By Pewu Y. Sumo
Monrovia – The Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) has announced that beginning Monday, April 13, 2026, one percent of every Liberian Dollar withdrawal at commercial banks must be disbursed in coins.
To support this transition, CBL Executive Governor Henry Saamoi announced the donation of several coin-sorting machines to local commercial banks. The equipment is intended to streamline the processing and disbursement of coins across the country.
According to an official statement from the CBL, these machines will help banks manage the “disbursement and issuance of coins to customers” more efficiently. Governor Saamoi noted that this donation supplements previous equipment provided to commercial banks several months ago.
The Governor emphasized that the initiative aims to tackle the low circulation of coins in the Liberian economy. He attributed the scarcity largely to a trend of customers refusing to accept coins during transactions.
“Refusing coins is equivalent to rejecting banknotes,” Governor Saamoi warned. “Both are legal tender, and such refusal is a violation of the laws of Liberia.”
The mandate follows reports that some commercial banks were previously hesitant to accept coin deposits, further hindering their flow through the market. By providing the necessary sorting infrastructure and enforcing the 1% withdrawal rule, the CBL hopes to reintegrate coins into daily commerce and alleviate the pressure on small-denomination banknotes.
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