Security authorities have noted the increase in forgery schemes through which it was possible to withdraw from the accounts of some commercial firms and individuals at banks with forged signatures or endorsements. Complaints about such forging of checks have been lately on the increase. In the desire to adopt security controls and means to protect the checks and reduce forgery, Saudi Central Bank has decided to emphasize on banks to abide by the instructions in its previous circulars and by the procedures set forth below to detect forged checks before cashing them and to take all necessary precautions to protect checks against forgery:

SAMA has received a letter from the Acting Assistant Minister of Finance for Revenue Affairs No. 19962 dated 25/02/1439H regarding the opening of bank accounts for government entities. His Excellency requested confirmation that banks must not open accounts designated for depositing revenues or funds for government or semi-government entities without the approval of the Ministry of Finance.

Accordingly, SAMA emphasizes to all banks the prohibition of opening accounts designated for depositing revenues or funds for government or semi-government entities without the approval of the Ministry of Finance. Compliance with Rule No. (500-1-1) of the Rules Governing the Opening of Bank Accounts and General Operational Guidelines in Saudi Arabia, Fourth Amendment, is required.

For your information and action accordingly, and the Central Bank will take necessary regulatory actions in the event of non-compliance.

SAMA has received a letter from His Royal Highness the Emir of Riyadh Region No. 107735 dated 15/10/1438H, referring to the letter from the Director of Prisons in Riyadh Region No. 583576 dated 09/09/1438H regarding the increasing number of prisoners wishing to visit banks, which has become a noticeable trend. When they are sent to banks, they face refusals from bank employees to assist them or disburse their salaries. This is despite the existence of Rule No. (200-1-1) from the Rules Governing the Opening of Bank Accounts and General Operational Guidelines in Saudi Arabia, Fourth Amendment related to Saudi citizens/inmates. SAMA had previously issued a circular on this matter under Circular No. 19027/M.A.T/200 dated 29/07/1423H, as well as Circular No. 47275/M.A.T/636 dated 21/10/1429H, emphasizing adherence to Rule No. (200-1-1) concerning Saudi citizens/inmates.

Accordingly, SAMA reiterates to all banks the necessity of adhering to the instructions and rules regarding procedures for dealing with prison inmates and providing banking services to them as stipulated in Rule No. (200-1-1) of the Rules Governing the Opening of Bank Accounts and General Operational Guidelines in Saudi Arabia, Fourth Amendment. SAMA also notes that necessary actions will be taken against banks found in violation of these rules.

For your information and action accordingly.

Referring to SAMA’s Circulars No. 351000012318 dated 28/1/1435H, and No. 351000061537 dated 12/5/1435H regarding the "Wage Protection System (WPS)" program, and further to complaints received by SAMA regarding the lack of cooperation by some banks in opening accounts for establishments subject to the WPS program, particularly private schools, which exposes these establishments to penalties.

SAMA emphasizes the importance of the national program, the "Wage Protection System (WPS)," and the necessity for banks to fulfill their responsibilities under this program, especially the matters discussed during previous workshops and meetings with bank representatives. These responsibilities include opening accounts, processing payroll files in the approved format, issuing bank cards, ensuring the availability of cash in ATMs, and providing qualified human resources to serve establishments subject to this program—particularly private schools—regardless of their workforce size or salary amounts.

We kindly request compliance with these instructions and that they be communicated to all relevant departments and divisions within the bank. Additionally, please provide SAMA with the bank’s work plan for this program within two weeks from the date of this notice.

In reference to the telegram of His Highness the Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior No. 289678 dated 20/11/1437 H regarding expatriates or residents who have left the country permanently or have been deported, or have left and return and their visas have expired and have not returned, while they are outside the country, they conduct banking operations on their accounts in Saudi banks, including transfer, and the transfer may be suspicious, and His Highness requested views about it. 

We hope to provide us with the measures taken by the bank regarding the accounts of residents who have permanently left the country or have been deported or have left and returned and their visas have expired and have not returned and how their accounts are dealt with when they discover their residence outside the country and their inability to return, within a week from its date.

