Total Egyptian pound settlement values through the real-time gross settlement (RTGS) system grew by 16.8% in the first quarter of 2026 compared with the same period of 2025, according to the Financial Stability Report published on the Central Bank of Egypt's (CBE) official website.

The report covered the CBE's efforts to develop the multi-currency real-time settlement system, one of the cornerstones of the domestic payment system, which enables real-time, final settlement of interbank payments in local and foreign currencies in line with the latest international standards.

The system also settles the results of the automated clearing house in local and foreign currencies, supporting efficient interbank transactions and the orderly flow of payments within the banking sector.

The system's development is part of the CBE's efforts to modernize the national payments infrastructure, improve the efficiency of financial services and strengthen the banking sector's readiness to keep pace with international requirements and changes, helping support financial stability.

In a related context, the report pointed to the implementation of a comprehensive plan to prepare the banking sector for a full transition to the ISO 20022 financial messaging standard, which allows more detailed transaction data to be transmitted and supports modern uses of financial services.

The standard strengthens banks' ability to screen transactions automatically in line with international recommendations and anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing requirements, while also facilitating cross-border payments and integration with regional payment platforms.

These efforts go hand in hand with the development of the digital payments ecosystem: the Instant Payment Network (IPN) recorded about 843 million transactions in the first quarter of 2026, with values exceeding EGP 2 trillion, supporting fast money transfers and the circulation of money in the economy.