name and background
Full name: The Central Bank of Egypt<
span style="font-family: sans-serif; color: black", > founded: 1961, before the National Bank of Egypt (National Bank of Egypt) was officially recognized as a central bank by the government in 1951, It became independent as CBE in 1961.
headquarters in Cairo, Egypt
Shareholder Background: Wholly owned by the Egyptian government, state-owned and unlisted.
CBE dates back much further to the development of the monetary system, with the Egyptian pound first introduced in 1836, but its establishment as an independent central bank in 1961 marked the official launch of modern monetary policy.
services & products
as a central bank, CBE is to provide support to the government and the banking system. Its main services and products include:
monetary policy: the development and implementation of monetary policy with the goal of achieving price stability, The current inflation target is 7.0% ±2 percentage points in the fourth quarter of 2026.
Currency issuance: Responsible for the design, printing and issuance of the Egyptian pound, and managing its circulation, such as the 20-pound polymer banknote issued in 2023.
Banking supervision: Supervise commercial banks and other financial institutions to ensure their compliance with regulations and standards, and maintain the stability of the financial system.
Foreign exchange management: Managing the country's foreign exchange reserves, with net international reserves of $4,814.39 million in April 2025.
supervision of payment systems: ensuring the security and efficiency of the national payment system, such as the promotion of instant payments through the InstaPay app.
these services are primarily aimed at the banking system and governments, rather than directly to the public, but indirectly affect the financial activities of individuals and businesses through regulation and policy.
regulatory and compliance<
span style="font-family: sans-serif; color: black" > CBE operates under Decree No. 194 (2020) of the Central Bank and Banking System Act, which gives it a wide range of powers and responsibilities. As the regulator of the banking system, it ensures that all banks comply with the relevant regulations.
With regard to deposit insurance, studies have shown that Egypt currently does not have a clear deposit insurance system, but there are implicit deposit protection mechanisms, such as the central bank as lender of last resort, direct government funding of troubled banks, or takeover of banks to protect depositors. The details of such a mechanism need to be further confirmed, especially under the updated policy in 2025.
digital service experience<
span style="font-family: sans-serif; color: black" > CBE launched the InstaPay app in digital services, which is an important step in promoting digital payments. Launched in March 2022, the app was developed by the Egyptian Banks Company and runs on the Instant Payment Network (IPN).
App Rating: With a rating of 3.8 on Google Play, based on over 66,000 reviews and over 10 million users. Reviews on the Apple App Store show that the experience varies from region to region, especially when using it abroad.
core features:
> instant transfers: 24/7 transfers between bank accounts, credit cards and Meeza prepaid cards with a single limit of EGP 70,000, a daily limit of EGP 120,000 and a monthly limit of EGP 400,000.
Account Management: View account balances and small statements for EGP 0.50 per query, free 10 times per month.
bill payment: supports bill payment and recharge services such as telecommunications, water and electricity, etc.
Charitable donations: Support donations to charity.
International Money Transfers: New in 2024, allowing international transfers.
technological innovation: The InstaPay app exemplifies CBE's efforts in modernizing the payment system, particularly in promoting a cashless society and financial inclusion. It allows for seamless connection between bank accounts and reduces reliance on cash, but there is no explicit mention of AI customer service or robo-advisors.
security measures
As a central bank, the CBE is responsible for maintaining the security of the entire financial system. It ensures the safety of the banking sector by developing and implementing strict regulatory standards, such as capital adequacy ratio and non-performing loan ratio requirements. In addition, the InstaPay app employs standard security measures, such as data encryption and two-factor authentication, to protect the security of users' transactions and personal information. CBE also raises public awareness of financial security through educational videos, such as the fraud prevention video on February 23, 2025.
featured services and differentiation<
span style="font-family: sans-serif; color: black">As a monetary authority, the CBE has a unique function that distinguishes it from that of commercial banks:
Monetary Policy Making: Controlling inflation and economic growth by adjusting interest rates and money supply, it was decided on May 12, 2025 to cut the key policy rate by 100 basis points.
Currency issuance: Responsible for the design, printing and issuance of the Egyptian pound to ensure the supply and circulation of the currency.
Banking supervision: Supervise the operations of commercial banks and other financial institutions, ensure their compliance with regulations and standards, and maintain the stability of the financial system.
Foreign exchange management: Managing the country's foreign exchange reserves, net international reserves reached US$4,814.39 million in April 2025, maintaining exchange rate stability.
Payment System Innovation: Driving digital payments, reducing cash dependence and promoting financial inclusion through the InstaPay app and IPN.
these features exemplify CBE's central role in the nation's economy, particularly in efforts to drive economic digitalization and financial stability.
