County governments have significantly increased the number of commercial bank accounts they operate, defying legal frameworks and complicating financial oversight.

• Counties added 1,411 new commercial bank accounts in the year to June, bringing the total to 6,503, a 27.7 percent increase.
• The Controller of Budget (CoB) disclosed these figures, highlighting a breach of regulations.
• This proliferation of accounts, many deemed unauthorized, undermines efforts to consolidate public funds and strengthen cash oversight.