The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) has announced extended working hours for select bank branches nationwide, starting Tuesday, 8th July 2025, to alleviate pressure on essential banking services following the Ramses Exchange fire.
In an official statement issued Tuesday morning, the CBE confirmed that branches chosen based on their geographic distribution&mdash;and according to internal assessments by each bank&mdash;will now remain open to the public until 5:00 PM, instead of the usual 3:00 PM, from Sunday to Thursday.
The move comes as part of broader efforts to address public disruption caused by the massive telecommunications blackout that has impacted mobile, internet and financial networks across Egypt since late Monday.
&ldquo;This adjustment ensures banking services remain accessible to the public, especially during this period of exceptional circumstances,&rdquo; the CBE stated.
Special Working Hours for Bank Branches in Malls, Clubs, and Hotels:
In the same statement, the Central Bank clarified that branches located in malls, sports, social clubs and hotels will continue operating under their existing extended-hour schedules, as follows:
Mall Branches (Indoor): Open daily, including Fridays and Saturdays, from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM, offering full banking services.
 Mall Branches with Street Access: Operate Sunday to Thursday, closing at 5:00 PM.
 Club Branches (Indoor): Serve club members daily until 8:00 PM, including weekends, with full banking services.
 Club Branches with Street Access: Open Sunday to Thursday, closing at 5:00 PM.
 Hotel Branches (Indoor): Open daily until 5:00 PM, including Fridays and Saturdays. Currency exchange services may continue until 9:00 PM, if requested by the bank.
 Hotel Branches with Street Access: Operate Sunday to Thursday, closing at 5:00 PM, with currency exchange also permitted later as per each bank&rsquo;s approved schedule.
 The CBE emphasized that these flexible operating hours aim to accommodate the needs of different client bases, especially in high-traffic commercial and recreational areas.
Ramses Fire Triggers Nationwide Disruptions
The policy update follows a large-scale fire that broke out at Telecom Egypt&rsquo;s Ramses Exchange building in central Cairo around 5:30 PM on Monday, 7th July. The blaze caused severe damage to one of the country's most vital telecom hubs, disrupting a range of services including mobile networks, internet connectivity and digital financial operations.
Authorities cut power to the site to contain the flames, leading to widespread outages in online banking, ATM transactions, POS payments, and voice and data services. According to the Associated Press, connectivity dropped by more than 60% nationwide, with businesses and consumers alike left scrambling for alternatives.
National Response and Recovery Efforts
Telecom Egypt, in coordination with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, has deployed emergency teams and mobile exchange units in an effort to restore services. While partial connectivity has returned to some areas, full recovery is expected to take several days.
In response to the fire&rsquo;s broader economic impact, the CBE&rsquo;s decision to extend bank branch hours has been welcomed by financial institutions, especially those dealing with long queues, payment delays, and interrupted services since the outage began.

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