Referring to the field visit of SAMA team to the banks to study the supervisory status of the seized accounts, and the difficulties and results it highlighted regarding the correct and accurate data and the provision of some data, and the lack of databases for those accounts or their inventory, follow-up and evaluation. Therefore, we hope to take the following measures:

1- Providing SAMA with the name of the Bank's representative within a week from its date to participate in a working group of banks in which SAMA participates to work on finding mechanisms, tools and means of research based on the banks' procedures that enable the identification of accounts that some banks do not know the reasons for seizure and the party that imposed the seizure and benefit from the data available at some banks.

2- Work on creating databases for the seized accounts, including the legal document for the seizure, the actual date of the seizure, the party requesting the seizure, and the balance of the seized account, and provide SAMA with a quarterly detailed report on what has been achieved.

3- Provide SAMA on a semi-annual basis detailed report of the seized accounts according to the following table:

       Further to SAMA Circular No. 351000045818 dated 11/04/1435 H regarding the emphasis on the controls that banks must apply and abide by when opening and managing accounts for "Hajj, Umrah and visiting the Prophet's Mosque" and the documents required to open and manage a bank account. Among other things, these controls include allowing Hajj affairs offices to open more than one account, provided that they are in one bank only, and not allowing them to open other accounts in other banks.   

     Based on the above, we hope to provide SAMA (Bank Licensing Division) with all the accounts of the Hajj Affairs Offices that you have within a week from its date.

Referring to paragraph (21) of Section (First) Definitions of the fourth update of the rules for opening bank accounts in commercial banks and the general rules for their operation, notified to banks operating in the Kingdom pursuant to Circular No. 18000/MAT/9200 dated 04/04/1434 H regarding “freezing accounts”, which stipulates that freezing “is a term specific only to the temporary suspension of withdrawal only from the bank account/banking relationship due to the expiration of the validity period of the customer’s identity proof or the customer or the authorized person on the account not updating the personal data and information, addresses, sources of income, signature and other data...etc.”

Given that some banks freeze the accounts of charitable associations - whose period of operation has expired - both creditor and debtor (withdrawal and deposit), which deprives these associations of receiving donations as the main source of income, in addition to that some bank regulations cancel all deductions that are deposited in these accounts if they are closed for a specific period, which makes it difficult to return them again or renew them.

 Therefore, we hope to abide by paragraph (21) referred to above and limit the freeze to the debit side only (withdrawal) from the accounts of charitable associations at the end of the term of work of their boards of directors and until the bank is provided with the decision to form the new board of directors or extend the previous board of directors, with the opening of deposits in these accounts by various means.

 Referring to the letter of His Excellency the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture and Information for Media Affairs No. 6115 dated 23/03/1434 H, which includes the Ministry's issuance of licenses to the representative offices of satellite channels that broadcast from outside the Kingdom under an approved implementing regulation authorizing them to practice work in the Kingdom in the media, administrative and legal aspects, and do not require the channels representative offices to obtain a commercial register. His Excellency the Undersecretary's letter included that some licensed channel offices applied to a number of banks operating in the Kingdom to open current accounts and apologized due to the lack of commercial records with those channels, and requests that those wishing to channel licensed representative offices issued by the Ministry be enabled to open an account with any of the banks operating in the Kingdom.

 I inform you that accounts can be opened for the representative offices of satellite channels in the Kingdom that broadcast from outside the Kingdom and have obtained licenses issued by the Ministry of Culture and Information, provided that the accounts of the offices are managed by Saudi persons residing in the Kingdom under a contract clarifying the status of the relationship and responsibilities or from expatriates residing under the sponsorship of the channel's office. The account shall be used to spend on the purposes and activities of the office only, and that it meets other criteria of know your customer, including the address of the office, means of communication, addresses of authorized persons, sources of income, the purpose of the account and the beneficial owner, in accordance with Rule No. (300-1-1) for licensed shops from the rules for opening and operating accounts in commercial banks.

