How much can I withdraw each month from my Lebanese dollar account?
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Short answer
It depends on whether your dollars are pre-crisis "lollars" or fresh dollars, and on your bank. We could not confirm the current monthly limit for pre-2019 deposits, so we give no figure. AGBI reported in October 2023 that since 2021 lollar holders could withdraw only small amounts, often at a haircut (about 80% at the peak[1]). Ask your bank for its current rules.
Also asked as: “Lebanese bank dollar withdrawal limit per month” · “How much can I take out of my lollar account?” · “Monthly cash withdrawal limit Lebanon USD account” · “Can I withdraw my old dollar deposit in Lebanon?”
This page covers what was published up to 17 October 2026. We could not confirm the current withdrawal limit for pre-2019 dollar deposits, so do not rely on a monthly figure you see online until your bank confirms it in writing.
Key facts
- Pre-crisis ("lollar") withdrawals
- Small amounts since 2021, often at a haircut (about 80% at the peak[1]), per AGBI in October 2023
- Current monthly limit
- Not confirmed as of October 2026; ask your bank
- Fees on old deposits
- Banque du Liban Circular 679[1] bars commissions introduced after 31 October 2019 on dollar deposits made before 3 September 2019 (AGBI, October 2023)
- Fee disclosure
- Banks must post their fee methods visibly in branches, under the same circular[1]
- Cash withdrawal of a full sale price
- Very high commissions on a fresh-dollar account, according to one broker in 2023, no figure given[2]
- OMT Cash Access (fresh or international cards)
- up to USD 5,000 per transaction, 4.5% fee[3], minimum USD 9, collected at an OMT outlet in Lebanon (undated OMT page)
Lollar accounts and fresh dollars
People call a pre-crisis dollar account a "lollar" account. AGBI reported in October 2023 that since 2021 holders of these accounts could take out only small amounts, often at a heavy haircut[1]. That is the 2023 picture. We could not confirm the limits or rates that apply in October 2026.
For "fresh dollars", one broker, JSK Real Estate, uses the term for payment in cash banknotes or by bank-to-bank transfer outside Lebanon[2]. That is a broker's working definition, and your bank may sort accounts differently. More on what fresh dollars means and on the lollar rate.
What we could and could not confirm
A monthly figure for lollar withdrawals circulates online. We could not open the official decision behind it, so we do not repeat it here. The same goes for newer circulars that people mention.
On fees, AGBI reported in October 2023 that Circular 679[1] stops banks from charging dollar deposits made before 3 September 2019 with commissions created after 31 October 2019. We could not read the circular itself, and we could not confirm that it is still in force in 2026. IDAL's investor FAQ says Lebanon has freedom of exchange that lets foreigners import and export capital freely[4]. That statement does not tell you what your bank will let you withdraw from an old deposit.
If you want to use the account to buy property
One broker, JSK Real Estate, said in 2023 that withdrawing a full sale price in cash from a fresh-dollar account carried very high commissions, without giving a figure[2]. The same broker says many sales in 2020 and 2021 were closed with bankers' cheques drawn on trapped deposits, and that most 2022 sales were paid in real dollars.
For the more recent market, R.E.A.L. president Walid Moussa told The Beiruter that buying in 2025 was concentrated among Lebanese expatriates, some local investors and people holding cash. Libnanews, writing in October 2026, says buyers with fresh dollars can still buy while those tied to old deposits cannot[5,6].
Before you count on an old deposit for a purchase, read paying in lollars or fresh dollars and buying with a bank cheque. If your money is abroad, the options for sending money to Lebanon for a property may be simpler.
How to find out your own limit
- Ask your branch in writing. Ask which category your account falls into (pre-crisis or fresh), how much you can withdraw each month, in which currency, at what rate and for what fee. If you live abroad, send the question by email or letter so you have a record.
- Read the fee notice in the branch. AGBI reported in 2023 that Circular 679 requires banks to post their fee methods visibly in branches[1]. Ask the branch whether the posted schedule is current.
- Compare your statement with the answer. Check every withdrawal line for the rate and the fee actually charged. Keep copies of statements and of the bank's replies.
- Plan a property payment before you sign anything. If the price would come from this account, get the bank's written answer on amount, timing and fees first. Then agree the payment method with the seller and the notary.
