circulating outside the banking system.
The CBE noted that the increase in domestic liquidity over the period was the net result of a rise in net domestic assets and a contraction in net foreign assets.
Net Domestic Assets Up, Net Foreign Assets Down
Net domestic assets in the banking system rose by EGP 1.710trn (17.1%) during the July–February period. This was driven by a EGP 3.176trn increase in domestic credit (28.9%) and a EGP 1.465trn decline in net budget items.
Domestic credit growth included EGP 2.601trn in additional net claims on the government, EGP 312.1bn in claims on the private business sector, EGP 83bn on the public business sector, and EGP 180bn on the household sector.
In contrast, net foreign assets in the banking system declined by EGP 110.8bn (17.7%) during the same period.
This fall was the result of a EGP 229.3bn drop in foreign assets at commercial banks, partially offset by an EGP 118.5bn increase in net foreign assets held by the Central Bank.
Reserve Money
Reserve money rose by EGP 387.6bn (19.7%) between July 2024 and February 2025, reaching EGP 2.352trn.
The increase was attributed to a EGP 419bn surge (65.9%) in local currency deposits held by banks at the Central Bank, despite a EGP 31.4bn decrease (2.4%) in cash circulating outside the Central Bank’s vaults.
The CBE stated that the increase in reserve money stemmed from a combination of factors, including a EGP 295.8bn rise in net claims on the government, an EGP 118.5bn increase in net foreign assets, and an EGP 87.5bn rise in net budget items. These were partially offset by a EGP 114.2bn decline in net claims on banks.
