The PMA Governor and Director General of the Independent Commission for Human Rights Discuss Efforts to Safeguard Citizens’ Banking Rights

His Excellency Mr. Yahya Shunnar, the PMA governor, met today in Ramallah with Dr. Ammar Dwaik, Director General of the Independent Commission for Human Rights.

During the meeting, the PMA Governor emphasized that the PMA has prioritized the protection of citizens’ banking rights in all its measures and directives, particularly in light of the current crisis—most notably the ILS accumulation issue—while also ensuring the stability of the banking system and facilitating citizens' ability to carry out their financial transactions smoothly.

The Governor stressed that the PMA continues its efforts to ensure the uninterrupted provision of essential banking services by monitoring banks’ compliance with issued directives concerning cash deposits and fees, ensuring fair treatment of customers, and promoting the use of electronic payment methods.

As part of its commitment to protecting citizens’ banking rights, the Governor noted that the PMA has enabled citizens in both the West Bank and Gaza Strip to report incidents of financial exploitation through its digital communication platform, PMACHAT. The platform allows users to report illegal commission charges, unjustified currency exchange rate discrepancies, or issues related to the acceptance of cash deposits.

In addition, the governor noted that the PMA has worked to provide free electronic payment solutions through banking applications and e-wallets—particularly in the Gaza Strip—to help mitigate the effects of cash shortages and enable citizens to carry out their financial transactions. These efforts have been accompanied by awareness campaigns aimed at promoting a culture of electronic payments across various segments of society.

The Governor also affirmed that the PMA has issued clear directives to expand electronic payment services, as part of broader efforts to alleviate the impact of the ILS accumulation crisis in the West Bank. He further emphasized that the PMA continues to coordinate closely with various government entities, official institutions, and the private sector as part of a comprehensive national effort to address the crisis.

For his part, Dr. Ammar Dwaik commended the efforts of the PMA during this critical period, emphasizing the importance of enhancing cooperation and coordination between both institutions to safeguard citizens’ financial rights and ensure a banking environment rooted in the principles of transparency, accountability, and fairness.

Dr. Dwaik also highlighted the key role of the PMA in maintaining balance within the banking system—ensuring that the rights of all parties, including both customers and banks, are fairly protected. He stressed the importance of ensuring that any directives or measures issued by the PMA take into account the interests of citizens, particularly the most vulnerable groups.