       Referring to the two SAMA's circulars No. MT/3574 dated 08/02/1433 H and No. 52243/MT/24833 dated 04/11/1432 H regarding the support of the national program "Hafiz" for the disbursement of the subsidy for job seekers by opening bank accounts for citizens for male and female wishing to apply for the program and providing them with the IBAN number of their accounts, and fully adhering to the rules for opening bank accounts and the general rules for operating them in banks operating in the Kingdom, and taking the necessary measures to meet the demand for opening accounts for the purpose referred to above, in particular providing human cadres capable of carrying out the required procedures and not delaying in that, and excluding these accounts from the requirement of the third paragraph of the thirteenth rule of section IV of the third amendment of the rules for opening and operating bank accounts, that the period preceding the closure of the account in the event that it is without balance is one year instead of ninety days. And provide all banking services with open arms.

       I inform you that SAMA received the telegram of His Royal Highness the Governor of Jazan Region No. 838 dated 16/02/1433 H regarding the complaining of a large number of beneficiaries of the "Hafiz" program due to the failure of some banks to issue ATM cards on their accounts and giving them long appointments to obtain cards, which caused crowding of citizens in front of bank branches, especially women's ones. His Highness' desire to facilitate citizens' procedures and find urgent practical solutions to avoid these scenes.

        I would like to inform you that SAMA stresses the need to abide by the provisions of the two circulars referred to above, and to work to activate the necessary procedures for implementation, and to provide the necessary capabilities to meet requests for opening accounts and other services required of the beneficiaries of the program, such as ATM cards and other services necessary to deal with accounts, and to provide all banking services with open arms. While emphasizing the importance of classifying the accounts of the beneficiaries of the "Hafiz" program in a separate classification of its own so that it can be followed up and limited in the future if needed. We hope to act on it and inform it to all concerned departments and branches. And report on what is being taken in this regard within a week from its date.

Further to SAMA Circular No. 52243/MT/24833 dated 04/11/1432 H referring to the controls of the "Hafiz" program, which includes urging cooperation to support the national program "Hafiz" for disbursing the subsidy for job seekers by opening bank accounts for citizens for male and female citizens wishing to apply for the program and providing them with the IBAN number of their accounts, and fully adhering to the rules for opening bank accounts and the general rules for operating them in banks operating in the Kingdom, and taking the necessary measures to meet the demand for opening accounts. For the purpose referred to above, in particular the provision of human cadres capable of carrying out the required procedures and not delaying in doing so, and excluding these accounts from the requirement of the third paragraph of the thirteenth rule of section IV of the third amendment of the rules for opening and operating bank accounts for "closing the account" that the period preceding the closure of the account in the event that it is without balance is one year instead of ninety days.

In view of SAMA receiving comments from the Emirates of the regions, and complaints from a large number of citizens stating that banks do not respond to applicants for opening accounts, delay opening accounts for them, give them appointments in months, and complain about the treatment of some employees with reviewers. SAMA stresses its commitment to the above-mentioned circular, activating the necessary procedures for its implementation, providing the necessary capabilities to face requests for opening accounts, and providing all banking services with open arms. SAMA hopes that Hafiz accounts will be classified in their own separate classification so that they can be monitored and limited in the future if necessary. We hope to act on it and inform it to all concerned departments and branches. And report on what is being taken in this regard within a week from its date.

        Further to SAMA Circular No. 37954/MTA/17890 dated 27/07/1431 H amending the section 3 from rule No. 4 from the third amendment from rules for opening and operating bank accounts related to the controls of authorizing a non-Saudi to operate the accounts of companies, factories, joint ventures, international trademark agencies and other similar establishments, so that the text after the amendment becomes as follows:

• Companies: Companies are allowed to authorize an expatriate worker under their sponsorship who resides in the Kingdom to manage their bank accounts, and it is not permitted to accept the authorization of an expatriate worker to manage the accounts of another company, whether it is a subsidiary or sister company.
• Factories and trademark agencies: They are treated as authorizing an expatriate worker under their sponsorship according to their legal status stated in the license/commercial register issued to them by the competent authority, so that licensed persons are treated as sole proprietorships according to the text of the second paragraph of the same fourth rule regarding establishments and businesses owned by a single Saudi individual, and licensed persons are treated as companies according to the text of the third paragraph above regarding companies.

