Banks get to open more branches per year. BDL Circular aims to expand financial inclusion

The Central Bank (BDL) will allow banks to increase the number of branches to three per year, up from two currently, provided that at least one of the new branches uses modern technology, according to BDL's intermediate circular 467.

BDL said it may even allow a bank to exceed the three-branch-a-year ceiling if it finds a good reason for that, especially if the bank plans to open branches outside big cities.

The Central Bank has also issued another intermediate circular, numbered 4...

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EIB offers $303 million in credit lines to four banks. Funds target SMEs and mid-cap companies

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has granted credit lines to four local banks with a combined value of 265 million euros ($303 million). The funds will be used to finance small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and mid-cap companies.

The beneficiaries are Byblos Bank, which was granted a credit line equivalent to $114 million, Fransabank with a credit line of $86 million, and Société Générale de Banque au Liban (SGBL) and First National Bank (FNB) with $69 millio...

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Torbey reelected Chairman of ABL. Salim Sfeir won one seat

Joseph Torbey has been reelected as Chairman of the Association of Banks (ABL). His team won 11 out of 12 seats of ABL's Board of Directors.

His rival Salim Sfeir won one seat at the expense of Varouj Nerguizian, Chairman of Emirates Lebanon Bank, who was on Torbey's list.

This will be the sixth term for Torbey, who chaired ABL in 2001-2003, 2003-2005, 2009-2011, 2011-2013, and 2015-2017. He is the incumbent Chairman of Credit Libanais.

The winners in Torbey's team are Fredd...

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Two lists face-off in ABL elections. Sfeir leads a ‘List for Change’ VS. Torbey’s ‘Banking Decision List’

Salim Sfeir, Chairman of Bank of Beirut, is spearheading a list of eight bankers against the list of four-time Chairman of Association of Banks in Lebanon, Joseph Torbey.

With his "List for Change", Sfeir promised to "carry out a series of reform measures to improve the efficiency and performance of ABL."

Sfeir is planning to follow up the issue of U.S. sanctions with American officials. His criticism was that middle-sized and smaller banks have no say in the ABL's agenda.

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EuroMena buys stake in Moroccan retailer. Two funds will be launched within six months

Beirut-based EuroMena Funds has acquired a seven percent stake in Retail Holding, a Morocco-based diversified retail group for a total of 220 million Moroccan dirhams ($22.5 million), according to the Casablanca Stock Exchange.

Retail Holding acts as franchisee for French retail giant Carrefour, apparel retailer Kiabi, Virgin Megastore, and Burger King.

The investment, which was carried out through the fund EuroMena III, will be mainly used to finance the expansion of Retail Holdin...

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