FirstBank

FirstBankhttps://en.firstbankeg.com/First digital institution in Egypt for financial and banking ratings arجميع الحقوق محفوظة © 2026 FirstBankSat, 07 Nov 2026 18:10:24 +0200https://en.firstbankeg.com/UserFiles/SiteImages/Logo.pngFirstBankhttps://en.firstbankeg.com/https://en.firstbankeg.com/13544https://en.firstbankeg.com/13544ADIB-Egypt, BANK NXT and CIB lead Egypt’s fastest-growing banks in H1 2026Thu, 05 Nov 2026 17:19:29 +02002026-11-05T17:19:29+02:00<h3 data-pm-slice="1 1 []" dir="ltr">ADIB-Egypt tops First Bank’s composite growth index with a rate of 84.3%</h3><h3 dir="ltr">Foreign banks secure 4 places among the index’s top 10, out of 13 foreign banks included in the ranking</h3><h3 dir="ltr">Islamic banks claim 2 places among the top 10</h3>First Bank’s ranking of Egypt’s fastest-growing banks in H1 2026 revealed that Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB) Egypt topped the list, recording a composite growth rate of 84.3 per cent during the first six months of the year.The bank’s leading position was supported by a 19.62 per cent increase in customer deposits, a 28 per cent rise in total customer financing, and 21.57 per cent growth in net profit on a semi-annual basis.BANK NXT secured second place, recording a composite growth rate of 82.4 per cent during H1 2026. Its performance was driven by 17.6 per cent growth in customer deposits, a 19.7 per cent increase in total customer loans, and a 34.9 per cent rise in net profit.Commercial International Bank (CIB) ranked third, posting a composite growth rate of 75.9 per cent during H1 2026, supported by 17.4 per cent growth in net profit on a semi-annual basis.Meanwhile, CIB’s customer loans increased by 16.6 per cent, while customer deposits grew by 18 per cent during the same period.First Bank’s composite growth index assessed the performance of banks operating in Egypt based on four key indicators reflecting their financial performance during H1 2026.These indicators included net profit growth, total loans growth, customer deposits growth, and total assets growth after excluding loans, as loans were already incorporated as a separate component of the index.The four indicators were assigned different relative weights to reflect their respective contributions to the overall composite growth rate.Regarding Islamic banks, they secured two places among the top 10 fastest-growing banks, out of four Islamic banks included in the ranking: ADIB Egypt, Kuwait Finance House Bank Egypt, Faisal Islamic Bank of Egypt, and alBaraka Bank Egypt.ADIB Egypt topped the overall ranking, while Faisal Islamic Bank of Egypt secured sixth place.As for foreign banks operating in Egypt, they claimed four places among the top 10, out of 13 foreign banks covered by the ranking.These banks were ADIB Egypt, QNB Egypt, Emirates NBD Egypt, and NBK Egypt.It is worth noting that all growth rates mentioned in this analysis are based on the standalone financial statements disclosed by each bank as of end-June 2026.CIB,composite growth index,ADIB-Egypt,fastest-growing banks,Bank NXThttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13543https://en.firstbankeg.com/13543Aya ElsayedEmirates NBD Egypt’s sector performance evolves in H1 2026: retail returns to profit, corporates leadEmirates NBD Egypt recorded a notable shift in sector performance during H1 2026, with retail banking returninThu, 05 Nov 2026 14:59:56 +02002026-11-05T14:59:57+02:00Emirates NBD Egypt recorded a notable shift in sector performance during H1 2026, with retail banking returning to profitability and corporates retaining its position as the largest contributor to operating results among the bank’s core business sectors, according to First Bank’s analysis of its financial statements.The bank’s aggregate sector operating results, before expenses and taxes, rose 15.5 per cent to approximately EGP 5.96bn in H1 2026, from EGP 5.16bn in the corresponding period of 2025, an increase of EGP 798.16mn.Among the bank’s core business sectors, corporates accounted for the largest share of aggregate operating results at 31.1 per cent, followed by investments at 20.7 per cent and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) at 6.5 per cent. Retail banking contributed 4.6 per cent after returning to profitability during the period.The investment sector recorded the largest absolute increase in operating results, adding EGP 475.34mn, followed by retail banking, which improved by EGP 437.77mn, and SMEs, which contributed an additional EGP 101.87mn.<h3 data-id="Zf1pRL">Retail stages a turnaround, improving by EGP 437.8mn</h3>Emirates NBD Egypt’s retail banking sector recorded a significant turnaround in H1 2026, generating a positive operating result of approximately EGP 272.21mn, compared with a negative result of EGP 165.56mn in the corresponding period of 2025.The sector achieved an overall improvement of EGP 437.77mn, supported by revenue growth that outpaced the increase in operating expenses.Retail banking revenue surged 58.5 per cent to EGP 1.81bn in H1 2026, from EGP 1.14bn a year earlier, representing an increase of approximately EGP 669.3mn.Meanwhile, sector expenses rose 17.7 per cent to approximately EGP 1.54bn, compared with EGP 1.31bn in the corresponding period, an increase of EGP 231.53mn.Strong revenue growth, alongside a more moderate increase in expenses, enabled the sector to generate a positive operating result, reversing the position recorded in H1 2025, when expenses exceeded revenue.This improvement was reflected in the expense-to-revenue ratio, which stood at approximately 85 per cent in H1 2026, compared with 114.5 per cent a year earlier, indicating improved operating efficiency based on the published sector data.<h3 data-id="iv4Neu">Investments lead sectors in absolute operating result growth</h3>Emirates NBD Egypt’s investment sector delivered strong growth in H1 2026, recording the largest absolute increase in operating results among the bank’s business sectors.The sector’s operating result rose 62.9 per cent to EGP 1.23bn, from EGP 755.68mn in H1 2025, representing an increase of EGP 475.34mn.This performance coincided with sector revenue of approximately EGP 1.42bn during the first six months of the year, against expenses of EGP 184.74mn, leaving the operating result equivalent to around 87 per cent of revenue.The increase strengthened the investment sector’s contribution to the bank’s aggregate operating results, lifting its share to approximately 20.7 per cent in H1 2026, from 14.6 per cent in the corresponding period of 2025.These figures indicate a growing contribution from investment activities to the bank’s operating performance, while the sustainability of this growth will depend on developments in investment returns and associated costs in the coming periods.<h3 data-id="NIkzNl">SME operating results grow 35.4 per cent</h3>Emirates NBD Egypt’s SME sector continued to strengthen its operating performance during H1 2026, recording growth of 35.4 per cent, with its operating result rising to approximately EGP 389.67mn, from EGP 287.79mn in the corresponding period of 2025.The sector generated an increase of approximately EGP 101.87mn, supported by a 23.8 per cent rise in revenue to EGP 600.16mn, compared with EGP 484.64mn in H1 2025.Meanwhile, expenses increased by 6.9 per cent to approximately EGP 210.49mn, from EGP 196.85mn in the comparative period.The widening gap between revenue and expense growth strengthened the sectort’s operating result, lifting its operating result-to-revenue ratio to approximately 64.9 per cent in H1 2026, compared with 59.4 per cent a year earlier.The SME sector’s contribution to the bank’s aggregate operating results also increased to approximately 6.5 per cent, from 5.6 per cent in the corresponding period.<h3 data-id="XcamYg">Corporates retain the largest share among core business sectors</h3>Emirates NBD Egypt’s corporate banking sector maintained its position as one of the bank’s largest contributors to operating results during H1 2026, recording an operating result of approximately EGP 1.86bn, compared with EGP 1.95bn in the corresponding period of 2025.This came alongside a 29.1 per cent increase in sector revenue to approximately EGP 3.02bn in H1 2026, from EGP 2.34bn a year earlier, representing an increase of EGP 678.93mn.sector expenses reached approximately EGP 1.16bn in H1 2026, compared with EGP 391.21mn in the corresponding period of 2025, an increase of EGP 768.67mn.The increase in expenses therefore exceeded revenue growth in absolute terms by approximately EGP 89.74mn, accounting for the difference in the sector’s operating results between the two periods.Corporate banking accounted for approximately 31.1 per cent of the bank’s aggregate operating results in H1 2026, compared with 37.7 per cent a year earlier, remaining a major driver of operating performance.<h3 data-id="13kRLy">Investments and retail increase their contributions to operating results</h3>A comparison of Emirates NBD Egypt’s sector results for H1 2025 and H1 2026 reveals a shift in the relative contributions of its business sectors, driven by differences in their operating result growth rates.The investment sector’s share of aggregate operating results increased from approximately 14.6 per cent to 20.7 per cent, while retail banking moved from a negative operating result to a positive contribution of approximately 4.6 per cent in H1 2026.The SME sector also increased its contribution from approximately 5.6 per cent to 6.5 per cent, while corporate banking accounted for 31.1 per cent, compared with 37.7 per cent in the corresponding period of 2025.Meanwhile, the other activities sector accounted for the largest share of aggregate operating results at 37.1 per cent, compared with 45.3 per cent in H1 2025.These figures indicate that growth in the operating results of the investment, retail banking and SME sectors contributed to a redistribution of relative weights across the bank’s business sectors, while other activities and corporate banking continued to account for the largest combined share of aggregate operating results.<h3 data-id="TSb5uK">Operating result growth accompanies higher H1 profits</h3>The improvement in Emirates NBD Egypt’s sector operating results coincided with a 9.6 per cent increase in net profit in H1 2026, reaching approximately EGP 3.31bn, compared with EGP 3.02bn in the corresponding period of 2025.Profit before tax also increased by 16.9 per cent to approximately EGP 5.13bn during the first half of the year, from EGP 4.39bn in H1 2025.Net profit grew at a lower rate than profit before tax, alongside an increase in income tax expenses to approximately EGP 1.82bn, from EGP 1.37bn in the comparative period. Credit impairment charges also rose to approximately EGP 831.03mn, compared with EGP 773.46mn.These results indicate that the improvement in sector operating performance contributed positively to profit before tax, while net profit growth was also influenced by impairment provisions and tax expenses.Overall, Emirates NBD Egypt’s H1 2026 results reveal a shift in the composition of its operating results, with retail returning to profitability and the investment and SME sectors delivering strong growth, while corporates remained among the bank’s largest contributors.Continued improvement across these sectors is expected to support the bank’s capacity to grow earnings in the coming periods, particularly through more diversified revenue sources and greater operating efficiency.Future performance will nevertheless remain dependent on developments in revenue, expenses and the risks associated with each business sector.corporates,Retail,Emirates NBD Egypt,sector performance,business sectorshttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13542https://en.firstbankeg.com/13542First indicator: National Bank of Egypt strengthens its position among North Africa’s banking giantsThu, 05 Nov 2026 12:27:44 +02002026-11-05T12:27:44+02:00<h3 data-pm-slice="1 1 []" dir="ltr">EGP 1.4 tn increase in National Bank of Egypt’s assets during the first eight months of 2026</h3><h3 dir="ltr">National Bank of Egypt’s asset base exceeds those of Banque Misr and Morocco’s Attijariwafa Bank individually, according to the latest available data</h3><h3 dir="ltr">EGP 6.4 tn in deposits and EGP 5.8 tn in loans underpin National Bank of Egypt’s banking strength</h3>The latest disclosed financial data for National Bank of Egypt (NBE) reveal its significant weight in North Africa’s banking landscape, with total assets reaching approximately EGP 10.6 tn at end-August 2026, equivalent to around USD 207.97 bn.This performance reinforces the bank’s position among the region’s largest financial institutions, highlighting its growing competitive strength against prominent Egyptian and Moroccan banking giants.The bank’s expansion is further reflected in its balance sheet, which increased by approximately EGP 1.4 tn during the first eight months of 2026, compared to EGP 9.2 tn at end-2025.