The Egyptian financial landscape is at a historic crossroads. As roughly EGP 1.3 tn in high-yield certificates begin to mature, we are seeing a massive migration of capital seeking a new home.

For decades, the conversation around savings has been dominated by headline interest rates, but the next phase of Egypt’s economic growth will be defined by something more nuanced: CASHTECH.

My journey in asset management — from launching the Youm b Youm money market fund for Banque Misr in 2004 to founding GRANITE — has taught me that a robust financial system requires more than just high-interest rates. It requires easy and continuous access that empowers both individuals and corporates to keep their money productive without locking it away.

This untapped horizon is significant, as mutual fund penetration in Egypt remains below 1% of GDP, a stark contrast to the 8–18% seen in comparable emerging markets like Brazil or Mexico. This gap isn’t just a statistic; it represents a trillion-pound opportunity to deepen our capital markets.

At GRANITE — a name inspired by the strength of Egyptian culture and the strategic war plan Granite of the October 1973 War — we believe the missing piece has been accessibility. By leveraging recent FRA legislation (Decrees 139, 140, and 141), we have moved beyond paper-heavy traditions to a world where digital onboarding takes three minutes, with no paperwork, branch visits, or waiting lines.

In volatile times, liquidity over headline yield is a necessity; the ability to move large balances without penalties or lock-ups is often more valuable than a marginal interest rate difference. By investing exclusively in Egyptian treasury bills, we offer a product that is safe and highly liquid, allowing us to facilitate daily redemptions while maintaining top-quartile returns. For the modern investor, the freedom to access cash instantly is the ultimate differentiator, while still delivering some of the highest daily compounded returns.

For CFOs, this shift is a matter of board-level fiscal discipline regarding tax treatment and treasury strategy. While bank interest is subject to a 22.5% corporate income tax, returns from money market funds are effectively tax-free for corporates. On an EGP 100 mn balance, assuming the bank grants the same returns as GRANITE, tax gain difference can be as much as EGP 4-4.5 mn – a gap too large for any responsible leader to ignore.

As we evolve, our goal is to complement the existing system by providing the technology and scalability that the new economy demands. The future of Egypt’s wealth isn’t just about where money sits; it’s about how fast, safely, and efficiently it can move.

Hisham Akram, Founder and CEO, Granite Financial Holding

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