Egypt’s Central Bank (CBE), in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Egyptian International Cooperation, and Egyptian Expatriates, has launched two major banking initiatives that let Egyptians abroad manage their banking relationship in Egypt directly through their local Egyptian embassy or consulate — without needing to travel home first.
1. “Open Your Account in Egypt” — Phase 2 Now Live
This initiative lets Egyptians abroad open a new bank account in Egypt through their nearest Egyptian diplomatic or consular mission, through two participating banks — the National Bank of Egypt (NBE) and Banque Misr. Under Phase 1 (since November 2025), the service is already available at 31 missions in 16 countries, including the Egyptian Embassy in Ottawa and the Consulate in Montreal. Phase 2 (new) expands NBE to 45 additional countries (50 missions) and Banque Misr to 36 countries (42 missions) — mainly across the Middle East, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America. No new Canadian cities were added, since Ottawa and Montreal were already covered under Phase 1.
✅ How to Open an Account
- Submit your request at your chosen bank’s window inside the Egyptian embassy or consulate serving your area
- Applicants must be 15 years or older, and hold a valid Egyptian passport or valid National ID
- A personal identity verification is required by the mission before the account can be opened
2. “Update Your Data in Egypt” — New Initiative
Announced on the sidelines of the 7th Conference for Egyptians Abroad (“Wherever We Are, Egypt Brings Us Closer”), this new initiative — a direct extension of “Open Your Account” — lets Egyptians abroad who already hold an account with NBE or Banque Misr update their banking data without traveling to Egypt.
It was launched by CBE and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in partnership with both banks, in coordination with Egypt’s Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Unit and the Federation of Egyptian Banks. The cooperation protocol was signed by Ambassador Nabil Habashy (Deputy Foreign Minister for Egyptian Expatriates), Mohamed El-Etreby (CEO, National Bank of Egypt), and Hisham Okasha (CEO, Banque Misr), in the presence of Tarek El-Kholy, Deputy Governor of the Central Bank for Banking Stability.
🔄 How to Update Your Data
- Visit your nearest Egyptian embassy or consulate
- Fill out and sign the data-update form
- The mission certifies the form and forwards it to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ head office for authentication
- The form is then delivered to your bank (NBE or Banque Misr) to complete the data update
CBE Governor Hassan Abdalla said the initiative reflects the banking sector’s commitment to developing more efficient, flexible services for Egyptians abroad, supporting financial inclusion and strengthening ties with the diaspora — building directly on the success of “Open Your Account in Egypt.” Foreign Minister Dr. Badr Abdelatty added that the move responds to repeated requests from Egyptians abroad and implements recommendations from the 6th Conference for Egyptians Abroad (August 2025).
Source: Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) — official announcement with the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Egyptian Expatriates.
Quick Reference: Which Bank Covers You?
National Bank of Egypt (NBE)
- Phase 1: Ottawa, Montreal + 29 other missions across 16 countries
- Phase 2: +45 countries, 50 new missions worldwide
Tap for the official source →
Banque Misr
- Phase 1: Ottawa, Montreal + other missions across 16 countries
- Phase 2: +36 countries, 42 missions worldwide
Tap for the official source →
