EBank climbs four places among Arab lenders on USD 149mn loan growth

Translated & Edited by Aya Elsayed

Export Development Bank of Egypt (EBank) strengthened its position among the region’s major lenders, recording a notable advance in First Bank’s ranking of the 100 largest Arab banks by loans at end-June 2026.

The bank climbed four places during the first half of the year to 92nd, from 96th at end-2025, moving closer to a place among the Arab world’s 90 largest lenders.

The advance reflects EBank’s growing lending scale, supported by continued expansion in its customer loan portfolio, which rose nearly 8 per cent to approximately USD 2.02bn at end-June 2026, from USD 1.87bn at end-2025, an increase of around USD 149mn.

While growth of nearly 8 per cent may appear modest compared with the higher rates recorded by some banks, its significance becomes clearer in the context of the Arab ranking.

EBank’s advance was driven not simply by an increase in lending volumes, but by its stronger position relative to competitors, indicating that its portfolio growth was sufficient to overtake several institutions ranked ahead of it at end-2025.

Crossing the USD 2bn threshold also marks an important milestone in EBank’s development, establishing a larger and more substantial lending base within the regional market. It provides greater scope for further ranking gains, particularly if the bank maintains steady loan growth in the coming periods.

The improvement carries additional significance given EBank’s focus on financing foreign trade and economic activity. Growth in its loan portfolio therefore reflects an expanding capacity to deploy resources in support of economic activity, rather than merely an increase in outstanding loan balances.

EBank’s rise from 96th to 92nd can consequently be viewed as an improvement in its relative standing within the Arab lending landscape, rather than simply a numerical gain in the ranking.

Over six months, the bank added approximately USD 149mn to its loan portfolio, crossed the USD 2bn threshold and strengthened its position among the 100 largest Arab lenders, establishing a firmer foundation for further advances in future rankings.