BE Magazine - August 2026

Egypt’s Banking Sector Egypt’s Banking Sector NET FOREIGN ASSETS JUMP TO $27.9BLN IN JUNE Egypt’s banking sector recorded a sharp increase in net foreign assets (NFA) in June 2026, with the balance rising to $27.965bn, equivalent to EGP 1.378trn, up from $22.9bn, or EGP 1.198trn, in May, according to data released by the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE). The increase came as the Egyptian pound strengthened against the US dollar, with the exchange rate im- proving from EGP 52.3297 per dollar in May to EGP 49.2763 in June. According to the CBE, the banking sector’s total foreign assets—includ- ing those of the Central Bank and commercial banks—stood at the equivalent of EGP 4.939trn in June, compared with EGP 4.989trn in May. Meanwhile, total foreign liabilities fell to the equivalent of EGP 3.591trn, down from EGP 3.790trn a month earlier, contributing to the im- provement in the sector’s net foreign asset position. Net foreign assets are widely re- garded as one of the key indicators of the strength and resilience of the banking sector. They represent the difference between the banking sys- tem’s total foreign assets and foreign currency liabilities, providing an in- dication of its capacity to meet exter- nal obligations and support stability in the foreign exchange market. Foreign assets held by the banking sector include foreign currency de- posits and savings, gold holdings, foreign securities, and Special Draw- ing Rights (SDRs), while foreign lia- bilities comprise repayable external debt, deposits belonging to foreign entities, and import-related obliga- tions. the BANKING EXECUTIVE 24 ISSUE 212 AUGUST 2026