Lebanese banks opened to customers on Friday for the first time in two weeks, following a wave of protests that led the prime minister to resign.
Queues of up to 20 people formed outside at least three banks in the capital, Beirut, as doors opened, Reuters witnesses said. Smaller numbers were observed at other branches.
The central bank had promised not to impose capital controls when banks re-opened, measures that could hamper the currency inflows and investment Lebanon badly needs to weather its economic crisis.
There may be no formal capital controls, but banking sources said on Thursday that commercial banks would try to restrict transfers abroad to cases such as loan payments, medical expenses and family support.
Banking sources told LBCI that the banks have taken measures to prioritize the depositors over the borrowers, noting that some unused credits will be frozen.
According to the Association of Banks in Lebanon, the transactions will be made based on the official exchange rate of the US dollar set between 1.514 and 1.515 Lebanese Pounds.