<h3 dir="ltr">National Bank of Egypt strengthens its position among North Africa’s banking giants</h3>A comparison with leading banking institutions in North Africa highlights NBE’s considerable scale, particularly when examining the latest financial results disclosed by Banque Misr and Morocco’s Attijariwafa Bank Group.Banque Misr’s assets reached approximately EGP 4.29 tn at end-June 2026, while Attijariwafa Bank Group recorded consolidated assets of MAD 825.3 bn during the same period.After converting the figures into a common currency based on exchange rates applicable to the respective reporting dates, NBE’s asset base exceeds that of each institution individually.This scale advantage is particularly significant given Banque Misr’s position as one of Egypt’s largest banking institutions, while Attijariwafa Bank maintains an extensive presence across Morocco and several African markets.<h3 dir="ltr">What underpins National Bank of Egypt’s regional strength?</h3>NBE’s strength extends beyond its substantial asset base, encompassing the scale of its customer deposits and the size of its lending activities, which support its expanding banking operations.Customer deposits increased to approximately EGP 6.4 tn at end-August 2026, compared to EGP 5.7 tn at end-2025, reflecting continued growth in the bank’s funding base.Meanwhile, loans to customers and banks reached approximately EGP 5.8 tn, up from EGP 4.8 tn at end-2025, highlighting the expansion of its lending portfolio.This simultaneous growth in deposits and loans indicates that the expansion of NBE’s balance sheet is accompanied by broader funding resources and increased lending activity.Overall, the latest available financial data highlight NBE’s strong financial position and substantial scale, giving it a clear asset-size advantage over the regional competitors included in this comparison.However, determining its definitive regional ranking remains dependent on the availability of comparable financial data covering the same reporting dates and accounting bases across all banks.National bank of Egypt,Banque Misr,banking sector,total assets,North Africahttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13541https://en.firstbankeg.com/13541ABK-Egypt advances three places in customer loans ranking over three yearsAl Ahli Bank of Kuwait Egypt ABK-Egypt has strengthened its competitive position in Egypts banking creditThu, 05 Nov 2026 11:56:17 +02002026-11-05T11:56:28+02:00Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait – Egypt (ABK-Egypt) has strengthened its competitive position in Egypt’s banking credit market over the past three and a half years, driven by significant growth in its customer loans portfolio.The bank’s customer loans portfolio increased by approximately EGP 53.9 bn, reaching EGP 88.6 bn at end-June 2026, compared to EGP 34.7 bn at end-2022, representing cumulative growth of 155.6 per cent.This growth was not limited to expanding the bank’s credit portfolio, but also translated into an improved ranking among banks operating in the Egyptian market, as it overtook saib and Al Baraka during 2023.Furthermore, the bank narrowed the gap with ALEXBANK by end-June 2026, reflecting its improved competitive position and growing relative share of Egypt’s banking credit market.<h3 dir="ltr">2023: A turning point in ABK-Egypt’s credit position</h3>2023 marked a turning point in the bank’s credit trajectory, as its customer loans portfolio increased to EGP 47 bn, compared to EGP 34.7 bn at end-2022.This represented an increase of EGP 12.3 bn, equivalent to a growth rate of 35.6 per cent, highlighting the bank’s accelerated credit expansion during the year.This expansion enabled the bank to add loans equivalent to more than one-third of its opening portfolio, while overtaking competitors that had previously ranked ahead of it.Consequently, 2023 marked the beginning of a new phase in strengthening the bank’s position within Egypt’s competitive banking market.<h3 dir="ltr">2024 and 2025: EGP 40.6 bn expansion supports competitive gains</h3>ABK-Egypt continued expanding its portfolio throughout 2024 and 2025, adding approximately EGP 40.6 bn to total customer loans, equivalent to more than three times the increase recorded during 2023.2024 witnessed the largest annual increase during the period under review, with the portfolio growing by EGP 22.1 bn to reach EGP 69.1 bn at year-end, representing growth of 47 per cent.Expansion continued throughout 2025, as customer loans increased by approximately EGP 18.5 bn, reaching EGP 87.5 bn at year-end, with a growth rate of 26.8 per cent.Accordingly, the bank added approximately EGP 53.9 bn to its portfolio over three years, representing more than two and a half times its customer loans balance at end-2022.This expansion strengthened the bank’s ability to compete with lenders that had maintained larger loan portfolios at the beginning of the period under review.<h3 dir="ltr">ABK-Egypt overtakes saib and Al Baraka, while narrowing the gap with ALEXBANK</h3>In terms of direct competition, ABK-Egypt successfully overtook saib and Al Baraka during 2023, having previously trailed them by approximately EGP 7.19 bn and EGP 730 mn, respectively, at end-2022.By end-2023, these gaps had turned into competitive leads of EGP 756 mn and EGP 3.3 bn, respectively, reflecting the bank’s stronger credit expansion compared to both competitors.The bank maintained its lead over these competitors through June 2026, with a margin of EGP 1.3 bn over saib and EGP 5.4 bn over Al Baraka.It also narrowed the gap with ALEXBANK from EGP 24.96 bn at end-2022 to EGP 4.1 bn at end-June 2026, after temporarily overtaking it by EGP 3.9 bn at end-2025.ABK-Egypt’s competitive gains extended beyond overtaking saib and Al Baraka, also encompassing HSBC Egypt and Housing and Development Bank (HDB), both of which had ranked ahead of it at end-2022.As a result, the bank overtook four competitors during the period under review, while Suez Canal Bank moved ahead of it, enabling ABK-Egypt to advance three places overall.Accordingly, the bank improved its customer loans ranking from 18th place at end-2022 to 15th place at end-June 2026, reflecting its stronger competitive standing in the market.These developments highlight the bank’s ability to achieve cumulative credit growth exceeding that of several competitors throughout the period, contributing to an improved relative position against them.<h3 dir="ltr">H1 2026: Growth continues at a slower pace</h3>During H1 2026, ABK-Egypt witnessed a slowdown in credit expansion, as its customer loans portfolio increased by only approximately EGP 1 bn, reaching EGP 88.6 bn at end-June.This represented growth of 1.2 per cent compared to end-2025, reflecting a slower expansion pace than that recorded during previous years.The increase was lower than those recorded by the three competing banks under review, whose portfolios expanded by amounts ranging between EGP 7.23 bn and EGP 8.97 bn during the same period.This contributed to narrowing some of the competitive gaps that ABK-Egypt had previously established against its peers.<h3 dir="ltr">Credit expansion strengthens ABK-Egypt’s competitive position</h3>Overall, the analysis highlights ABK-Egypt’s success in translating its credit expansion over the past three and a half years into tangible improvements in its competitive position against several market players.The bank added approximately EGP 53.9 bn to its customer loans portfolio, compared to increases of EGP 45.5 bn at saib, EGP 47.8 bn at Al Baraka and EGP 33.1 bn at ALEXBANK.The stronger cumulative growth in ABK-Egypt’s loans portfolio compared to the three competitors represents the main driver behind its improved relative position, enabling it to overtake two banks and narrow its gap with ALEXBANK.Specifically, this performance enabled the bank to reduce the difference separating it from ALEXBANK by approximately EGP 20.8 bn, highlighting the impact of its sustained credit expansion.These results demonstrate that the significance of ABK-Egypt’s portfolio growth extends beyond the size of its increase, reflecting its broader impact on the competitive landscape of Egypt’s banking credit market.This performance reflects ABK-Egypt’s success in continuously developing its banking services and enhancing their quality, through offering a diversified range of products and services that meet the needs of different customer segments.The bank also places continued emphasis on improving customer experience and enhancing operational efficiency, contributing to stronger customer confidence and reinforcing its position as a trusted banking partner for individuals and corporates.As part of its ambitious digital transformation strategy, ABK-Egypt seeks to develop its digital infrastructure and adopt the latest banking technologies, alongside modernising its branch network and expanding its banking channels.These efforts enable customers to conduct transactions with greater ease, speed and security, while expanding access to banking services across different segments of society and supporting the bank’s continued growth.Ultimately, these initiatives strengthen ABK-Egypt’s presence in the Egyptian banking market and support its efforts to maintain a stronger competitive position.ABK-Egypt,banking sector,customer loans,Credit portfolio,Competitive positionhttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13538https://en.firstbankeg.com/13538Gulf banking rivalry in Egypt: Are Kuwaiti banks challenging Emirati dominance?The H1 2026 results reveal a notable shift in competition between Emirati and Kuwaiti banks operating in EgyptWed, 04 Nov 2026 13:26:57 +02002026-11-04T13:26:59+02:00ADIB-Egypt leads Emirati expansion, while NBK-Egypt tops Kuwaiti growthKuwaiti banks account for 4.08 per cent of the sector’s deposit increase in H1 2026, compared to 3.31 per cent for Emirati banksKuwaiti banks achieve EGP 10.41 bn higher deposit growth, while Emirati banks maintain their lead in loans by EGP 8.38 bnThe H1 2026 results reveal a notable shift in competition between Emirati and Kuwaiti banks operating in Egypt, as Kuwaiti banks strengthened their share of sector deposits, while their Emirati counterparts maintained larger portfolios.First Bank’s analysis of seven banks, comprising four Emirati and three Kuwaiti lenders, revealed a notable competitive contrast. Kuwaiti banks led deposit growth by EGP 10.41 bn, while Emirati banks maintained their lead in loans by EGP 8.38 bn.Kuwaiti banks strengthen their share of sector depositsKuwaiti banks added EGP 54.88 bn to customer deposits during H1 2026, accounting for 4.08 per cent of the Egyptian banking sector’s total deposit increase of approximately EGP 1.345 tn, compared to EGP 44.47 bn for Emirati banks, representing 3.31 per cent.This outperformance