Saib under Afdal Naguib: retail leads loan growth, corporates anchor the portfolio

Société Arabe Internationale de Banque (saib) has significantly expanded its customer loan portfolio since Afdal Naguib took over its executive leadership in November 2023.

This edition of Decision Makers examines Naguib’s role and the impact of his strategy on customer loans, which rose 88.8 per cent over the past two and a half years. The portfolio increased by the equivalent of EGP 41.05bn to the equivalent of EGP 87.30bn at end-June 2026, from the equivalent of EGP 46.25bn at end-2023.

The increase in total customer loans was supported by substantial growth in retail loans, which surged 145.6 per cent to EGP 31.09bn at end-June 2026, from EGP 12.66bn at end-2023, an increase of EGP 18.43bn.

This expansion lifted retail loans’ share of the bank’s total lending to 35.6 per cent at end-June 2026, from 27.4 per cent at end-2023.

Personal loans drove the strong growth in retail lending, accounting for 91.35 per cent of the increase over the period under review. The personal loan portfolio grew 164 per cent over the past two and a half years to EGP 27.11bn at end-June 2026, from EGP 10.27bn at end-2023, an increase of EGP 16.84bn.

Corporate loans accounted for 64.4 per cent of total customer loans at end-June 2026. The portfolio grew 67.3 per cent over the period under review, increasing by EGP 22.62bn to EGP 56.21bn, from EGP 33.59bn at end-2023.

Overdrafts were the largest contributor to corporate loan growth, accounting for 35.48 per cent of the increase over the period under review. The overdraft portfolio reached EGP 19.82bn at end-June 2026, up from EGP 11.80bn at end-2023, representing growth of 68 per cent over the past two and a half years.

The bank also expanded its syndicated lending, with syndicated loans reaching EGP 21.34bn at end-June 2026, compared with EGP 13.89bn at end-2023, accounting for 37.97 per cent of its corporate loan portfolio.

Retail loans grew faster than corporate loans over the period under review, reflecting a shift in the loan mix towards individuals, while corporate loans remained the largest component of total lending.

Overall, Naguib’s efforts delivered strong growth across the bank’s financial indicators during his leadership. Total assets rose 62.1 per cent over the past two and a half years to EGP 174.73bn at end-June 2026, from EGP 107.81bn at end-2023.

Total customer deposits reached EGP 147.05bn at end-June 2026, compared with EGP 85.29bn at end-2023, an increase of 72.4 per cent over the period under review.

Total equity reached EGP 19.4bn at end-June 2026, compared with EGP 12.36bn at end-2023, representing growth of 57.2 per cent over the period under review.