Somalia has criticised a move by a US bank to close accounts of money transfer companies, warning it could create a dangerous black market.
Merchants Bank of California handles about 80% of money transfers - remittances - from the US to Somalia, worth about $200m (£131m) annually.
But it announced on Thursday that it had to withdraw its services due to new money-laundering regulations
Regulators are concerned that money is being funnelled to extremists.
But the Somali government has warned that suspending legal transfer services may give rise to a new unregulated black market in cash transfers that could make it easier to channel money to militant groups.
It also expressed concern that the move would jeopardise stability in Somalia and the welfare of millions of Somalis who depend on financial assistance from abroad.
Total annual remittances to Somalia are estimated at $1.6bn (£1bn).
In a similar move in 2013, UK banking giant Barclays also sought to cut ties with Somalia by closing the account of leading Somali money-transfer operator Dahabshiil.
Barclays, which said the move was part of a crackdown on money laundering, eventually agreed to keep the account open so that Dahabshiil could find a replacement bank.
Somalia does not have a proper banking system and has been in turmoil since the fall of Siad Barre's government in 1991.
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