was supported by 11.9 per cent growth in the Kuwaiti group’s deposits, exceeding the sector’s average growth of 8.5 per cent, while Emirati banks recorded a growth rate of 4.8 per cent.This performance was reflected in market shares, with the three Kuwaiti banks’ share of total sector deposits increasing from 2.93 per cent at end-2025 to 3.02 per cent at end-June 2026, while the four Emirati banks’ share declined from 5.91 per cent to 5.71 per cent.National Bank of Kuwait – Egypt (NBK-Egypt) led Kuwaiti expansion, adding EGP 25.77 bn, followed by Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait – Egypt (ABK-Egypt) with EGP 20.53 bn, and Kuwait Finance House – Egypt with approximately EGP 8.58 bn.On the other hand, ADIB-Egypt led Emirati expansion, adding EGP 54.57 bn, exceeding the group’s overall net increase individually, as the EGP 35.37 bn decline in First Abu Dhabi Bank – Egypt’s deposits offset growth at other Emirati banks.Loans reveal a different picture: Emirati banks lead in value, while Kuwaiti banks record faster growthRegarding loans, Emirati banks maintained their lead in absolute growth, adding approximately EGP 50.86 bn to their portfolios during H1 2026, compared to EGP 42.48 bn for Kuwaiti banks.ADIB-Egypt led Emirati expansion with an increase of EGP 43.36 bn, while NBK-Egypt topped Kuwaiti growth, adding EGP 25.92 bn, followed by Kuwait Finance House – Egypt with approximately EGP 15.53 bn.Despite the Emirati lead in absolute terms, the Kuwaiti group recorded faster growth of 13.5 per cent, compared to 9.9 per cent for Emirati banks, highlighting differences in expansion rates relative to each group’s existing loan portfolio.However, faster Kuwaiti growth was insufficient to close the absolute gap, which stood at EGP 8.38 bn in favour of Emirati banks, confirming that higher growth rates do not necessarily translate into larger portfolio increases.Emirati banks retain the largest market presence, while Kuwaiti banks gain ground in deposit competitionDespite Kuwaiti banks’ progress, Emirati banks continued to hold larger portfolios, with total deposits reaching EGP 976.81 bn at end-June 2026, compared to EGP 517.28 bn for Kuwaiti banks, while loans stood at EGP 562.03 bn versus EGP 357.41 bn, respectively.This dominance is also evident historically, as Emirati banks added approximately EGP 578.98 bn to their deposits since end-2022, compared to EGP 296.87 bn for their Kuwaiti counterparts, reflecting the expansion of the Emirati group’s business base over recent years.The key contrast is therefore becoming clearer: Kuwaiti banks are achieving relative gains against their Emirati competitors, but the competition between the two groups is taking place within a broader market where other banks’ growth also influences their overall market shares.Accordingly, the results do not indicate a transfer of dominance from Emirati to Kuwaiti banks, but rather a relative redistribution of growth gains. Emirati banks retain their larger market presence, while Kuwaiti banks strengthen their deposit position, with future market share gains depending on their ability to keep pace with the Egyptian banking sector’s overall growth. deposits,Loans,Egyptian banking sector,Kuwaiti banks,Emirati bankshttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13537https://en.firstbankeg.com/13537CIB maintains strong net profit growth over 3 years following 2024 surgeCommercial International Bank Egypt CIB continued to post strong profitability indicators in 2026, recordiWed, 04 Nov 2026 12:53:50 +02002026-11-04T12:53:53+02:00Commercial International Bank – Egypt (CIB) continued to post strong profitability indicators in 2026, recording net profit of EGP 39.24 bn in H1 2026, following notable shifts in its income drivers over three years.Over this period, CIB recorded an average half-yearly net profit growth rate of 44.6 per cent, as net profit increased from EGP 14.14 bn in H1 2023 to EGP 39.24 bn in H1 2026.The most prominent turning point came in H1 2024, when CIB’s net profit surged 95.7 per cent to EGP 27.68 bn, supported by an environment characterised by higher interest rates and exchange rate movements.Net interest income played a key role in this surge, rising 74.2 per cent to EGP 41.44 bn, compared to EGP 23.79 bn in the corresponding period of 2023 year-on-year.This improvement was supported by the bank’s ability to benefit from higher yields, while controlling deposit costs and managing its resources efficiently, thereby boosting income generated from its banking activities.In 2025, growth momentum shifted as the bank faced a comparison with an already elevated profit base. Nevertheless, CIB continued to strengthen its results, with net profit rising 20.7 per cent to EGP 33.41 bn.Net interest income maintained its upward trajectory, growing 23.4 per cent despite the beginning of the monetary easing cycle, confirming its continued role as a key income source amid changing market conditions.In H1 2026, net profit continued to grow, increasing 17.4 per cent to EGP 39.24 bn. However, the notable development was the different growth pace recorded by the bank’s two main income sources.Net interest income continued to rise by 18.2 per cent to EGP 60.48 bn, supported by a 7.5 per cent decline in the cost of deposits and similar costs, despite changing interest rate conditions.Net fee and commission income gained momentum. It grew 33.3 per cent in H1 2024 and 21.2 per cent in H1 2025, before accelerating to 39.7 per cent in H1 2026, reaching EGP 5.76 bn.Accordingly, fee and commission income outpaced net interest income in terms of growth during 2026, although the latter continued to account for the largest share of the bank’s banking income.Over the three-year period, net interest income recorded average annual growth of 38.6 per cent, compared to 31.4 per cent for net fee and commission income. Its 2026 acceleration highlights its growing contribution to revenues.This trajectory reflects more than profit growth. Higher yields drove the surge in 2024, while the bank sustained growth over the following two years through expanding banking activity and evolving income sources.CIB’s performance highlights its ability to increase profits despite changing monetary conditions, while net interest income retained its leading role and fee and commission income increasingly supported revenues, reflecting evolving profitability drivers. CIB,net profit,net interest income,banking profitability,Fee and commission incomehttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13533https://en.firstbankeg.com/13533FX impact pushes nine Egyptian banks down Arab Top 100 deposit rankingFirst Banks latest ranking of the top 100 Arab banks by customer deposits as of June 2026 revealed that 12 EgTue, 03 Nov 2026 12:07:54 +02002026-11-03T12:07:56+02:00First Bank’s latest ranking of the top 100 Arab banks by customer deposits as of June 2026 revealed that 12 Egyptian banks featured on the list, unchanged from the ranking at the end of 2025.Despite the stable number of Egyptian banks, their positions recorded varying movements during H1 2026. Three banks maintained their rankings, while nine slipped, with no Egyptian bank advancing in the list.Three Egyptian banks maintain their positionsNational Bank of Egypt (NBE) maintained its seventh place among Arab banks, as its customer deposits rose to approximately USD128.13bn at the end of June 2026, compared to USD121.57bn at the end of 2025.Banque Misr also retained its 13th place, with customer deposits increasing to USD67.10bn at the end of June 2026, compared to USD63.49bn at the end of 2025.CIB maintained its 33rd place among Arab banks, despite recording the highest growth rate among the Egyptian banks featured on the list. Its customer deposits increased by around 15 per cent to USD26.54bn at the end of June 2026, compared to USD23.17bn at the end of 2025.Nine Egyptian banks lose ground in the deposits raceMeanwhile, nine Egyptian banks slipped in the ranking, despite recording growth in their customer deposits during the first half of the year.Arab African International Bank (AAIB) and ALEXBANK recorded the smallest declines, each losing one place. AAIB fell to 44th place, compared to 43rd at the end of 2025, despite a 4 per cent increase in its deposits on a half-year basis to USD15.02bn at the end of June 2026, compared to USD14.40bn at the end of 2025.Similarly, ALEXBANK slipped to 83rd place, compared to 82nd, despite an 11 per cent increase in its deposits during H1 2026 to USD4.33bn at the end of June, compared to USD3.89bn at the end of 2025.Suez Canal Bank, meanwhile, lost two places, falling to 78th position from 76th, despite recording 11 per cent growth in its deposits on a half-year basis to USD4.86bn at the end of June 2026, compared to USD4.38bn at the end of 2025.Housing and Development Bank (HDB) also dropped two places to 85th, compared to 83rd, despite a 9 per cent increase in its deposits during H1 2026 to USD4.12bn at the end of June, compared to USD3.76bn at the end of 2025.Banque du Caire lost three places, falling to 65th position from 62nd, despite recording 7 per cent growth in its deposits during the first half of the year to USD8.96bn at the end of June 2026, compared to USD8.41bn at the end of 2025.Export Development Bank of Egypt (EBank) recorded the same decline, slipping to 92nd place from 89th, despite a 7 per cent increase in its deposits on a half-year basis to USD3.27bn at the end of June 2026, compared to USD3.06bn at the end of 2025.Faisal Islamic Bank of Egypt fell four places to 84th, compared to 80th, despite recording 5 per cent growth in its deposits on a half-year basis to USD4.29bn at the end of June 2026, compared to USD4.10bn at the end of 2025.EGBANK also dropped four places to 99th, compared to 95th, despite its deposits increasing to USD2.47bn at the end of June 2026, compared to USD2.24bn at the end of 2025, representing growth of around 10 per cent on a half-year basis.Meanwhile, SAIB BANK lost five places, falling to 96th position from 91st, despite recording deposit growth of around 1 per cent on a half-year basis to USD2.98bn at the end of June 2026, compared to USD2.95bn at the end of 2025.Growth alone is not enough to maintain rankingsThe ranking movements highlight intensifying competition across the Arab banking sector, as growth in Egyptian banks’ deposits was insufficient in most cases to maintain their positions, amid faster growth rates recorded by other Arab banks during H1 2026.The impact of exchange rate movements should also be considered when assessing these changes. The Egyptian pound’s depreciation against the US dollar by around 3 per cent during the first half of the year reduced the dollar value of deposits denominated in Egyptian pounds when converted into US dollars. This limited the extent to which growth in local-currency balances was reflected in their dollar value, consequently affecting some banks’ relative positions in the ranking.Therefore, maintaining a position among the top 100 Arab banks by customer deposits depends not only on increasing deposit balances, but also on the pace of growth compared to competitors and exchange rate movements affecting the dollar value of deposits. Egyptian banks,Customer Deposits,Arab banks,exchange rate,H1 2026https://en.firstbankeg.com/13529https://en.firstbankeg.com/13529alrajhi bank leads Arab banking giants in return on equityalrajhi bank topped the five largest Arab banks in terms of Return on AverageEquity ROAEduring H1 2026, reMon, 02 Nov 2026 12:11:25 +02002026-11-02T12:11:27+02:00alrajhi bank topped the five largest Arab banks in terms of Return on Average Equity (ROAE) during H1 2026, recording 18.65 per cent, according to a recent analysis conducted by First Bank.alrajhi bank also recorded the highest net profit among the five banks, reaching approximately USD3.67bn.The bank’s leading position reflects