CIB leads major Arab banks by return on average assets

Translated and edited by Aya Elsayed

CIB combined 18.6% profit growth with double-digit expansion across assets, lending, and deposits in H1 2026.

Commercial International Bank – Egypt (CIB) ranked first among major Arab banks in FirstBank’s Q1 2026 analysis of return on average assets (ROAA), with a calculated ratio of 4.43 per cent and net profit equivalent to about USD 325 million.

CIB maintained its profitability momentum in the second quarter, with FirstBank’s calculated ROAA rising to 4.96 per cent in H1 2026, alongside net profit equivalent to about USD 799 million.

The performance shows that earnings continued to grow alongside the bank’s expanding asset base during the first half of the year.

Balance sheet expansion remains broad-based

CIB continued to expand across its main balance-sheet lines in H1 2026.

FirstBank’s USD-converted data show total assets rising 13.7 per cent to USD 34.24 billion at end-June, from USD 30.11 billion at end-2025.

Net loans and advances grew faster, increasing 15.5 per cent to USD 13.02 billion, from USD 11.27 billion at end-2025.

Customer deposits rose 14.5 per cent over the same period to USD 26.54 billion, from USD 23.17 billion.

Profit growth supports returns

Net profit rose 18.6 per cent to about USD 799 million in H1 2026, from USD 674 million a year earlier.

The increase was supported by stronger core earnings, with net interest income rising 19.4 per cent to the equivalent of about USD 1.23 billion, from USD 1.03 billion in H1 2025.

Fee income strengthens earnings mix

Net fee and commission income increased about 41 per cent to the equivalent of USD 117 million, from USD 83 million a year earlier.

The stronger fee contribution broadened earnings growth beyond the bank’s core interest business.

Profitability keeps pace with expansion

CIB’s leading position in FirstBank’s ranking reflects a combination of scale, growth, and efficiency.

The bank expanded its assets, lending, and customer deposits while continuing to grow earnings, helping it sustain strong returns despite a larger balance sheet.

That combination reinforces CIB’s position among the more profitable and efficient major Arab banks covered by FirstBank’s analysis.