               Referring to the letter of His Excellency the Minister of Labor No. 1/1/2584/p dated 17/08/1432 H in response to the letter of SAMA No. 1833 /M D/ M A T dated 23/07/1432 H regarding the request of some companies investing within the economic cities to authorize the expatriate worker to sponsor the General Authority for Investment or the Economic Cities Cadre Company to manage their bank accounts, and his letter included that Article (39/1) of the Labor Law stipulated in the first paragraph that "it is not permissible - without following the legal rules and procedures - to leave the employer by applying the concept of violation, the exception contained in the text of the article referred to above allows the exclusion of workers who work for non-sponsors from the application of the text of that article when following the legal rules and procedures. Whereas the prevailing character, the established rule and the legal procedure for all licensed investment projects in the economic cities is that all expatriate workers to work in these investment projects be sponsored by the General Authority for Investment or the Economic Cities Cadre Company, based on the agreement "Mechanism for issuing visas for economic cities" signed by the Ministry of Labor, the General Investment Authority, the Economic Cities Authority, and the Economic Cities Cadre Company on 16/02/1432 H. His Excellency requested to inform the banks operating in the Kingdom to accept the authorization of expatriates to sponsor the General Investment Authority or the Economic Cities Cadre Company to manage the bank accounts of investing companies within the Economic Cities in accordance with the following controls:

      We hope to take note and act accordingly and communicate it to all concerned departments and branches, stressing that the above is limited to the accounts of investing companies or licensed investment projects in the economic cities included in the visa issuance mechanism agreement for economic cities only.
 

And report what is being taken.

             Referring to SAMA Circular No. BCI/103 dated 19/02/1429 H based on the letter of His Excellency the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior for Rights Affairs No. 1/5/3/27694 dated 12/02/1429 H regarding the requirements for opening and managing the accounts of "mentally disabled retirees, interdicted persons, patients who do not hold appropriate or invalid identities, and prisoners in serious cases", which includes that in the event that any of the above-mentioned categories cannot attend the civil status departments, their guardians may personally refer to the Director of the Status Department in the region or governorate in which he resides to investigate and decide on the case. In reference to SAMA's receipt of inquiries from some banks about the submission of legal representatives for some of their customers (sick, disabled, prisoners or interdicted) a notice issued by some civil status departments to renew the customer's national identity card and not to issue it due to the circumstances of the customer's inability to personalize the department, and they request to update the data of their agents' accounts with the bank that were previously frozen due to the expiration of the identity validity and its continued operation under those notices.

     We inform you that SAMA has received a telegram from His Excellency the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior for Civil Status No. 23095 dated 06/05/1432 H stating the occasion of accepting the notice submitted by the legal representative or guardian of the bank customer after ensuring his safety, in addition to those Saudi citizens residing outside the Kingdom who are proven unable to attend. 

     To take note and act accordingly, and to ensure the integrity of the notice issued by the Civil Status Department, and to fulfill the legal power of attorney for account management, and the guardianship deed in the event that the applicant is the guardian of an incapacitated customer.

SAMA has received inquiries from some banks on how to differentiate between the commercial register that is issued in accordance with the foreign investment law contained in the requirements of Rule No. (300-1-4) and the commercial register that is issued to institutions and companies owned by resident foreigners who are authorized to practice business and are not covered by the foreign investment law contained in the requirements of rule No. (400-3) stipulated in the third amendment to the rules for opening and operating bank accounts under the circular No. 55777/BCI/777 dated 16/12/1430 H. 

We inform you that SAMA has addressed the Ministry of Commerce about the inquiry referred to above, and SAMA has received the letter of His Excellency the General Director of the Commercial Register No. 19260 dated 30/10/1430 H stating that the commercial register of the institution or company licensed by the General Investment Authority in accordance with the Foreign Investment Law is stipulated in the activity field the phrase (under the license of the General Investment Authority), and this phrase does not exist other than this type of records.

SAMA received the letter of His Excellency the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Finance for Financial Affairs and Accounts No. 94804 dated 05/11/1430 H in response to the letter of SAMA No. 826 /N/MAT dated 24/10/1430 H based on the letter of His Excellency the Undersecretary of Riyadh Region for Municipalities Affairs No. 18068 dated 11/09/1430 H attached to the copy of the decision of His Royal Highness the Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs No. 5477 dated 28/07/1430 H referring to the law of municipalities and rural areas issued by Royal Decree No. (M/5) dated 21/02/1397 H, and the decision of the Ministers No. 214 dated 29/06/1430 H transforming village complexes into municipalities. It includes the approval of amending the names of all accounts for village complexes opened at the branches of SAMA and banks operating in the Kingdom to the new name (Municipality ...) instead of the name of the village complex.