its ability to combine strong profitability with a higher return relative to its average shareholders’ equity base, highlighting its efficiency in generating profits from shareholders’ funds.Emirates NBD ranked second, recording ROAE of 16.92 per cent, alongside a net profit of USD3.50bn during H1 2026.Despite the close gap in net profits between the two banks, alrajhi bank outperformed Emirates NBD in terms of return on equity by 1.73 percentage points.First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) secured third place, posting ROAE of 14.80 per cent and a net profit of approximately USD2.93bn during H1 2026.The bank recorded a return 2.12 percentage points lower than that of Emirates NBD.QNB ranked fourth, with ROAE of 13.89 per cent and a net profit of approximately USD2.43bn during H1 2026.Despite recording a net profit close to that of First Abu Dhabi Bank, the latter maintained a higher return by 0.91 percentage points, reflecting the impact of differences in the banks’ average shareholders’ equity bases on their respective rankings.Meanwhile, Saudi National Bank (SNB) came fifth, recording ROAE of 12.45 per cent, despite posting a net profit of USD3.47bn during H1 2026, ranking third among the five banks in terms of net profit.Although its net profit was close to that of Emirates NBD, with a difference of just USD27.5mn, Emirates NBD recorded a higher return by 4.47 percentage points.This highlights the difference between the two banks in their ability to generate profits from their respective shareholders’ equity bases. net profit,return on equity,Arab banks,H1 2026,alrajhi Bankhttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13528https://en.firstbankeg.com/13528CIB strengthens its digital leadership with EGP3.6tn in digital transactions in H1 2026Commercial International Bank Egypt CIB has reinforced its position in digital banking, supported by interMon, 02 Nov 2026 11:37:41 +02002026-11-02T11:37:43+02:00Commercial International Bank – Egypt (CIB) has reinforced its position in digital banking, supported by international recognition for its achievements in this field and continued investment in developing its electronic channels. This comes as the bank’s H1 2026 results reveal notable growth in the value of digital transactions and an expanding user base, highlighting the growing role of technology in delivering banking services.The figures reflect the scale of this progress, as the value of transactions conducted through the bank’s digital platforms reached approximately EGP3.6tn in H1 2026, marking a 55 per cent year-on-year increase. Meanwhile, the volume of transactions grew by 15 per cent.This indicates wider adoption of digital channels for banking operations and their growing importance beyond serving as an alternative means of accessing banking services.This growth also extended to the user base, which exceeded 2.2 mn users of the bank’s digital banking platforms by the end of June 2026, representing a 15 per cent increase year-on-year. This reflects the expanding use of digital services alongside the rise in transaction values.It also supports the bank’s strategy to strengthen reliance on its electronic channels.The bank’s progress was not limited to serving existing customers, but also extended to attracting new ones. CIB welcomed approximately 227,000 new customers during H1 2026, marking a 35 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2025.At the same time, the share of new customers registering digitally reached 83 per cent, up 21 per cent year-on-year, highlighting the role of digital infrastructure in facilitating customer onboarding.Digital channels have also expanded beyond daily banking transactions to include access to banking products, with 90.2 per cent of certificates of deposit being acquired through digital channels. This reflects the growing role of digital services in providing access to savings products, further strengthening the integration of the bank’s digital banking experience.The bank’s digital transformation has also extended to more specialised solutions for the corporates segment through the launch of CIB Business during Q1 2026, the first mobile banking application dedicated to business banking customers.The application enables corporates to manage their accounts and conduct financial transactions electronically, while allowing them to customise transaction execution and approval authorities according to each company’s organisational structure.This enhances the efficiency of banking operations management and supports the bank’s strategy to expand its digital services to meet the needs of different customer segments.In recognition of CIB’s efforts to develop digital banking services and promote innovation, the bank received the ‘Best Digital Bank in Egypt’ award from Euromoney for 2026, alongside ‘The Innovator 2026’ award from Global Finance at the African level.These accolades recognise the bank’s innovations in digital banking services and reflect international appreciation for its commitment to developing electronic channels and delivering digital solutions that enhance the customer experience.Overall, the growth in digital transaction values, the expanding user base, and the increasing reliance on digital registration and product acquisition highlight a transformation that goes beyond introducing new services to expanding the role of digital channels in the bank’s relationship with its customers.As this trend continues, the bank’s ability to further increase the adoption of its digital services and develop solutions that meet evolving customer needs will remain among the key indicators to watch in the coming periods. CIB,digital transformation,digital banking,Digital transactions,Electronic channelshttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13527https://en.firstbankeg.com/13527Top five banks retain their positions as competition reshapes the top 10 loans rankingNBE, Banque Misr, CIB, QNB Egypt and AAIB maintain their top five positions in H1 2026ADIB Egypt advances to sMon, 02 Nov 2026 11:16:10 +02002026-11-02T11:16:13+02:00NBE, Banque Misr, CIB, QNB Egypt and AAIB maintain their top five positions in H1 2026ADIB Egypt advances to seventh place, while NBK Egypt rises to ninth, with FABMISR and Suez Canal Bank completing the top 10Banque du Caire retains sixth place, while the next five banks record total loans of EGP907.71bnCompetition among the top 10 banks operating in the Egyptian banking sector by customer loans witnessed notable variations during H1 2026. While the top five positions remained unchanged, the following five banks experienced significant competitive shifts, resulting in changes to the rankings of four banks within just six months.This divergence reflects varying degrees of stability across the top 10, as the largest banks maintained their positions, while differences in credit portfolio growth rates played a key role in reshaping the rankings of several banks.Top five banks maintain their leading positionsNational Bank of Egypt (NBE) retained its first place among the largest banks by customer loans as of June-end 2026, followed by Banque Misr in second place, Commercial International Bank (CIB) in third, QNB Egypt in fourth, and Arab African International Bank (AAIB) in fifth.The rankings of these banks remained unchanged compared to December-end 2025, despite differences in the growth recorded by their loan portfolios during the first six months of the year.AAIB stood out among this group, strengthening its fifth position after recording an increase of EGP46.82bn in customer loans, bringing its portfolio to EGP287.50bn by June-end 2026.Next five banks witness ranking shiftsIn contrast to the stability of the top five, positions from sixth to tenth witnessed notable changes. Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank – Egypt (ADIB Egypt) advanced to seventh place, compared to eighth at December-end 2025, after its financing portfolio increased to EGP198.23bn, marking a rise of EGP43.36bn.Meanwhile, First Abu Dhabi Bank Misr (FABMISR) maintained its presence among the top 10 banks by loans, ranking eighth with a portfolio of EGP167.10bn by June-end 2026.Changes also extended to the ninth and tenth positions, as National Bank of Kuwait –Egypt advanced to ninth place, supported by an increase of approximately EGP25.92bn in its loans, reaching EGP148.52bn. Suez Canal Bank ranked tenth, with a portfolio of EGP140.74bn.On the other hand, Banque du Caire retained its sixth position among the largest lending banks in Egypt, after its portfolio increased to EGP253.12bn by June-end 2026.The combined loans of the five banks ranking from sixth to tenth reached approximately EGP907.71bn by June-end 2026, compared to EGP834.74bn at December-end 2025, representing an increase of around EGP72.97bn.What do the shifts in the top 10 rankings reveal?The comparison highlights notable variations within the top 10 banks by loans. While the five leading banks maintained their respective positions, the following five witnessed two ranking exchanges: between ADIB Egypt and FABMISR, and between NBK Egypt and Suez Canal Bank, while Banque du Caire remained in sixth place.These shifts highlight that maintaining competitive positions depends not only on the size of loan portfolios, but also on their growth rates, as banks recording faster expansion can improve their rankings against competitors within relatively short periods. Top 10 Banks,customer loans,Egyptian banking sector,H1 2026,Loan portfolio growthhttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13525https://en.firstbankeg.com/13525First index: Suez Canal Bank’s assets surge 464.4% since 2020Assessing bank growth requires looking beyond asset expansion to examine its funding sources, the balance of iSun, 01 Nov 2026 11:32:52 +02002026-11-01T11:32:53+02:00Assessing bank growth requires looking beyond asset expansion to examine its funding sources, the balance of its funding structure and the efficiency of resource deployment in supporting profitability and long-term financial sustainability.In this context, Suez Canal Bank’s performance from the end of 2020 to June 2026 reflects a notable expansion in its business volume, supported by growth in customer deposits and higher shareholders’ equity. This highlights the changes in the bank’s funding structure during this period and the extent to which its funding sources have kept pace with the rapid growth in its assets.The bank’s total assets recorded a growth rate of approximately 464.4 per cent, increasing by EGP252.59bn to reach EGP306.98bn at the end of June 2026, compared to EGP54.39bn at the end of 2020, reflecting the significant expansion in the Bank’s balance sheet.Customer deposits were among the main drivers supporting this expansion, recording a growth rate of approximately 438.9 per cent, with an increase of EGP194.59bn to reach EGP238.93bn at the end of June 2026, compared to EGP44.34bn at the end of 2020.Despite the substantial increase in deposits, their contribution to total assets declined from 81.53 per cent at the end of 2020 to approximately 77.83 per cent at the end of June 2026, representing a decrease of around 3.7 percentage points. Nevertheless, deposits remained the bank’s primary source of funding its assets, supported by the expansion of its funding base during the period.This development reflects a decline in the relative weight of deposits within the bank’s asset funding structure, despite their continued growth, indicating a relative shift in the composition of its balance sheet.This shift is more evident in balances due to banks, which recorded a growth rate of 859.4 per cent, reaching EGP42.37bn at the end of March 2026, compared to EGP4.42bn at the end of 2020. Consequently, their contribution to asset funding increased from 8.12 per cent to 13.84 per cent over the same period.Regarding shareholders’ equity, it recorded