The Banking Executive Magazine - February 2026 Issue 2

Egypt’s Banking Sector Egypt’s Banking Sector NET FOREIGN ASSETS SURGE $20.3BLN IN 2025, CENTRAL BANK SAYS The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) an- nounced on Sunday that net foreign assets (NFA) in the Egyptian banking sector increased by a cumulative $20.3 bn throughout 2025, driven by an improved external economic po- sition and favourable exchange rate developments. According to a CBE monetary policy report, the banking sector’s total NFA rose by $4.7 bn in the final quarter of 2025 to reach $25.5 bn in Decem- ber, up from $20.8 bn in September. This div represents the highest level recorded since July 2012. The central bank’s own NFA rose for the eighth consecutive month, reach- ing $15.1 bn in January 2026, the highest level since September 2021. This followed a recorded $13.3 bn in December 2025. The CBE attributed this growth partially to the rise in global gold prices. Commercial banks also saw a signif- icant increase, with their NFA rising by $2.4 bn to reach $12.2 bn in De- cember 2025, the highest level since February 2014. The central bank stated that this growth was supported by an increase in foreign currency re- sources, specifically remittances from Egyptians working abroad and a rise in foreign investment in Egypt- ian government debt instruments. The CBE noted that the overall up- ward trend in foreign assets is consis- tent with the improvement of Egypt’s external economic situation and de- velopments in the exchange rate since April 2025. ISSUE 206 FEBRUARY 2026 the BANKING EXECUTIVE 41