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Article (5) Credit Cards

C 29/2011 Effective from 29/3/2011

a) Credit Cards: Are "Plastic cards linked to an electronic network, containing details and credit limit of the card holder. Value of a customer's purchases and cash withdrawals are paid on his behalf by the issuing bank or the finance company, and the customer pays the value at the beginning of the month following the transactions' month, or by installments as per agreement with the issuing bank or finance company, after end of the period allowed for full payment of the balance.

b) Credit cards shall be issued to customers of the bank or the finance company, and may be issued to non-customers, in which case customer statistical data, as residents or non-residents, must be recorded separately.

c) Banks and finance companies issuing such cards must abide by the following:

1. Provide these cards to persons whose annual income equal or exceeds AED 60,000.

2. These cards may be provided against a pledged deposit of value not less than AED 60,000.

d) Banks or finance companies should provide their credit card customers with a monthly statement of expenses, showing values of purchases and cash withdrawals, and they should immediately investigate if a customer challenges any expense item.

e) Credit card facilities for the unpaid balances of these cards provided to sole proprietorship firms and companies and secured by salary of the owner or salaries of the partners shall be treated the same way these facilities are treated, and shall be subject to the same terms and conditions.

f) Provisions of the agreement for providing credit cards, signed by the customer, should be in accordance with the form set forth in Article (12) of these Regulations.

Clarifications and Guidelines (Notice No. 2901/2011)
  1. In order to ensure that credit cards are issued to creditworthy individuals, a mandatory minimum income level of AED 60,000 per annum has been stipulated. Banks may fix the limits within the policy as stated in this regulation.
  2. Those not meeting the above income criteria are required to place a pledged deposit of not less than AED 60,000 with the bank for issuance of credit card. However such persons may be permitted credit facility besides credit card provided aggregate of credit facility and credit card limit do not exceed 50% of the pledged deposit.
  3. Credit card limit is allowed as additional facility but repayment of outstandings must remain within 50% of gross salary and any regular income as explained in Article (7).
  4. Banks may encourage greater use of debit cards for the customers who are not found to be eligible for issuance of credit card.
  5. If the cards have been issued to non-customers, banks should compile statistical data separately for residents and non-residents and review them from time to time.
  6. Banks will take particular care in respect of credit cards issued to non-residents.