a growth rate of approximately 499.5 per cent, reaching EGP23.2bn at the end of June 2026, compared to EGP3.87bn at the end of 2020, representing a growth rate higher than that of total assets. Accordingly, shareholders’ equity contribution to asset funding increased from approximately 7.11 per cent to 7.56 per cent, representing a modest rise of around 0.45 percentage points.The comparison between the growth of assets, deposits, and shareholders’ equity reveals a rapid expansion in the bank’s business volume, accompanied by a modest increase in the relative contribution of shareholders’ equity and a decline in the share of deposits in total assets.Net profit also recorded a growth rate of 967.3 per cent, reaching EGP6.42bn in 2025, compared to EGP601.64mn in 2020, highlighting the substantial improvement in profitability alongside the significant expansion in the bank’s balance sheet.These positive indicators continued during H1 2026, as the bank recorded net profit of EGP3.63bn, with a return on average assets (ROAA) of 2.52 per cent and a return on average equity (ROAE) of 33.42 per cent, reflecting the profitability achieved during the first half of the year alongside the expansion in its financial position.Overall, Suez Canal Bank’s performance reflects substantial growth in assets, supported by higher deposits and stronger shareholders’ equity, alongside improved business results.However, assessing the sustainability of this expansion goes beyond the growth rates achieved and requires examining the development of other liabilities, the cost of funding sources, and the efficiency of resource utilisation. These factors are essential to determining the bank’s ability to sustain growth while maintaining financial balance. Suez Canal Bank,shareholders’ Equity,Customer Deposits,asset growth,H1 2026,Funding Structure,Banking Performancehttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13524https://en.firstbankeg.com/13524Top five banks retain lead as rankings shift among Egypt’s 10 largest lendersNational Bank of Egypt, Banque Misr, CIB, QNB Egypt, and AAIB retain their top five positions in H1 2026ADIB ESun, 01 Nov 2026 11:13:48 +02002026-11-01T11:13:50+02:00National Bank of Egypt, Banque Misr, CIB, QNB Egypt, and AAIB retain their top five positions in H1 2026ADIB Egypt advances to seventh, while NBK Egypt rises to ninthBanque du Caire maintains sixth place, as combined loans and financing of the next five banks reach EGP907.71bnCompetition among the 10 largest banks operating in the Egyptian banking sector by customer loans witnessed notable changes during H1 2026. While the top five banks maintained their positions, the rankings of the next five witnessed notable shifts, resulting in four banks changing places within just six months.This divergence highlights the varying degrees of stability across the top 10, as the largest banking institutions maintained their positions, while differences in loan portfolio growth rates played a key role in reshaping the rankings of several banks.Top five banks maintain lead in customer loansThe National Bank of Egypt (NBE) retained its first-place position among banks operating in Egypt by customer loans as of June 2026, followed by Banque Misr in second place, Commercial International Bank (CIB) in third, QNB Egypt in fourth, and Arab African International Bank (AAIB) in fifth.The rankings of these banks remained unchanged compared to the end of 2025, despite differences in the growth recorded in their loan portfolios during the first six months of the year.AAIB stood out within this group, strengthening its fifth-place position after increasing its customer loans by EGP46.82bn, bringing its portfolio to EGP287.50bn at the end of June 2026.<h3 dir="ltr">Next five banks see shifts in rankings</h3>In contrast to the stability of the top five banks, positions six to 10 witnessed notable changes. Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank – Egypt (ADIB Egypt) advanced to seventh place, up from eighth at the end of 2025, as its financing portfolio increased to EGP198.23bn, marking an increase of EGP43.36bn.Meanwhile, First Abu Dhabi Bank Misr (FABMISR) ranked eighth, with a portfolio of EGP167.10bn at the end of June 2026.Changes also extended to the ninth and tenth positions, as National Bank of Kuwait – Egypt (NBK Egypt) advanced to ninth place, supported by an increase of approximately EGP25.92bn in its loans, bringing its portfolio to EGP148.52bn. Suez Canal Bank ranked tenth, with a portfolio of EGP140.74bn.Meanwhile, Banque du Caire maintained its sixth-place position among the largest banks operating in Egypt, as its portfolio increased to EGP253.12bn at the end of June 2026.The combined loans and financing portfolios of the five banks ranked sixth to tenth reached approximately EGP907.71bn at the end of June 2026, compared to EGP834.74bn at the end of 2025, marking an increase of around EGP72.97bn.What do the shifts among the top 10 banks reveal?The comparison highlights notable differences within the ranking of the 10 largest banks operating in Egypt by customer loans. While the five leading institutions maintained their positions, the remaining five witnessed changes in rankings, with ADIB Egypt and FABMISR exchanging seventh and eighth places, while NBK Egypt and Suez Canal Bank exchanged ninth and tenth places. Banque du Caire maintained its sixth-place position.These shifts underscore that maintaining competitive positions depends on both the size of loan portfolios and their growth rates, as banks expanding their lending activities at a faster pace can improve their rankings against competitors over relatively short periods. ADIB Egypt,Top 10 Banks,loan portfolio,customer loans,Egyptian banking sector,NBK Egypt,H1 2026,Banking competitionhttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13522https://en.firstbankeg.com/13522QNB Egypt’s corporate loans rise by EGP66.60bn in nine monthsQNB Egypts corporates segment delivered strong performance during the first nine months of 2026, driven by expSun, 01 Nov 2026 10:11:37 +02002026-11-01T10:11:39+02:00QNB Egypt’s corporates segment delivered strong performance during the first nine months of 2026, driven by expanding corporate lending and growing deposits, reinforcing its key role in supporting the bank’s lending activity and strengthening its funding base.Corporate loans rise to EGP450.33bn in 9M 2026According to the standalone financial statements, QNB Egypt’s corporate loan portfolio increased to EGP450.33bn at end-September 2026, compared to EGP383.73bn at year-end 2025, recording a growth rate of 17.4 per cent and an increase of EGP66.60bn during the first nine months of the current year.This growth was primarily driven by the expansion of direct loans, which increased by 24.5 per cent during the period under review, reaching EGP173.57bn at end-September 2026, compared to EGP139.39bn at year-end 2025, recording an increase of EGP34.19bn.Meanwhile, corporate overdraft balances rose to EGP207.13bn at end-September 2026, compared to EGP185.48bn at year-end 2025, recording a growth rate of 11.7 per cent and an increase of EGP21.65bn.The bank also continued to expand its syndicated loans portfolio, which increased to EGP63.50bn at end-September 2026, compared to EGP54.28bn at year-end 2025, recording a growth rate of 17 per cent and an increase of EGP9.22bn.Other corporate loans recorded the highest growth rate among the portfolio’s main components, rising by 33.7 per cent during the first nine months of 2026 to reach EGP6.13bn at end-September, compared to EGP4.58bn at year-end 2025, recording an increase of EGP1.55bn.Corporate loans accounted for approximately 82.30 per cent of the bank’s total customer loans at end-September 2026, contributing around 80.91 per cent of the increase in the overall portfolio since the beginning of the current year, reflecting the segment’s leading role in supporting the bank’s lending expansion.Total customer loans increased to EGP547.16bn at end-September 2026, compared to EGP464.84bn at year-end 2025, recording a growth rate of 17.7 per cent and a total increase of EGP82.31bn during the first nine months of the current year.Corporate deposits exceed EGP602bnCorporate deposits at QNB Egypt increased to EGP602.87bn at end-September 2026, compared to EGP491.70bn at year-end 2025, recording a growth rate of 22.6 per cent and an increase of EGP111.17bn during the first nine months of the current year.Corporate deposits accounted for approximately 63.15 per cent of the bank’s total customer deposits at end-September, remaining the largest component of its deposit base. They also contributed around 63.37 per cent of the increase in total customer deposits during the period under review, highlighting the segment’s pivotal role in strengthening the bank’s funding resources.Total customer deposits at the bank increased to EGP954.74bn at end-September 2026, compared to EGP779.31bn at year-end 2025, recording a growth rate of 22.5 per cent and an increase of EGP175.43bn during the first nine months of the current year.These indicators highlight the importance of the corporates segment to QNB Egypt’s operations, as it accounts for more than four-fifths of the bank’s loans portfolio and around two-thirds of its deposit base, while contributing the largest share of growth in both loans and deposits during the period under review.A comparison of the growth indicators also reveals that corporate deposits expanded at a faster pace than corporate loans during the first nine months of 2026, further strengthening the segment’s role in providing funding resources for the Bank while supporting continued expansion in corporate lending.banking sector,customer loans,corporate loans,corporate deposits,Customer Deposits,QNB Egypt,9M 2026.https://en.firstbankeg.com/13519https://en.firstbankeg.com/13519Arab Bank and Banque Centrale Populaire compete for a top 20 spot by loansCompetition for a place among the Arab worlds top 20 banks by loans is not determined solely by portfolio sizeThu, 29 Oct 2026 12:28:39 +03002026-10-29T12:28:41+03:00Competition for a place among the Arab world’s top 20 banks by loans is not determined solely by portfolio size, but also by each bank’s ability to expand its portfolio and maintain its position amid shifting competitive dynamics.Arab Bank of Jordan and Morocco’s Banque Centrale Populaire are among the contenders, with relatively close loan portfolio sizes but divergent performances in the first half of 2026.According to First Bank’s ranking of the top 100 Arab banks by loans as of end-June 2026, Arab Bank ranked 20th, while Banque Centrale Populaire came in 21st.Arab Bank’s loan portfolio reached USD 38.29 bn at end-June 2026, up from USD 37.48 bn at end-2025, representing a growth rate of 2.2 per cent in the first half of the year.In contrast, Banque Centrale Populaire’s loan portfolio declined to USD 36.60 bn at end-June 2026, from USD 36.72 bn at end-2025, marking a decrease of 0.3 per cent over the same period.The divergence in the two banks’ performances during the first half of 2026 widened the gap between their loan portfolios to around USD 1.69 bn at end-June, compared with USD 760 mn at end-2025. This was driven by growth in Arab Bank’s loans, against a slight decline at Banque Centrale Populaire.Despite Arab Bank’s stronger performance in the first half of this year, a longer-term comparison gives Banque Centrale Populaire an advantage in terms of loan growth. The Moroccan bank recorded a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7 per cent over the last three years, compared with 5.5 per cent for Arab Bank, based on the period from end-2022 to end-June 2026.This divergence highlights the different growth trajectories of the two banks across the two periods. Arab Bank outperformed its rival in portfolio expansion during the first half of 2026, while Banque Centrale Populaire recorded