• Major Egyptian banks increase account, card, and statement fees amid rising operating costs.
• National Bank of Egypt and Banque Misr lead fee hikes across multiple account tiers.
• Fee increases are structured by account type, aiming to balance bank income and customer affordability.

Egyptian Banks

Several of Egypt’s largest banks are raising fees on a range of banking services. This includes opening bank accounts, account maintenance, debit card issuance, and quarterly charges. The increases range from EGP 25 to EGP 75.

Egypt’s two largest banks, the National Bank of Egypt and Banque Misr led the way in applying the fee increases for banking services. According to Alarabiya Business, several private banks are currently considering similar measures such as preparing to implement new fee hikes.

Administrative Fees

The National Bank of Egypt raised administrative fees across multiple account tiers by EGP 25. Quarterly fees for Classic and Premium accounts, with balances between EGP 20,000 and 400,000, jumped to EGP 75. Accounts holding between EGP 700,000 and 2 million now pay EGP 100. Meanwhile, high-net-worth accounts, with balances between 2 and 20 million, face fees of EGP 125.

The increases also include fees for paper statements. For instance, annual statements now cost EGP 100, up from 75. Additionally, debit card issuance and renewal increased to EGP 125, while Gold cards are now EGP 150.

Meanwhile, Banque Misr also raised fees. For instance, its quarterly account fees increased by EGP 25, ranging between EGP 75 and 125 depending on account type. The minimum balance penalty went from EGP 10 to 30, applied when balances fall between EGP 2,500 and 5,000. Additionally, periodic account statements now cost EGP 150.

Financial Inclusion

Officials note these hikes are unlikely to hurt financial inclusion. Banks continue offering initiatives that waive fees for certain accounts. As a result, the number of adults with active accounts rose to 53.8 million by June 2025, representing 76.3% of the population, up from 74.8% in December 2024.

Fee hikes are also part of a strategy to shift customers toward digital channels. Paper statements and in-branch transactions are increasingly priced higher to encourage online banking. This is in an effort to support operational efficiency and long-term customer convenience.