In reference to the Account Opening Rules communicated through Circular No. (65681/67) dated 01/11/1440H, and subsequent updates, which include Rule (5) related to Inoperative Accounts and  Article (8) concerning the Opening an Account without Making a Deposit from Rule (100). Also,  in reference to the banking accounts for enforcement courts for the purpose of depositing funds. Given the special nature of these types of banking accounts, as their purpose is to collect the enforcement amount and is terminated upon its completion, with the amount being disbursed to the ministry or the beneficiary according to the aforementioned rules.

I would like to inform you that it has been decided to exempt the banking accounts of the enforcement courts, which are established for the purpose of collecting enforcement amounts, from Article (5-2) related to the rules of 'Durations, Periods and Requirements for Dealing with Inoperative Accounts' as outlined in the aforementioned rules, as well as from the requirement to close the account if no deposits are made within a period of (90) days as stated in Article (8) regarding opening an account without making a deposit from Rule (100) of the same rules. Therefore, the relevant rules for account opening rules should be amended as follows:

First: Amending Rule (5) related to Inoperative Accounts, to state as follows:"..... Accounts of government entities shall be excluded from the provisions of this Rule in respect of the phase of abandoned accounts only as set forth in paragraph (5.2.4), and the bank accounts for enforcement courts that are established for the purpose of collecting enforcement amounts are excluded from all three stages of classification outlined in Article (5.2). Accounts of statutory reserve deposited by financial institutions supervised by SAMA, whose balances are not allowed to be disposed of without prior written permission from SAMA, shall also be excluded from the provisions of this Rule".

Second: Amending  Article (8) concerning the Opening an Account without Making a Deposit from Rule (100), to state as follows: " The bank must agree to open an account for any customer if the required documents and conditions are submitted and satisfied. The bank must not require the customer to deposit any amounts as a condition for opening the account. If no amount is deposited in the customer account within a period of 90 days, then the bank must close such account. The exception is being made to government entities’ accounts that the Ministry of Finance (MOF) approves opening without the need to deposit any amounts for a period specified by the MOF, As well as the bank accounts for enforcement courts that are established for the purpose of collecting enforcement amounts".

For your information and action accordingly as of this date, SAMA confirms that this does not absolve the bank from its responsibility to monitor these bank accounts. It is important to continue official correspondence and communication with the Ministry of Justice or its authorized representative regarding the status of keeping or closing the account, in case no deposits are made within a period of (90) days from the account opening, or if (24) calendar months have passed from the last financial transaction, in accordance with the Account Opening Rules and related instructions.