a higher growth rate over the longer term.The distinction is important, as a higher CAGR does not necessarily translate into portfolio growth in every financial period, with results influenced by lending activity at each stage.Meanwhile, Arab Bank’s growth in the first half of the year has strengthened its competitive position, although it needs to sustain its expansion to maintain its lead in portfolio size.Projections suggest that the gap between the two banks could widen by end-2026 if each maintains the same pace of growth or decline in the second half as recorded in the first six months. Under this scenario, Arab Bank’s loans could rise to around USD 39.13 bn, while Banque Centrale Populaire’s portfolio could fall to USD 36.47 bn.Although this scenario would strengthen Arab Bank’s position, its ability to retain a place among the Arab world’s top 20 banks by loans will also depend on the performance of competing banks ranked close to it.For Banque Centrale Populaire, the prospects of improving its ranking will depend on restoring growth in its loan portfolio and narrowing the gap with its rival.These projections remain hypothetical, as the final year-end rankings will depend on the actual balances recorded during the second half of 2026. First Bank,banking sector,loan portfolio,Arab banks,Banque Centrale Populaire,2026 banking rankings,compound annual growth ratehttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13516https://en.firstbankeg.com/1351627 banks maintain their positions in First Bank’s top 100 Arab banks ranking at end-June 2026First Banks ranking of the top 100 Arab banks at end-June 2026 revealed that 27 banks maintained their positioWed, 28 Oct 2026 14:54:28 +03002026-10-28T14:54:30+03:00First Bank’s ranking of the top 100 Arab banks at end-June 2026 revealed that 27 banks maintained their positions compared to end-2025, while the remaining banks recorded varying upward and downward movements during H1 2026.This stability was not evenly distributed across the ranking, but was notably concentrated among higher-ranked banks. A total of 21 banks maintained their positions within the top 50 Arab banks, accounting for approximately 77 per cent of all banks whose rankings remained unchanged.12 banks maintain their positions among the top 20 Arab banksThe stability pattern becomes more significant when examining the top 20, where 12 banks retained their positions. These included Al Rajhi Bank in fifth place, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) in sixth, National Bank of Egypt (NBE) in seventh, and National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) in eighth.The group also included Saudi Awwal Bank (SAB), Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB), Mashreq Bank, Banque Misr, Attijariwafa Bank, Alinma Bank, Banque Saudi Fransi (BSF), and Arab National Bank (anb), highlighting a high degree of stability among the leading institutions.Stability extends to the mid-tier segmentStability also extended to nine other banks ranked between 21st and 50th, including Dukhan Bank, Boubyan Bank, Burgan Bank, National Bank of Ras Al Khaimah (RAKBANK), Sharjah Islamic Bank, Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait (ABK), Al Salam Bank, Arab African International Bank (AAIB), and Warba Bank.Accordingly, banks in the top half of the ranking accounted for 21 of the 27 banks that maintained their positions, while only six banks in the bottom half recorded no change in their rankings.The six banks that retained their positions in the bottom half were spread across ranks 56 to 98: Qatar International Islamic Bank (QIIB), Capital Bank, Jordan Islamic Bank, Ithmaar Bank, Bank of Jordan, and EBank.The ranking data indicate that stability was not limited to the largest banks, although it remained more concentrated among institutions occupying leading positions.The findings also show that unchanged rankings were more evident in the upper segment of the list, where most major banks retained their positions despite differences in asset sizes and growth rates. Meanwhile, the remaining ranks offered greater scope for changes in the relative positions of banks.banking sector,First Bank Ranking,Top 100 Arab Banks,Arab banks,asset rankingshttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13515https://en.firstbankeg.com/13515Alrajhi Bank tops First Bank’s ranking of the 100 most profitable Arab banks in H1 2026Saudi Arabias Alrajhi Bank strengthened its position in the Arab banking sector, topping First Banks ranking oWed, 28 Oct 2026 14:23:12 +03002026-10-28T14:23:14+03:00Saudi Arabia’s Alrajhi Bank strengthened its position in the Arab banking sector, topping First Bank’s ranking of the 100 most profitable Arab banks in H1 2026, supported by strong growth in net profit.First Bank’s ranking revealed that Alrajhi Bank secured first place, recording net profit of approximately USD 3.67 bn during the first six months of 2026, compared to USD 3.22 bn in the same period of 2025, marking a growth rate of 14 per cent.These results reflect the bank’s ability to strengthen its profitability, supported by positive developments in operating income, which helped reinforce its position in the Arab banking sector.A closer look at the factors underpinning Alrajhi Bank’s strong performance in H1 2026 shows that growth in income from financing and investment was one of the key drivers of its profitability.Net income from financing and investment rose by 15.8 per cent to USD 4.45 bn during the first six months of 2026, compared to USD 3.84 bn in the corresponding period of 2025.Net income from banking service fees also recorded notable growth of 16.9 per cent, reaching USD 862.67 mn in H1 2026, compared to approximately USD 738.03 mn in the same period of 2025.Positive performance extends through the first nine months of 2026Alrajhi Bank’s positive results were not limited to the first half of the year but extended into the third quarter, as the bank continued to record profit growth over the first nine months of 2026.The bank’s net profit increased by 13.2 per cent during the first nine months of 2026, reaching USD 5.56 bn, compared to approximately USD 4.91 bn in the corresponding period of 2025.At the financial position level, the bank’s total assets reached approximately USD 286.47 bn at end-September 2026, compared to USD 278.15 bn at end-2025, marking growth of approximately 3 per cent during the first nine months of the year.The bank’s financing portfolio also increased to approximately USD 206.36 bn at end-September 2026, compared to USD 200.69 bn at end-2025, representing growth of 2.8 per cent over the first nine months of 2026.Customer deposits exceeded USD 186 bn at end-September 2026, compared to USD 177.91 bn at end-2025, recording growth of 4.8 per cent over the same period.Alrajhi Bank’s 2026 results highlight continued growth in profitability and income, reinforcing its leading position in First Bank’s ranking of the 100 most profitable Arab banks in H1 2026, particularly as its positive performance extended through the end of September 2026. net profit,First Bank Ranking,Arab banks,Al Rajhi Bank,banking profitabilityhttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13512https://en.firstbankeg.com/13512First Index: QNB Egypt triples loans while keeping NPL ratio broadly stableQNB Egypt maintained a stable non-performing loan NPL ratio over the past five years despite a significant expTue, 27 Oct 2026 14:11:43 +03002026-10-27T14:11:51+03:00QNB Egypt maintained a stable non-performing loan (NPL) ratio over the past five years despite a significant expansion in its lending activity. Impaired loans accounted for approximately 3.70 per cent of total loans at end-September 2026, broadly in line with the level recorded in September 2021, while the bank’s loan portfolio grew by 204.2 per cent over the same period.This performance reflects differing trends in asset quality across the retail and corporate loan portfolios. While the NPL ratio improved in the retail segment, it recorded a slight increase in the corporate segment, helping keep the bank’s overall credit risk indicator stable.According to the data, QNB Egypt’s total loan portfolio increased from EGP 179.84 bn at end-September 2021 to EGP 547.16 bn at end-September 2026, representing an increase of EGP 367.32 bn, while the overall NPL ratio remained stable at approximately 3.70 per cent.Looking at the portfolio breakdown, the retail NPL ratio declined from 2.09 per cent at end-September 2021 to 1.28 per cent at end-September 2026, a decrease of 0.81 percentage points. This coincided with an increase in the retail loan portfolio from EGP 35.36 bn to EGP 96.82 bn, representing growth of 173.8 per cent.In contrast, the corporate loan portfolio expanded from EGP 144.48 bn to EGP 450.33 bn over the same period, recording growth of 211.7 per cent. Meanwhile, the corporate NPL ratio increased from 4.09 per cent to 4.22 per cent, a modest rise of 0.13 percentage points.The differing growth rates across the two segments also affected the composition of the bank’s loan portfolio. Corporate loans accounted for 82.30 per cent of total loans at end-September 2026, compared to 80.34 per cent at end-September 2021, an increase of approximately 1.96 percentage points. This further strengthened the corporate segment’s position as the largest component of the bank’s lending activity.These indicators suggest that the stability of the overall NPL ratio reflected two different asset quality trends. The decline in the retail NPL ratio helped offset the modest increase in the corporate segment, despite the latter’s growing share of total loans.Overall, QNB Egypt expanded its loan portfolio to more than three times its September 2021 level over five years while maintaining a stable overall NPL ratio. However, monitoring asset quality in the corporate segment remains important in assessing credit risk as the bank’s lending activity continues to grow.loan portfolio,corporate loans,retail loans,QNB Egypt,asset quality,NPL ratiohttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13511https://en.firstbankeg.com/13511Yasmin ElsayedRetail Index: AAIB strengthens retail banking in H1 2026, What do figures reveal?Retail banking developments reflect an important aspect of banks efforts to expand lending activity and strengTue, 27 Oct 2026 13:56:39 +03002026-10-27T13:56:41+03:00Retail banking developments reflect an important aspect of banks’ efforts to expand lending activity and strengthen their funding base. Assessing the sector’s performance goes beyond loan and deposit growth rates to include changes in their respective shares of total banking activity and the balance between credit expansion and deposit mobilisation.In this context, Arab African International Bank (AAIB) recorded notable growth in its retail loan portfolio during H1 2026, alongside an increase in retail deposits, although growth rates differed between the two segments, according to the bank’s financial statements as of end-June 2026.Retail loans rise 20.1 per cent in six months, led by discounted commercial papersAAIB’s retail loan portfolio rose to EGP 37.18 bn at the end of June 2026, compared to EGP 30.96 bn at year-end 2025, marking a growth rate of 20.1 per cent and an increase of EGP 6.22 bn.The increase was driven by growth across several credit products, led by discounted commercial papers, whose balances rose to EGP 16.14 bn at end-June 2026, compared to EGP 11.93 bn at year-end 2025, recording a growth rate of 35.3 per cent and an increase of EGP 4.21 bn.Personal loans also recorded notable growth, with balances increasing to EGP 13.85 bn at end-June 2026, compared to EGP 11.92 bn at year-end 2025, representing a growth rate of 16.2 per cent and an increase of EGP 1.93 bn.Meanwhile, retail overdrafts recorded modest growth of 2.4 per cent, reaching EGP 2.80 bn at end-June 2026, compared to EGP 2.73 bn at