Therefore, we hope to amend all the names of the accounts of the village complexes opened with you from the name (village complex .....) to (municipality of .....) and inform the customers of the accounts (secretariats of the regions) of the amendment.

To take note and act accordingly, and to report on what is taken.

SAMA received a telegram from His Excellency the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs No. 93/41085/1 dated 1/4/1430 H regarding the freezing of banks accounts of some embassy employees and asking them to amend the name in the identity card granted by the Protocol Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to match the name in the passport, which includes the statement that due to the limited space allocated for writing the name in the card and the length of some names of mission employees, the full name cannot be written on the card, and in order to avoid repeated requests from banks to write the full name, His Excellency wishes that banks be satisfied with filling in the full name written on the passport.

 Therefore, we would like to inform you that in the event that the full name is not written in the residence card issued by the Protocol Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in accordance with what is written in the passport of customers who maintain accounts with banks or wish to open bank accounts, banks are allowed to write down the full name according to what is written in the passport, and keep a copy of it and the residence card certified by the bank in the customer's file and complete the rest of the other data of the required residence card in accordance with the rules for opening accounts and customers are not required to amend the name in the residence card granted by the Protocol Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs only.

In order to achieve and maximize the benefits and advantages of IBAN and increase its usage, banks should improve and ease the readability of the IBAN when presented to customers. Lately, SAMA has noticed that some banks don’t present a readable IBAN structure when it’s provided to their customers through all customer correspondents’ channels such as statements, brochures, etc.

The document entitled "IBAN Standards in Saudi Arabia” sections 4 states that “in a printed format the IBAN structure shall remain, but the IBAN should be printed in groups of four characters and each group should be separated by a blank space or dashes.”

EXAMPLE

Please make sure to adopt this practice when presenting IBAN accounts for your customers.

For more information, please visit SARIE documentation website for all related IBAN documents.

SAMA received the telegram of His Excellency the Minister of Finance No. 1/10087 dated 26/12/1429 H based on the telegram of His Highness the President of the Prime Minister's Office No. 50476/B dated 25/12/1429 H attached to the Council of Ministers Resolution No. (371) dated 24/12/1429 H to change the name of the Saudi Red Crescent Society to become "Saudi Red Crescent Authority".

 Therefore, we hope to take note of replacing the name of the Saudi Red Crescent Society with the name of the Saudi Red Crescent Authority, and to adopt this new name in all of its accounts opened with you, current and future.

 Rreferring to Rule No. (4) of Section II (Supervisory Rules) of the Rules for Opening Bank Accounts in Commercial Banks and the General Rules for their Operation notified to banks operating in the Kingdom under Circular No. 5555/BCI/95 dated 8/2/1428 H on "Updating Account Data". As well as reference to circular No. MAT/285 dated 29/10/1424 H regarding the evaluation of the updated accounts of bank customers according to the table attached hereto. 

We hope to provide SAMA with the following: 

Statistics of the updated accounts as at the end of September 2008 on a floppy disk according to the table in force attached to the circular of SAMA referred to above, within two weeks from its date. Provide SAMA with a semi-annual report that includes statistics of updated accounts as at the end of June and the end of December of each year, starting from 2009. 

Maintain the extension of the time limit for freezing some of the non-updated government accounts that were identified pursuant to Circular No. 39604/MAT/604 dated 12/11/1426 H until you are informed of what action should be taken regarding them from time to time.

SAMA received the letter of the Director of the Asir Prisons Department No. 9/2814/25 dated 5/7/1429 H stating that the banks of the region refuse to provide banking services to prison inmates in various governorates, violating the requirements of the instructions issued by SAMA to banks operating in the Kingdom, which stipulated that the main teller in the branch, customer services officer or a higher official be assigned to go to the security vehicle outside the branches headquarters, meet prisoners and enable them to conduct operations and services provided by banks, as branch employees are still requesting the prisoners’ personal information to the branch headquarters, despite the difficulty of bringing the prisoners down while handcuffed and taking turns among the reviewers, and the risks and security warnings that this entails. 

