Cairo, Egypt – Several Egyptian banks announced Thursday evening a temporary suspension of their digital banking services. The suspension will begin at 11:00 PM and last until 3:00 AM on Friday, coinciding with the end of daylight saving time and the start of standard time in the country.
The banks explained in text messages sent to their customers that the temporary suspension is for the purpose of carrying out technical updates to their digital systems. This is to ensure their compatibility with the new timing and the continued provision of electronic banking services with the highest levels of security and efficiency.
Details of the temporary suspension
The banks stated that all electronic services, including mobile banking apps, online banking, and smart ATMs, will be temporarily unavailable. The outage will last for up to five hours, starting at 11:00 PM on Thursday (daylight saving time) and ending at 3:00 AM on Friday (winter time).
Banks also advised their customers to adjust their electronic devices to the new time zone (GMT +02:00) before conducting any banking transactions that require the use of a one-time password (OTP). This is to avoid any technical problems or delays in processing banking transactions.
Background to the decision: Winter time begins in Egypt
This measure coincides with the start of winter time in Egypt. The decision was based on a 2023 Cabinet resolution that reinstated daylight saving time after a hiatus of several years.
According to Law No. 34 of 2023, winter time begins on the day following the last Thursday of October each year. Clocks are set back 60 minutes at midnight.
Friday was chosen to officially implement the change as it is a weekly holiday in most sectors, to reduce the likelihood of any disruptions or errors in work systems and public services.
This update is part of the digital transformation efforts in the Egyptian banking sector, which is witnessing rapid expansion in electronic services. Banks are keen to develop their technological infrastructure to ensure the stability of operational systems and uninterrupted service, especially during times of significant changes or major technical updates.
Resumption of services
Online banking services are scheduled to gradually resume on Friday morning, October 31, 2025, following the completion of technical updates related to winter time. Banks will continue to provide their usual services to customers efficiently and securely.
