Banks: Nearly aligned fees for participatory banks

Participatory banks are gradually strengthening their position in a banking landscape that remains dominated by conventional banks. Beyond the specific features of participatory finance, the same economic logic applies across the entire banking sector—namely, covering costs, ensuring network profitability, shaping customer behaviour, and differentiating from competitors.

In this respect, pricing policy—alongside the cost of funding and other hidden costs—has become a key point of differentiation. That said, the pricing structures of individual banks reveal disparities between institutions, although these tend increasingly towards alignment with the standards of the conventional banking sector.

The first criterion clients compare when deciding whether to open an account relates to account maintenance fees. Some banks allow customers to opt for packaged offers. This is the case with Umnia Bank, which has adopted a policy centred on bundles, including options ranging from a free, non-remunerated savings account to basic, gold, or premium offers, priced between 300 and 990 dirhams per year.

Depending on the package selected, a range of banking services is included, such as free cash withdrawals from ATMs at partner banks, debit fees, set-up of standing orders, and other services. These packages therefore include not only account management, but also cheque issuance, international transfers, and access to remote banking services.

The same approach is taken by Bank Al Yousr, which has launched packages for individuals and civil servants ranging from 20 to 81 dirhams per year.

Otherwise, account management fees are set at 15 dirhams per month, with bank cards priced between 40.9 dirhams for the Yousr Idikhar card and 1,090.91 dirhams per year for the Platinum card. Al Akhdar Bank follows a similar structure, but has introduced packages based on occupational categories rather than services (Mouwaddaf, Ajir, Mihani, Business, Fellah, etc.), with costs ranging from 25 to 300 dirhams.

Other banks have not adopted a package-based approach and instead charge per service. Bank Assafa, for instance, does not apply any fees for current account operation, cheque services, or MRE (Moroccans living abroad) accounts. However, its card services are priced at 90.91 and 181.82 dirhams per year. Bank Al Karam, for its part, charges between 30 and 60 dirhams per quarter, with card fees ranging from 90 to 300 dirhams.

From 90 dirhams upward, Dar Al Amane applies fees of between 90 and 250 dirhams for bank cards, alongside account maintenance fees of 45 dirhams per quarter. These fees range from 180 to 540 dirhams at Najmah, with account management commissions of 75 dirhams every three months. At Arreda, card fees are set between 100 and 250 dirhams, with annual account operating fees of 45 dirhams.

Cheques: Collection and Rejection

The cost of cheque-related services also varies significantly between banks. For cheque deposits, the service is free at most institutions, including Umnia, Bank Al Karam, Al Akhdar, and Najmah. However, it is charged at 5 dirhams per cheque by Bank Assafa and Bank Al Yousr, 8 dirhams by Dar Al Amane, and 10 dirhams by Arreda.

Incident-related fees—particularly for insufficient funds—show significant disparities, ranging from relatively moderate amounts to substantially higher charges: 120 dirhams at Al Akhdar and Arreda; 125 and 132 dirhams respectively at Dar Al Amane and Umnia; 150 dirhams at Al Karam; and 163 dirhams at Najmah.

Bank Assafa stands out by charging only 25 dirhams for this service. Fees for rejections due to reasons other than formal defects, as well as for the return of unpaid cheques to the payee, follow broadly similar pricing, with average costs of around 25 dirhams.

The same applies to cheque certification, which displays relative price uniformity, reflecting a standardisation of the service across the sector, with fees ranging between 20 and 25 dirhams.

Provision of Funds: Towards Greater Uniformity

Another area of particular importance for individuals is the provision of funds. In most participatory banks and participatory windows, this service is charged at 30 dirhams per transaction. Bank Al Yousr applies a fee of 3%, with a minimum of 30 dirhams when conducted at a branch, while Al Akhdar specifies a charge of 10 dirhams when the transaction is carried out via an ATM.

Moreover, not all participatory banks disclose fees related to instant transfers. The available information concerns only three banks: Al Akhdar charges 15 dirhams, Al Yousr 25 dirhams, and Dar Al Amane 35 dirhams.

Compared with conventional banks, participatory institutions offer pricing structures that are increasingly aligned, particularly with regard to account maintenance fees, cheque deposits, and cheque rejection charges.

However, a notable difference remains in services such as fund provision and instant transfers, which tend to be more expensive at participatory banks than at their parent conventional institutions.

Ultimately, participatory banks, far from representing a radically distinct alternative in pricing terms, are increasingly adopting a conventional competitive logic. While their value proposition remains rooted in specific principles—particularly ethical compliance—their cost structures and pricing policies are converging towards those of the traditional banking system.

As a result, differentiation is no longer likely to rest solely on pricing arguments, but rather on the quality of the customer experience, the level of technological innovation, and the ability to offer competitive financing solutions while remaining faithful to participatory finance principles.

This evolution marks the entry of these institutions into a phase of maturity. Indeed, after several years of operation, they closed the 2025 financial year with strong profits, posting an aggregated net result of 198.7 million dirhams compared with 96.8 million dirhams in 2024—more than doubling year on year.

Towards the Consolidation of Fundamentals

By the end of 2025, participatory banks reported a combined net banking income of 1.3 billion dirhams, representing a 26.4% increase compared with the previous year. Almost all institutions are now operating in positive territory, seven years after the launch of the first participatory banks.

While participatory financing—particularly in real estate—accounts for the bulk of these banks’ commercial activity, they continue to carve out a place within the broader banking sector, despite a more limited diversification of products compared to conventional banks.