Credit Libanais SAL operates as a global provider furnishing a full range of banking services channeled through an extensive network of 62 branches in Lebanon, a branch in Limassol, Cyprus; a branch in Manama, Bahrain and a Representative Office in Montreal, Canada.
The Bank also is a pioneer in the field of e-banking and reaps the benefits of a large network of international correspondents around the globe.
Bank's Ownership
Credit Libanais was established in July 12, 1961, as a Lebanese joint stock company. The Bank's ownership is split between Capital Investment Holding (Manama, Bahrain) and Capital Investment Holding SAL (Beirut, Lebanon). Together, these two companies hold the majority of Credit Libanais shares. The remaining 9.80% is owned by over 1,000 individual shareholders.
Since its establishment in 1961, Credit Libanais distinguished itself with the long experience and know-how it acquired over the years. Credit Libanais – one the oldest banks operating on the local arena – has proved its leadership position in the Lebanese banking industry through numerous pioneering steps, such as the acquisition of other banks since 1977, the last of which has been American Express Bank operations in Beirut (2000), the introduction of the electronic Point of Sale (POS) network in 1993, the establishment of the first nation-wide ATM network, International Payment Network (IPN), and the issuance, in 1996, of Euro Certificates of Deposits listed on international stock exchanges, which was the first operation of its kind in Lebanon.
Credit Libanais has become a leading retail bank by virtue of its innovations: modernizing its retail lending policies and procedures as well as recruiting highly qualified, talented personnel. On the Corporate Banking front, Relationship Managers maintain a sharper focus on large domestic corporate customers.
The Bank has also played a pioneering role in the country's card enterprise and payment network. The financial performance of Credit Libanais Group clearly reflects the success of the Bank's strategy to achieve sustainable growth at rates. Such performance strengthens the Bank's positioning on the list of leading local banks, confirming, once again, the soundness of its expansion strategies both locally and internationally.
Quality control is underlined by the Bank's qualification for the ISO 9001:2000 Certification for Quality Management System since 2003.
The Bank offers its customers specialized financial services, through its activities and those of its numerous subsidiaries, a wide array of services, including retail, corporate, investment and Islamic banking, leasing, micro-finance, as well as Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) funding. The Bank is a pioneer in e-banking services, operating a wide network of ATMs and POS, an advanced Call Centre and internet banking services that allow customers easily and securely access the Bank, wherever they may be in the global village.
The Bank is a pioneer in the field of innovative technological services, including Internet banking, Customer Service Center, Phone banking, WAP banking and TV banking. This strategy is in line with our customer focus policy which aims at providing customers with convenient access to the Bank from the privacy and comfort of their homes or offices.
Credit Libanais also furnishes quality standards in capital markets and private banking products and instruments, traded on both domestic and international markets. The Bank is an active participant in the co-management of all sovereign Eurobonds issues and is considered a major market maker on the Lebanese fixed income securities market.
Cooperation Partnerships
The Bank develops and maintains strategic cooperative partnerships with numerous international bodies, such as the Export Development Corporation, which provides medium-term financing for commercial trade with Canada, the .Arab Trade Financing Program (ATFP), the Inter Arab Investment Guarantee Corporation (IAIGC), the Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investments and Export Credit (ICIIEC), the European Investment Bank (EIB), the Saudi Development Program (SDP), and the International Finance Corporation (IFC).
Locally, Credit Libanais teams with Kafalat sal in a cooperative partnership meant to provide competitive financing schemes to Small and Medium Enterprises operating in the industrial, tourism, agricultural, technological and traditional crafts sectors. Additionally, the Bank set up an alliance with Berytech, Lebanon's premier incubator, in an endeavor to promote, develop and maintain venture capital operations in the country, mainly to start-ups.
At Credit Libanais, we aim to become the preferred bank in Lebanon, by customers and employees alike. We continue to develop a respected, successful and innovative financial institution, which embodies the core values of customer focus, teamwork and quality performance.
To succeed in our corporate mission, we have developed a new approach to servicing retail customers and marketing our many products. We have turned each branch into a one-stop-shop that offers clients a wide variety of products and services to meet specific needs.
In addition, we have introduced a customer-oriented approach toward our corporate clients. Relationship Managers have been designated to place the entire Bank at their corporate clients’ disposal by providing tailor-made solutions to meet their needs.
Credit Libanais has re-aligned its organizational structure in order to enhance customer focus. Our new structure fosters decentralization of responsibilities and properly defines the relationship and accountability among business units.
Credit Libanais will continue to maintain a leading position in technological developments and the credit card enterprise. In this way, we will develop further our core business activities by emphasizing both fee-based and non-interest income.
We believe that employees are our most valuable assets. Teamwork and cooperation among divisions are key to delivering superior quality service. Our culture is performance-based allowing each unit to set its business objectives and commensurate rewards with performance.
The resolute perseverance and diligence of Credit Libanais' teams of management and staff are pillar factors the Bank capitalizes on to remain, for the years to come, among the best performing banks in the industry, one that aims at delivering highest standards of quality services to customers in Lebanon and worldwide. By doing so, Credit Libanais ensures sustainable growth for shareholders, stakeholders and employees alike.
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