Egyptian banks are making changes to the use of credit cards

Egyptian banks informed their customers last week of limiting use to one credit card in international transactions, whether for purchases or cash withdrawals - if the customer has more than one credit card.

Other banks have also approved a comprehensive credit limit for all credit cards used inside Egypt for international purchases and issued by the same bank to a single customer, according to an Al Arabiya channel report, today, Tuesday, December 19, 2023.

Use credit cards

The decision comes within the framework of the banks' continuous monitoring of individuals' transactions in foreign currencies abroad and at home, and the extent to which they match the spending behaviors of each customer.

Al Arabiya conducted a survey on a number of banks to learn about the rules for activating more than one credit card for use in foreign currencies for a single customer inside or outside Egypt:

International trade

The Commercial International Bank decided that the total monthly international purchase limit within Egypt on all credit cards owned by one customer will be only $240, and this took effect as of last Friday, December 15.

While the bank confirmed that one credit card will be activated for use abroad, provided that this card is the “highest credit limit” among the cards issued to one customer.

The credit limit for Commercial International Bank cards ranges between $770 and $3,000 per month for purchases, according to the bank’s website.

National Bank of Egypt

The National Bank of Egypt allows the credit limit to be opened for one credit card, whether for use at home or abroad, if the customer has more than one credit card from the bank.

National Bank's international credit limits for cards range between $250 and $3,200 for purchases.

Banque Misr

Banque Misr allows customers to activate the use of one credit card, whether internally or externally, provided that the activated credit limit is the highest among the credit cards issued to the same customer.

The bank also allows customers to use a credit limit in foreign currencies for the main card only, if there are subsidiary credit cards issued with the same guarantee.

The credit limits for Banque Misr cards internationally range from $250 to $4,000 for purchases.

All banks require that a minimum of 3 months have passed since their issuance by the bank in order to activate the use of credit cards internationally.