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Article (9) Bank Accounts & Related Commissions, Fees and Charges

C 29/2011 Effective from 29/3/2011

a) Bank Accounts are: current accounts, savings accounts, call accounts and the like, as well as accounts set-up for specific purposes.

b) Commercial banks may open all types of accounts for their retail customers, but in such cases, they must abide by the standard agreement mentioned under Article (12) of these Regulations. In case a customer requested closing of the account and termination of the business relationship with the bank, the bank should do that without imposing a penalty if the account opening date goes back to more than one year. In all cases, an account must be closed and an appropriate certificate must be issued within, maximum, seven days (7) from date of submission of the application.

c) Banks may set a minimum credit balance for each account, and impose charges if such minimum was not maintained, as specified in Article (11) of this regulation.

d) None of the opened accounts can be considered "dormant" if the customer's address is known or if the customer is present and has other active accounts with the bank. Accounts are classified as dormant only in accordance with the provisions of these regulations issued by the Central Bank in this regard.

e) Banks may issue ATM cards, or debit cards linked to any type of these accounts. They may also charge fees for issuance of new cards, replacement of lost cards or renewal of expired cards. However, they must declare these fees in the manner specified in Article (11) of these Regulations.

Clarifications and Guidelines (Notice No. 2901/2011)
  1. Banks may continue with their present practices and internal guidelines to control and monitor dormant accounts. However in no case they should transfer the balance of such accounts to their profit and loss account.
  2. Central Bank is in the process of issuing suitable guidelines in respect of dormant accounts. In the interim, banks may continue to comply with Notice No 24/2000 in respect of dormant accounts and take necessary precautions for operating such accounts.