Following recent events in the country, Wahda Bank announced it will enter into partial civil disobedience starting Saturday, May 17, 2025. The decision includes the full closure of all branches located in areas classified as unsafe and the suspension of all in-person banking services in these affected areas until further notice. The bank will continue offering digital banking services as much as possible to ensure essential transactions for citizens without compromising employee safety.
According to the bank, this decision was made out of necessity and concern for the lives of its employees and the safety of its institutions, after the failure of the relevant authorities to provide the required protection, despite repeated warnings and official communications.
The bank held the official authorities fully legally and morally responsible for the daily risks and threats facing the banking sector. It also reaffirmed that the bank will not compromise the safety of its staff or depositors’ funds amidst the ongoing security breakdown.
In a related development, Mediterranean Bank also issued a statement announcing an immediate entry into partial civil disobedience, including the closure of branches in unstable security zones and the limitation of services to remote digital channels to fulfill urgent customer needs. The bank issued an urgent call for responsible authorities to fulfill their legal and ethical duties in protecting institutions and citizens. It stressed that this decision is not aimed against the state or the people, but rather a warning cry and a clear rejection of the suspicious silence surrounding the current situation.
Likewise, Bank of Commerce and Development declared partial civil disobedience to protect the safety of employees and clients amid deteriorating security conditions in several areas and the increasing frequency of assaults and violations targeting workers in national institutions, including the banking sector.
The bank emphasized that this decision does not reflect an abandonment of its responsibilities, but stems from its commitment to the safety of its staff and the public, amidst a clear absence of state protection for sovereign institutions. It called on all official entities to assume their responsibilities and fulfill their legal duty in protecting banks, considering them a pillar of the state’s stability and financial security.