Therefore, SAMA hopes to fully comply with Rule No. (200-1-1) of the Rules for Opening Bank Accounts in Commercial Banks and the General Rules for their Operation notified to banks operating in the Kingdom under Circular No. 5555/BCI/ 95 dated 8/2/1428 H regarding "Saudi Citizens / Prison Inmates", which stipulated the opening of accounts for prison inmates when they apply to banks accompanied by security guards affiliated with the General Administration of Prisons, and to obtain from the guards a letter from the prison administration in the city where the prison is located addressed to the branch clarifies the prisoner's name, ID number and desire to open the account, so that the main teller in the branch, customer services officer or any higher official is assigned to the security vehicle outside the branch headquarters, meeting the prisoner and completing the account opening procedures, indicating the presence of the prisoner customer in prison on the date of the account opening request and enabling the customer to conduct operations and services provided by the bank, which also stipulated that the prisoner is allowed to manage and operate his account with the same mechanism and procedures, and if the prisoner is a woman, the prison administration's letter is accepted as her identification if she does not present her personal status card or passport as her identity and allows and signs consent to be photographed. 

To inform and notify all branches of this and to confirm full compliance with the provisions of the controls referred to above.

Further to SAMA Circular No. 11482/MAT/133 dated 21/04/1425 H based on the letter of His Excellency the Minister of Finance No. 1/5623 dated 12/04/1425 H based on the Ministry of Interior Circular No. 562/C H dated 05/04/1425 H, referring to the start of issuing national identity cards and approving their acceptance along with the civil status card. 

We inform you that SAMA received the letter of His Excellency the Minister of Finance No. 1/403 dated 14/01/1429 H, to which a copy of the Ministry of Interior supplementary telegram circular No. 271/C H dated 05/01/1429 H includes that within the framework of raising the level of identification documents issued by the Ministry of Interior to citizens and benefiting from technological means in designing and printing these documents and adding more security protection to them, the issuance of the (national identity card) has been started through the central printing system for personal documents, which allows the application of High security, as the citizen's data and photo are printed in black and white using laser engraving, and this card also contains the same data as the (current) national identity card, including the light strip on the back of the card, which contains a picture, name and number of the cardholder in a visible manner that cannot be modified, deleted or added to, and the back side also includes the smart chip that will be activated later to accommodate many applications that can relieve the citizen in the future to carry a number of other cards. The Ministry of Interior hopes to adopt the acceptance of the national identity card in its aforementioned form, while continuing to work with the current civil status documents until the issuance of instructions to stop working with them. 

Therefore, we hope to take note and approve the acceptance of the (National Identity Card) in its aforementioned form as an identification document for citizens in cases where it has been stipulated to accept (Civil Status Card and National ID) as an identification document, in accordance with what was stated in the second amendment  for opening and operating bank accounts in the Kingdom under Circular No. 5555 /BCI/95 dated 08/02/1428 H, while continuing to work with the current civil status documents until the issuance of instructions to stop working with them.

Further to SAMA Circular No. 5555/BCI/95 dated 8/2/1428 H for the second update of the rules for opening bank accounts in commercial banks and the general rules for their operation. 

In reference to the contents of Rule No. 200-1-1 of Clause III in those Rules on the Accounts of Rub' al-Khali tribes which stipulates that they are allowed to open bank accounts in Saudi Riyals and foreign currencies in accordance with the following conditions:

1. A copy of the permit issued to the individual from the Najran Region passports, including the name of the permit holder, his passport number, date, source, and the personal photo of the owner stamped with the official stamp. This statement is the basis for dealing. 
2. A copy of the Saudi passport.
3. Linking the validity of the permit to the date of the Saudi passport when establishing and updating the account. 
4. Complete other personal data stipulated by the requirements of the rules of this manual.
5. Matching the copies with the originals and signing the copies with matching and their validity by the customer and by the employee with comparison and matching. 

