BDL Orders Banks to Let Mothers Open Accounts for Their Children

In a move being welcomed by women’s rights advocates, Banque du Liban Governor Karim Saade issued Banking Circular No. 979 today, directing all Lebanese banks to activate a long-dormant rule giving mothers the independent right to open and manage bank accounts for their minor children.

The circular, dated May 22, 2026, instructs banks to comply with a 2009 Banking Association circular that has largely been ignored in practice. Under it, a mother can open a trust account for her child, operate it on her own, and retain sole control until the child turns 18. Until now, this authority was largely reserved for fathers, with mothers often excluded in practice. Most importantly, if the mother passes away or loses legal capacity, the father of the child cannot touch the account without a court order.

The National Commission for Lebanese Women was quick to respond, praising the move and confirming it came directly in response to their lobbying of BDL. “This circular is a positive step toward strengthening the rights of women and mothers, and achieving gender equality,” the Commission said in a statement.

The Commission also noted that the circular is a temporary fix while Lebanon waits for a broader law, already approved by the Parliamentary Women and Children Committee back in 2020, to be officially enacted. That law would formally enshrine the mother’s right to open and operate accounts for her minor children.

For now, though, the message to banks is clear: enforce the rule, no more excuses.