Monetary Authority: 20 billion dollars in checks circulated during 2025, of which 6.8% were returned due to insufficient funds

SadaNews Economy - The Monetary Authority issued an annual statistic regarding the checks circulated in Palestine for the year 2025, revealing the circulation of 5.7 million checks with a total value of 20.25 billion dollars, of which 602,000 checks valued at 1.37 billion dollars were returned due to insufficient funds, representing 10.5% in number and 6.8% in value. The data indicates a decline in these rates compared to 2024, when they were 16.7% in number and 8.3% in value.

The Monetary Authority clarified that the return of checks does not mean that they are not settled later, as the data indicated that 116,017 checks valued at 319,794,886 dollars from the checks returned due to insufficient funds for the year 2025 were reissued through account adjustments or through amicable settlements. It is noted that the Monetary Authority does not have data regarding the direct settlement of check amounts among citizens, and that 156,608 checks valued at 430,103,238 dollars were settled during the year 2025 from checks returned due to insufficient funds in previous years.

The statistics also showed that 95,000 citizens benefited from the check inquiry application, executing 650,000 inquiry operations during the year, which contributed to reducing the rates of returned checks and enhancing citizens' awareness when dealing with checks.

The Monetary Authority affirmed the importance and role of checks in supporting economic activity in light of the current challenges, and its commitment to enhancing confidence in the check as a financial instrument and reducing the returned checks through accurate and comprehensive credit systems and classifications, launching an inquiry application for individuals, and issuing numerous related regulations.