It depends on
- When the money was deposited. AGBI reported in 2023 that Circular 679 restricts new commissions on dollar deposits made before 3 September 2019[1], and that pre-crisis accounts faced withdrawal limits and haircuts. Your bank will tell you which category your account is in.
- Your bank. We found no limit, rate or fee schedule we could confirm for October 2026. Ask your own branch for its written rules.
- Cash or transfer. One broker, JSK Real Estate, said in 2023 that withdrawing a full sale price in cash from a fresh-dollar account carried very high commissions, without giving a figure[2]. Ask the bank for the cost of cash and of a transfer.
- Using a card through OMT. OMT's Cash Access lets holders of fresh or international cards request a withdrawal online and collect it at an OMT outlet in Lebanon with ID: up to USD 5,000 per transaction, 4.5% fee[3], minimum USD 9, per an undated OMT page. The bank that issued your card may add its own limits, so ask both the bank and OMT.
Common questions
Can I withdraw my whole pre-2019 dollar deposit?
We could not confirm the current rules. AGBI reported in October 2023 that since 2021 pre-crisis dollar deposits could be withdrawn only in small amounts, often at a haircut[1]. Ask your bank for its current terms in writing.
Can my bank charge new fees on my old dollar account?
AGBI reported in October 2023 that Banque du Liban Circular 679 bars commissions introduced after 31 October 2019 on dollar deposits made before 3 September 2019. Whether the circular is still in force in 2026 is not confirmed[1].
Can I receive money through Whish instead of using my bank?
Yes, for small amounts. As of October 2026, Taptap Send says transfers to Lebanon via Whish are limited to USD 5,000 per transfer and per month[7]. Taptap Send also says a recipient who needs more may have to fill in a Whish form and justify the transfer, for example with a sales invoice. See OMT, Whish and Western Union limits.
Sources
Checked against these sources. The numbers in the text point here.
- 1.Lebanon's new bank rules offer 'lollar' accounts respite
AGBI (Arabian Gulf Business Insight) · 5 Oct 2023 · read 17 Oct 2026
- 2.Payment methods for real estate transactions in Lebanon: a complex formula
JSK Real Estate · 21 Jan 2023 · read 17 Oct 2026
- 3.OMT: Cash Access
OMT (Online Money Transfer S.A.L.) · undated · read 17 Oct 2026
- 4.Limitations and Restrictions for foreign investors
IDAL (Investment Development Authority of Lebanon) · undated · read 16 Oct 2026
- 5.When Lebanon's real estate mirror speaks
The Beiruter · 1 Jan 2026 · read 17 Oct 2026
- 6.Real estate in Lebanon: sales dive, prices resist… the paradox of a market that has become inaccessible
Libnanews · 1 Oct 2026 · read 17 Oct 2026
- 7.Taptap Send: how can I send money to Lebanon
Taptap Send · 8 Oct 2026 · read 17 Oct 2026
Related questions
- Can I pay for a property in Lebanon in lollars, or only in fresh dollars?It depends on the seller; 2025-26 buying was concentrated among expatriates and cash holders. Fresh dollars, lollars, cheques, cash rules and BDH loans.
- What does 'fresh dollars' mean in Lebanon?Fresh dollars usually means US cash or transfers from outside Lebanon, as opposed to 'lollars'. What it means for buying property and BDH loans.
- What is the lollar rate today in Lebanon?No official lollar rate could be confirmed as of October 2026. What a lollar is, what was reported on haircuts and fees, and how to get your bank's rate.
- Can I use my trapped bank deposit to settle a loan or buy property in Lebanon?No published rule lets you pay with a trapped deposit; it depends on the seller and your bank. How cheques were used, what changed and what to check.
- Can I buy an apartment in Lebanon with a bank cheque, and what discount do sellers apply?Only if the seller agrees. No checkable 2026 figure for cheque discounts. What is known about bankers' cheques, lollars and paying safely.
- What is the best way to send money to Lebanon to pay for a property?No single best way: apps cap at USD 5,000 to 9,900 a transfer, bank wire terms are unpublished, cash over USD 15,000 must be declared. What to check.
- What are the OMT, Whish and Western Union limits for receiving money in Lebanon?Via Taptap Send, a Whish wallet takes USD 5,000 a month. What is published for OMT and Western Union, what is not, and why it matters for property.
