Decree orders Tunisian banks to lend 8 percent of profits interest-free and without collateral
Presidential decree 2026-148 of July 23, published in the official gazette JORT No. 75 on July 24, sets the terms of the "honour financing" lines: every bank must set aside at least 8 percent of its annual profit for loans carrying no interest and no collateral, applying article 412 ter of the commercial code introduced by Law 2024-41. Ceilings are 25,000 dinars for SMEs and community companies, 10,000 for micro-project holders and 5,000 for individuals; banks have ten working days to rule on an application, must justify any refusal, may charge no study fees, and must reserve at least half the line for small businesses and community companies, funded from 2025 profits. African Manager notes the text provides no recovery route if borrowers default, pushing a social-policy cost onto bank balance sheets.