Sudan restores interbank transfers after 20-month hiatus

 December 15, 2024 (PORT SUDAN) – Electronic Banking Services (EBS), Sudan’s national payment systems operator, announced late on Sunday that interbank transfers had been restored after a 20-month suspension due to the ongoing conflict.

Money transfers between banks have been unavailable since the conflict erupted on April 15, 2023, as EBS staff could not access systems at the Central Bank of Sudan’s Khartoum branch, located near the army headquarters.

“We are pleased to launch a new service for easily and securely transferring funds between local accounts using the Basic Bank Account Number (BBAN),” EBS said in a statement seen by Sudan Tribune.

The service allows customers of local banks to quickly transfer money via mobile applications, providing a more efficient banking experience.

EBS, the technical arm of the Central Bank of Sudan, operates electronic payment systems, including interbank transfers and mobile banking applications. It also provides ATM withdrawal and deposit services, check clearing, and electronic payment of utilities, mobile phone credits, and government services.

The restoration of interbank transfers follows the central bank’s recent change in currency exchange procedures, requiring citizens to deposit old banknotes into their accounts and withdraw new currency with a daily limit of 200,000 pounds.

Sudanese citizens have complained about the poor quality and frequent outages of banking applications, especially as many rely on them to receive remittances from relatives abroad. The ongoing conflict has severely disrupted livelihoods in both rural and urban areas.