We would like to note that SAMA received the telegram of His Royal Highness the Minister of Interior No. 97687 dated 9/11/1428 H addressed to His Royal Highness the Governor of Najran Region, and a copy to it to SAMA, stating that it approved the exemption of members of Rub' al-Khali tribes from the instructions and the acceptance of their Saudi passports as proof of identity for movement and work and to review the banks until the study of their situation is completed. 

Accordingly, we inform you that it has been decided to amend the requirements for opening bank accounts for this category of customers to become the requirements of their rule referred to above as follows: 

They are allowed to open bank accounts in Saudi Riyals and foreign currencies according to the following conditions:

1. Obtain a copy of the Saudi passport, to be photographed by the bank employee. 
2. Approving the expiry date of the Saudi passport upon account establishment and subsequent updates. 
3. Complete other personal data stipulated by the requirements of the rules of this manual. 
4. Matching the images with the originals and signing the images with matching and their validity by the customer and by the employee by matching and matching.

To inform and notify all your branches to act accordingly.

          Further to SAMA Circulars No. 18721 / MAT / 227 dated 29/8/1424 H, and No. 12299 / MAFT/201 dated 28/3/1426 H, which include a request to open special accounts for beneficiaries of charitable organizations subsidies inside the Kingdom, and to issue an ATM card for each beneficiary for whom an account is opened, and not to require financial limits or a specific balance for those accounts. 

       Referring to the receipt of a number of complaints to SAMA by some charitable organizations and some beneficiaries of the associations' subsidies, including the failure of banks to respond to the opening of accounts for the beneficiaries of the subsidies of those associations as soon as required, SAMA stresses the importance of opening accounts without conditions, in the service of this segment of society. In addition to the importance of expanding banking culture among all segments of society. 

       In the interest of SAMA to address the difficulties faced by charities regarding the disbursement of subsidies to beneficiaries within the Kingdom and to facilitate matters to beneficiaries, and in a manner that ensures the achievement of the regulatory requirements related to customer knowledge and documentation of operations, SAMA considers that in the event that the rules contained in SAMA Circular No. 18721/MAT/227 dated 29/8/1424 H referred to above cannot be applied, one of the following disbursement mechanisms can be applied to beneficiaries of charitable organizations subsidies within the Kingdom: 

• Cheques issued by charitable organizations should be cashed directly to the first beneficiary of the subsidy without the requirement to deposit them in the beneficiary's account, taking into account the regulatory requirements of knowing the customer. 
• The bank coordinates with charitable organizations to develop a specific mechanism whereby the bank issues a special ATM card for each beneficiary, and it is replenished through those associations to these beneficiaries at the date of entitlement to the subsidy. 

We hope to adopt the work according to it, with SAMA stressing the need to quickly correct any violations at any of your branches operating in the Kingdom, and to report on the action taken in this regard.

SAMA received the letter of His Excellency the Minister of Finance and National Economy No. 1/4602 dated 5/4/1423 AH based on the circular of His Royal Highness the Acting Minister of Interior No. 56 / T H dated 28/3/1423 AH containing that the identity of Saudi women is proven through the documents mentioned in the circular and shown below:

1. The family book in which she is registered belongs to her father or husband. 
2. Her national ID.
3.  Status card for women who request it, which has been issued through the women's sections of some civil status departments.

His Highness' circular also included an emphasis on departments and authorities dealing with women to work as follows: 

1. Women are dealt with by women. 
2. The woman's card shall not be photographed in any case, and only her number and source shall be recorded.
3.  In cases where the woman does not have a card, her identity is verified as is the case and through the approved documents (family book or national ID) or a certified copy of her civil registry.

SAMA received the letter of His Excellency the Minister of Finance and National Economy No. 1/10818 dated 2/9/1422 H in response to SAMA's letter No. 1953 dated 26/8/1422 H regarding allowing foreign companies licensed to deposit and re-export to open accounts in local banks in accordance with the following controls: 

1. Obtaining a lease contract in the deposit area from the Saudi Development and Re-export Company (the concessionaire for leasing in the deposit area) certified by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the port management.
2.  A valid commercial registration from the country of origin with a clear address of the company.
3.  Identification from a bank in the country of origin of the leasing company. 
4.  The persons authorized to manage the accounts of the rented company must be either Saudi nationals or have valid residency. 
5.  The lessee shall specify the purpose of opening the account in a letter addressed by him to the bank. 
6.  The account shall be closed immediately upon the expiry of the lease period and the lessor shall be provided with evidence thereof.

