NBE, Banque Misr and CIB top First Bank’s retail credit competitiveness index in H1 2026

NBE leads First Bank’s retail credit competitiveness index with an increase of EGP 61.63 bn, more than double Banque Misr’s increase

Three banks account for more than half of the increase in retail loans at 28 banks in H1 2026

Islamic banks secure two places among the top 10, out of four banks included in the ranking

Retail loans at 28 banks reach EGP 1.53 tn at end-June 2026, up EGP 176.70 bn over six months

First Bank’s ranking of the best-performing banks in the Egyptian banking sector under its retail credit competitiveness index for H1 2026 revealed that the National Bank of Egypt (NBE) topped the list, supported by the largest increase in its retail loan portfolio among the banks covered, significantly outpacing its nearest competitors.

NBE’s retail loan portfolio increased by EGP 61.63 bn during the first six months of 2026, compared to a balance of EGP 438.37 bn at end-2025, reinforcing the bank’s leading position in the index and its ability to achieve strong growth in retail banking loans relative to its peers.

Banque Misr ranked second, adding approximately EGP 21.60 bn to its retail loan portfolio during H1 2026. The portfolio rose to EGP 194.36 bn at end-June 2026, compared to EGP 172.76 bn at end-2025.

Commercial International Bank (CIB) secured third place, recording an EGP 11.08 bn increase in its retail loan portfolio during H1 2026, bringing it to EGP 103.36 bn at end-June 2026, compared to EGP 92.28 bn at end-2025.

First Bank’s retail credit competitiveness index tracked retail loan portfolios at 28 banks operating in the Egyptian banking sector. The data showed that 27 banks recorded increases in their retail loan portfolios during H1 2026, while only one bank reported a decline.

The index measures banks’ ability to expand their retail lending activity by increasing outstanding loans extended to retail customers. Banks are ranked according to the absolute increase in their total retail loan portfolios over the period under review.

The index results revealed that the combined retail loan portfolios of the 28 banks reached approximately EGP 1.53 tn at end-June 2026, compared to EGP 1.36 tn at end-2025, marking a net increase of EGP 176.70 bn during H1 2026, with a growth rate of approximately 13 per cent.

The top three banks — NBE, Banque Misr and CIB — accounted for EGP 94.31 bn of the combined net increase in retail loan portfolios among the banks covered, equivalent to 53.4 per cent of the total. This highlights the concentration of more than half of the increase in retail lending among just three banks.

Among Islamic banks, two secured places in the top 10 of First Bank’s retail credit competitiveness index, out of four Islamic banks included in the ranking. Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank – Egypt (ADIB – Egypt) ranked fifth, recording an increase of approximately EGP 9.36 bn in its retail financing portfolio, while Kuwait Finance House – Egypt (KFH – Egypt) ranked tenth, with an increase of EGP 4.55 bn over the same period.

The index results highlight differences in the ability of the banks covered to expand their retail loan portfolios in absolute terms. The top three banks accounted for the largest share of the increase during H1 2026, reinforcing their leading positions in Egypt’s retail banking market.

Rank	Bank name	Retail loans at end-June 2026 (EGP bn)	Retail loans at end-2025 (EGP bn)	Increase in retail loans (EGP bn)
1	National Bank of Egypt (NBE)	500	438.37	61.63
2	Banque Misr	194.36	172.76	21.6
3	Commercial International Bank (CIB)	103.36	92.28	11.08
4	QNB Egypt	92	81.11	10.89
5	Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank – Egypt (ADIB – Egypt)	57.69	48.33	9.36
6	National Bank of Kuwait – Egypt (NBK – Egypt)	31.73	25.36	6.37
7	Arab African International Bank (AAIB)	37.18	30.96	6.22
8	BANK NXT	23.19	17.93	5.26
9	Banque du Caire	106.92	102.31	4.61
10	Kuwait Finance House – Egypt (KFH – Egypt)	14.43	9.88	4.55
11	Housing and Development Bank (HDB)	36.69	32.93	3.75
12	Export Development Bank of Egypt (EBank)	17.52	13.81	3.7
13	AlexBank	41.49	37.82	3.67
14	Emirates NBD Egypt	25.44	21.8	3.65
15	First Abu Dhabi Bank Misr (FABMISR)	29.42	26.23	3.2
16	saib	31.09	28.21	2.89
17	EGBANK	34.82	32.14	2.68
18	Suez Canal Bank	13.57	11.55	2.02
19	Agricultural Bank of Egypt	8.29	6.42	1.87
20	Al Baraka Bank Egypt	19.94	18.08	1.86
21	The United Bank	10.98	9.43	1.55
22	Attijariwafa bank Egypt	14.6	13.18	1.43
23	Credit Agricole Egypt	18.07	17.06	1.01
24	Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank Egypt (ADCB)	14.35	13.54	0.81
25	Bank ABC	6.27	5.63	0.65
26	HSBC Egypt	19.47	18.98	0.49
27	Faisal Islamic Bank of Egypt	4.43	4.31	0.13
28	Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait – Egypt (ABK – Egypt)	26.12	26.35	-0.23