Accordingly, SAMA hopes to abide by the above-mentioned controls when applying for the opening of accounts for these companies.

        SAMA received the letter of His Excellency the Minister of Finance and National Economy No. 1/3206 dated 12/3/1421 H attached to it a copy of the Council of Ministers Resolution No. (47) dated 18/2/1421 H informing of a copy of the letter of His Highness the President of the Prime Minister's Office No. 3824 / R dated 28/2/1421 H stating the following:

First: Deposit the seized amounts with the defendants in drug cases with commercial banks in the name of the directors of the anti-narcotics departments until judicial rulings are issued in their regard, in accordance with the procedures and conditions agreed upon between the Minister of Interior and the Minister of Finance and National Economy.

Second: Transfer the amounts referred to in item (first) and the value of objects for which judicial rulings are issued for confiscation in drug cases that are not considered in accordance with the customs law, to SAMA, to be deposited in a separate account from which to be disbursed on the needs of the General Directorate for Drug Control in accordance with the procedures and conditions set by the Ministry of Interior in agreement with the Ministry of Finance and National Economy and the General Audit Office.

Third: The provisions mentioned in item (second) above shall apply to the amounts and value of objects for which judicial rulings have been issued for confiscation in drug cases, deposited with commercial banks in the name of drug control departments before the effective date of this decision.

      We hope to take the necessary action and act accordingly.

SAMA has noticed from inspection visits and client complaints that some banks refuse to open current accounts for less than a specific minimum and that they close current accounts that fall below a certain minimum.

Since the banking sector is considered one of the most important service sectors for various clients and beneficiaries; and since opening current accounts is considered one of the factors that assist in banking and investment development and participate in increasing the savings and income of citizens and facilitate their activities, and, at the same time, allow the banks to market their services and broaden their client base,

SAMA, therefore, calls on all banks to open current accounts without stipulating a minimum amount, and to maintain such accounts as long as they are active and not closed at the request of the client, without any consideration to the balance therein. Banks can only charge the bank fee of SR 15 every 6 months to current accounts that have a balance less than SR 1000. As for non-active accounts, they should be treated as per the instructions of Banking Control in this respect.

We wish to inform you that Saudi Central Bank shall take necessary action against any bank that violates such instructions in the future and shall send examiners to verify such violations.

In preparation for the implementation of the Electronic Funds Transfer system, agreement has been reached at the Bank Operations Officers Committee to implement the following:

1. Close all your current accounts at the SAMA branches on Thursday 14 September 1995G. at the end of the workday. Banks will transfer all their balances to one account at the SAMA Head Office.
2. Instruct your Regional Offices to reconsolidate your account with our SAMA Branches. All claims must be settled within 15 days of receiving your account statement. If no claims are brought forward, the balances will be final.
3. All correspondence and instruction relating to your account at SAMA Head Office should be addressed to Government Accounts Department (Bank Account Section) starting from Saturday, 16 September 1995G.
4. Provide Government Account Department, Bank Account Section at SAMA Head Office a list of authorized names at signatures of each your Regional Office specifying maximum amount that each Regional Offices can transact at each of the SAMA branches.
5. Cash withdrawal transactions from your SAMA account must be by cheques drawn on your account at SAMA Head Office and within the authorized limit of your Regional Offices.
6. All government revenues collected by your Banks and deposited at SAMA branches should be via cheques drawn on your consolidated account at SAMA Head Office. These cheques should be accompanied by a letter stating the type and revenue collecting government agency and beneficiary.
7. All cash deposits at SAMA Branches will be credited to your consolidated account after inspection and count.
8. All government cheques presented to the SAMA Branches will be cleared through the clearing house.

Please follow the above.

It has been noticed that some bank branches delay the certification of their accounts opened with SAMA branches for 2 or 3 months. This delay leads to another delay in reviewing the accounts and discovering errors, if any,

SAMA calls on you to certify account statements received from SAMA branches within 15 days from the date you receive them.