year-end 2025.Credit card balances also increased by 1.7 per cent during H1 2026, reaching EGP 1.69 bn at the end of June, compared to EGP 1.66 bn at year-end 2025.On the other hand, mortgage loans stood at EGP 2.68 bn at end-June 2026, while other loans amounted to EGP 30.8 mn at the end of the same period.These developments indicate that growth in AAIB’s retail loan portfolio was largely driven by discounted commercial papers and personal loans, while retail overdrafts and credit cards made more limited contributions to the overall increase.Alongside this growth, the bank’s total customer loans rose to EGP 287.50 bn at end-June 2026, compared to EGP 240.67 bn at year-end 2025, recording a growth rate of 19.5 per cent and an increase of EGP 46.82 bn.As retail loans grew at a slightly faster pace than total customer loans, their share of the bank’s total loan portfolio increased to 12.93 per cent at end-June 2026, compared to 12.86 per cent at year-end 2025, an increase of 0.07 percentage points.Retail deposits rise 9.3 per cent, accounting for over 43 per cent of total depositsOn the funding side, AAIB’s retail deposits increased to EGP 324.49 bn at end-June 2026, compared to EGP 296.89 bn at year-end 2025, marking a growth rate of 9.3 per cent and an increase of EGP 27.60 bn.This increase coincided with a 7.7 per cent rise in total customer deposits, which reached EGP 739.98 bn at end-June 2026, compared to EGP 687.08 bn at year-end 2025, representing an increase of EGP 52.90 bn.Accordingly, retail deposits’ share of total customer deposits rose to 43.85 per cent at end-June 2026, compared to 43.21 per cent at year-end 2025, an increase of 0.64 percentage points. This reflects faster growth in retail deposits relative to total deposits and their increasing weight within the bank’s funding base.The comparison shows that the more pronounced impact of retail banking activity emerged on the deposit side. Despite faster growth in retail loans, their share of total loans remained broadly stable, while retail deposits increased their relative weight within the bank’s total customer deposits. This highlights the continued importance of retail banking as a source of funding, alongside the expansion of retail lending during H1 2026. AAIB,First Bank,retail deposits,customer loans,Egyptian banking sector,retail loans,Retail banking,deposit growth,H1 2026.https://en.firstbankeg.com/13506https://en.firstbankeg.com/13506Decision Makers: Inside Al Baraka’s evolution under Hazem HegazyFive years under Hazem Hegazy have marked a period of transformation for Al Baraka Bank Egypt, extending beyonMon, 26 Oct 2026 13:29:13 +03002026-10-26T13:29:15+03:00In the banking sector, the measure of a leadership tenure lies not in its duration but in the depth of transformation it delivers.While some periods of growth merely expand the balance sheet, others fundamentally reshape the business, strengthening the bank’s capacity to attract deposits, extend financing, and generate sustainable earnings.The true measure of any leadership period therefore extends beyond the figures themselves to what they reveal about the underlying changes in the bank’s operations.This distinction is particularly relevant to Al Baraka Bank Egypt under Hazem Hegazy, who assumed leadership in September 2021.The past five years offer a broader perspective on the bank’s trajectory, extending beyond financial growth to the structural changes in its banking activities and income sources.<h3 data-id="DuIE3y">A broader funding base, with retail deposits leading growth</h3>Financial position expansion has been among the most significant developments in Al Baraka Bank Egypt’s performance. Total assets rose 96.9 per cent to EGP 151.60bn at end-June 2026, from EGP 77bn at end-June 2021, an increase of EGP 74.61bn.Deposit growth was a major driver of this expansion, with customer deposits rising 88.4 per cent to EGP 127.48bn at end-June 2026, from EGP 67.67bn at end-June 2021, an increase of EGP 59.81bn.Yet the significance of this growth extends beyond the volume of additional resources. Equally important is their composition, as the deposit structure plays a central role in determining the nature of a bank’s funding base.Retail deposits emerged as the principal growth driver, surging 167.3 per cent to EGP 89.62bn at end-June 2026, from EGP 33.52bn at end-June 2021, an increase of EGP 56.10bn.Corporate deposits, meanwhile, grew 10.9 per cent to EGP 37.85bn at end-June 2026, compared with EGP 34.15bn five years earlier, adding EGP 3.71bn.The disparity reveals a shift in the composition of funding sources, with retail customers accounting for an increasingly significant share of deposit growth.The importance of this development lies not only in the additional resources generated by a larger retail deposit base but also in the diversification of funding sources.This provides a broader base for financing different banking activities, subject to the bank’s requirements and its ability to balance resource deployment with liquidity management.<h3 data-id="xSRMtg">financing expands faster than deposits</h3>While deposit growth strengthened Al Baraka’s funding base, the next measure of performance was its ability to translate those resources into financing activity.The shift extended beyond an increase in financing volumes to a faster pace of growth relative to deposits, reflecting a change in how the bank deployed its available resources.Customer financing rose from EGP 22.42bn at end-June 2021 to EGP 83.13bn at end-June 2026, representing growth of 270.8 per cent and an increase of EGP 60.71bn.The expansion lifted the loan-to-deposit ratio from 33.13 per cent to 65.21 per cent over the same period, placing Al Baraka at the top of First Bank’s ranking of EGX-listed banks by loan-to-deposit ratio at end-June 2026.The significance of this development lies in the bank’s increased allocation of customer deposits to financing activities, broadening its lending role and creating greater opportunities to generate income from its core business.A higher deployment ratio, however, is not an objective in itself. Its economic value depends on the bank’s ability to generate adequate returns from financing while maintaining sufficient flexibility to manage liquidity and the risks associated with expansion.<h3 data-id="zzLDxL">Corporates drive growth as retail financing accelerates</h3>A fuller assessment of credit expansion requires examining more than the overall portfolio size. The distribution of financing reveals which activities absorbed the additional resources and how broadly the bank expanded its customer base.Corporate financing, including financing for small economic activities, rose 214.2 per cent to EGP 63.18bn at end-June 2026, from EGP 20.11bn at end-June 2021, an increase of EGP 43.07bn.Corporates consequently accounted for the largest share of the absolute increase in the financing portfolio, reflecting their continued importance in the bank’s lending activities.Retail financing, meanwhile, recorded substantially faster growth, surging 765.5 per cent to EGP 19.94bn at end-June 2026, from EGP 2.30bn at end-June 2021, an increase of EGP 17.64bn.<h3 data-id="A5tITL">Credit quality faces the test of expansion</h3>Growth in the credit portfolio alone is insufficient to assess the quality of expansion. A comprehensive evaluation must also consider changes in the associated level of risk.Non-performing loan (NPL) indicators are therefore essential to assessing the bank’s ability to expand financing while maintaining asset quality.Against this backdrop, Al Baraka’s non-performing loan (NPL) ratio provides an important measure of its risk management performance over the past five years.The ratio declined to 4.47 per cent at end-June 2026, from 4.93 per cent at end-June 2021, an improvement of 0.46 percentage points, despite the substantial expansion in customer financing.The development indicates that Al Baraka absorbed significant credit growth without a deterioration in its NPL ratio, suggesting a degree of balance between business expansion and risk management.More importantly, portfolio growth was not accompanied by a higher NPL ratio, although the improvement points more towards maintaining financing quality than achieving a fundamental strengthening of credit quality.<h3 data-id="wFEYtm">Business expansion drives earnings, income growth</h3>Profitability indicators reveal another dimension of Al Baraka’s development, with net profit increasing 198.4 per cent to EGP 1.85bn in H1 2026, from EGP 620.62mn in the corresponding period of 2021, an increase of EGP 1.23bn.The growth was primarily supported by a 193.8 per cent increase in net interest income, which reached EGP 3.96bn in H1 2026, compared with EGP 1.35bn in H1 2021.Net fee and commission income also rose sharply, increasing 387.8 per cent to EGP 558.45mn in H1 2026, from EGP 114.48mn in the corresponding period of 2021.<h3 data-id="Jganwf">Returns reveal contrasting trends in assets and equity</h3>An assessment of profitability cannot rest on net profit growth alone.eturn ratios provide an additional perspective on earnings relative to the asset and equity bases, and the two measures do not necessarily move in the same direction.Return on average assets (ROAA) increased to 2.49 per cent in H1 2026, from 1.63 per cent in the corresponding period of 2021, an improvement of 0.86 percentage points.Return on average equity (ROAE), by contrast, edged down to 23.24 per cent in H1 2026, from 23.56 per cent in H1 2021, a decline of 0.32 percentage points.<h3 data-id="a8vSYG">Branch network expansion broadens geographic reach</h3>Al Baraka Bank Egypt also expanded its branch network to 43 branches, alongside two electronic branches, at end-June 2026, from 32 branches at end-June 2021.The addition of 11 branches represented growth of 34.4 per cent, reflecting the expansion of the bank’s operating infrastructure.<h3 data-id="Cynjy8">Five years: From expansion to sustainable growth</h3>Al Baraka’s performance under Hazem Hegazy reflects an expansion in business scale that has extended across several dimensions of its banking operations.Yet a larger business base also presents a more complex challenge. Sustaining growth requires disciplined management of resources and risks, ensuring that financing expansion does not compromise asset quality and that higher profits remain supported by efficient resource deployment and sustainable returns.The significance of Hegazy’s five-year tenure, therefore, lies in establishing a larger business base for the bank’s operations. The enduring value of that progress will depend on Al Baraka’s ability to build upon it.Growth in banking institutions is not defined by balance-sheet expansion alone, but by the extent to which that expansion translates into greater operational efficiency, sustainable returns, and a more firmly established competitive position in the Egyptian market.Al Baraka Bank Egypt,Hazem Hegazy,financial position,expansion,transformation,financial growthhttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13505https://en.firstbankeg.com/13505NBK leads nine Kuwaiti banks in First Bank’s top 100 Arab banksFirst Banks ranking of the top 100 Arab banks by total assets at the end of June 2026 included nine Kuwaiti baMon, 26 Oct 2026 12:23:30 +03002026-10-26T12:23:30+03:00First Bank’s ranking of the top 100 Arab banks by total assets at the end of June 2026 included nine Kuwaiti banks, two of which secured positions among the top 10, reflecting the relative strength of Kuwait’s banking sector within the Arab banking landscape.National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) topped the Kuwaiti banks included in the ranking, placing eighth among Arab banks with total assets of USD 150.16 bn at the end of June 2026.Kuwait Finance House (KFH) followed in tenth place, with assets amounting to USD 137.11 bn at the end of the same period.Boubyan Bank ranked 35th among Arab banks, with assets of USD 34.40 bn, followed by Burgan Bank in 39th place, with assets reaching USD 31.18 bn at the end of June 2026.Gulf Bank ranked 42nd among Arab banks, with total assets of USD 26.29 bn.Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait (ABK) followed in 45th place, with assets of USD 23.62 bn, while Warba Bank ranked 48th, with assets amounting to USD 20.10 bn at the end of June 2026.Commercial Bank of Kuwait (CBK) ranked 58th among Arab banks, with assets of USD 17.02 bn, followed by Kuwait International Bank (KIB) in 63rd place, with assets reaching USD 14.93 bn at the end of June 2026.The distribution of Kuwaiti banks across the ranking highlights the variation in asset scales within the sector.NBK and KFH maintained positions among the top 10 Arab banks, while the other seven banks ranked between 35th and 63rd, reflecting differences in their relative asset bases.The ranking is based on banks’ reported total assets at the end of June 2026, converted into US dollars to provide a consistent basis for comparison among banking institutions across the Arab region.Asset figures for some banks were estimated based on historical data trends and future projections due to the unavailability of actual published figures for the ranking period.The ranking covers parent banking groups across Arab countries and excludes their overseas branches.total assets,NBK,Top 100 Arab Banks,Kuwaiti banks,KFHhttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13504https://en.firstbankeg.com/13504QNB tops First Bank’s 100 largest banks in MENA ranking at end-June 2026Qatar National Bank QNB Group strengthened its position in the regional banking landscape, topping First BanksMon, 26 Oct 2026 11:32:07 +03002026-10-26T11:32:07+03:00Qatar National Bank (QNB) Group strengthened its position in the regional banking landscape, topping First Bank’s ranking of the 100 largest banks in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) by total assets at end-June 2026.The group’s leadership was supported by notable asset growth and the continued expansion of its banking operations.First Bank’s ranking revealed that QNB regained the leading position it had lost for the first time in its history at end-Q4 2025, climbing from second place at end-2025 to first at end-June 2026.The group’s total assets rose 3.7 per cent during H1 2026 to USD 394.72bn, from USD 380.67bn at end-2025.The advance reflects QNB Group’s continued ability to expand its business and strengthen its financial position, supporting its return to the top of First Bank’s ranking of MENA’s largest banking institutions by total assets.<h3 data-id="s5kQpo">QNB’s assets surpass USD 400bn at end-September 2026</h3>QNB Group’s asset growth continued beyond the first half of the year, with its balance sheet expanding further during Q3 2026 as total assets exceeded USD 400bn for the first time.The group’s total assets reached USD 401.59bn at end-September 2026, compared with USD 394.72bn at end-June, representing growth of 1.7 per cent.Over the first nine months of 2026, total assets increased 5.5 per cent, adding USD 20.92bn from USD 380.67bn at end-2025.The expansion highlights the sustained growth of QNB Group’s financial position throughout the first nine months of 2026, extending the positive momentum that underpinned its return to the top of the regional ranking at end-June.<h3 data-id="yNFmh9">Customer loans drive asset expansion in 9M 2026</h3>An examination of the group’s principal balance-sheet components shows that growth in customer loans and credit facilities was among the main contributors to asset expansion during the first nine months of 2026.Customer loans and facilities increased 4.5 per cent to USD 291.09bn at end-September 2026, from USD 278.54bn at end-2025, an increase of approximately USD 12.55bn.The increase was equivalent to around 60 per cent of the group’s total asset growth over the same period, highlighting the significant contribution of credit expansion to the development of its financial position.Customer loans and facilities also accounted for approximately 72.5 per cent of QNB Group’s total assets at end-September 2026, reflecting the central role of lending within its asset structure.On the funding side, customer deposits rose 2.8 per cent during the first nine months of 2026 to USD 268.71bn at end-September, from USD 261.40bn at end-2025, an increase of approximately USD 7.31bn.QNB,Ranking,financial position,MENA,asset growthhttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13503https://en.firstbankeg.com/13503Shifting profit drivers: What shaped Banque Misr’s earnings in H1 2026?Net profit alone offers an incomplete measure of a banks performance. A more revealing assessment lies in the Sun, 25 Oct 2026 14:36:47 +03002026-10-25T14:36:47+03:00Net profit alone offers an incomplete measure of a bank’s performance. A more revealing assessment lies in the composition of earnings, the sources driving profit growth and their capacity to sustain profitability over time.Earnings may increase even as a principal income stream weakens, supported by stronger contributions from other activities or lower expenses.Examining these underlying drivers is therefore essential to assessing the quality, composition and sustainability of profit growth.This dynamic was evident in Banque Misr’s results for H1 2026, which showed an increase in profits despite a decline in net interest income, its largest income source.The performance was supported by a sharp increase in trading income, growth in net fees and commissions income, and a significant decline in expected credit loss charges.According to the bank’s standalone financial statements, profit before income tax rose 19.3 per cent to EGP 90.82bn in H1 2026, compared to EGP 76.11bn in the corresponding period of 2025.Net profit also increased 14.4 per cent to EGP 57.47bn in H1 2026, compared to EGP 50.23bn in the same period of 2025.However, what factors shaped Banque Misr’s profitability during H1 2026? How did its different income sources interact with expenses and credit loss charges, and what role did each play in determining its earnings?Net interest income: The principal earnings driver under pressureNet interest income remained Banque Misr’s largest income component, but declined 19.4 per cent to EGP 69.57bn in H1 2026, compared to EGP 86.29bn in the same period of 2025, marking a decrease of EGP 16.73bn.The decline was driven by a 7.8 per cent decrease in interest and similar income from loans, which fell to EGP 274.69bn in H1 2026, compared to EGP 297.92bn in the corresponding period of 2025.Meanwhile, interest and similar expense declined at a slower pace of 3.1 per cent, reaching EGP 205.13bn in H1 2026, compared to EGP 211.63bn in the same period of 2025.Accordingly, the decline in interest expense generated savings of around EGP 6.50bn, which were insufficient to offset the EGP 23.23bn decrease in interest and similar income, resulting in a contraction in net interest income.This divergence reflects the different pace at which income and funding costs respond to changes in banking activity. Lower funding costs do not necessarily preserve net interest income when interest and similar income declines at a faster rate.Therefore, the bank’s ability to restore growth in net interest income remains a key factor in assessing its profitability outlook.Net trading income: The key driver offsetting interest income declinesIn contrast, net trading income surged 276 per cent to EGP 27.21bn in H1 2026, compared to EGP 7.24bn in the corresponding period of 2025, marking an increase of approximately EGP 19.97bn.This increase exceeded the decline in net interest income by around EGP 3.25bn, highlighting the central role of trading income in supporting earnings and offsetting a substantial portion of the pressure on the bank’s primary income source.These figures reflect a shift in the relative contribution of the bank’s income components, with trading income becoming significantly more important in explaining the growth in profitability during the period.Fees, commissions and financial investments: Additional earnings supportNet fees and commissions income increased 27.2 per cent to EGP 17.57bn in H1 2026, compared to EGP 13.81bn in the same period of 2025, representing an increase of EGP 3.76bn.This growth was driven by a 34.9 per cent increase in fees and commissions income, which reached EGP 20.26bn in H1 2026, compared to EGP 15.02bn in the corresponding period of 2025.Meanwhile, related expenses rose 123.1 per cent to EGP 2.69bn in H1 2026, compared to EGP 1.21bn in the same period of 2025.Despite the faster growth in expenses, the absolute increase in income exceeded the rise in related costs, enabling the bank to increase net fees and commissions income.This performance highlights the importance of service-based income in diversifying profitability and reducing relative dependence on income generated from the deployment of funds.Meanwhile, gains from financial investments increased 5.4 per cent to EGP 13.97bn in H1 2026, compared to EGP 13.24bn in the corresponding period of 2025.Dividend income also rose 15.5 per cent to EGP 1.90bn in H1 2026, compared to EGP 1.65bn in the same period of 2025.Expected credit losses: Lower charges support profitabilityThe decline in expected credit loss charges was among the key factors supporting Banque Misr’s results. Charges fell 90.3 per cent to EGP 1.66bn in H1 2026, compared to EGP 17.07bn in the corresponding period of 2025, representing a decrease of EGP 15.41bn.This decline reduced the charges recognized against earnings for expected credit losses, allowing the bank to retain a larger share of its income during H1 2026.The lower expected credit loss charges coincided with a decline in the non-performing loan (NPL) ratio to approximately 1.66 per cent at the end of June 2026, compared to 2.64 per cent at the end of June 2025.This points to an improvement in asset quality indicators alongside lower charges associated with expected credit losses.Expenses: The cost of expanding operationsAdministrative expenses increased 25.9 per cent to EGP 35.13bn in H1 2026, compared to EGP 27.92bn in the corresponding period of 2025, representing an increase of approximately EGP 7.22bn.Other operating expenses also rose sharply to EGP 2.61bn in H1 2026, compared to EGP 1.14bn in the same period of 2025, recording growth of 128.4 per cent. This reflects changes in the bank’s operating expense structure alongside growth in some income sources and a decline in others.Profitability mix: Balancing interest income and trading gainsBanque Misr’s results highlight the importance of diversifying profitability drivers amid a decline in its primary income source. Trading income, fees and commissions, and financial investment gains, alongside lower expected credit loss charges, supported earnings during H1 2026.The results underscore the importance of balancing growth in core banking income with stronger contributions from other activities, while maintaining effective asset management, controlling costs and containing credit risk.Achieving this balance is essential to strengthening the resilience of the bank’s profitability structure and supporting sustainable earnings growth.Banque Misr,net profit,net interest income,profitability,ncomehttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13502https://en.firstbankeg.com/13502Dollar gains in Egypt: The impact on inflation, banking sectorThe US dollar strengthened against the Egyptian pound over the past week, with selling rates exceeding EGP 55 Sun, 25 Oct 2026 13:57:11 +03002026-10-25T13:57:11+03:00The US dollar strengthened against the Egyptian pound over the past week, with selling rates exceeding EGP 55 at several local banks on Thursday, 22 October 2026, bringing the implications of exchange rate movements for inflation and bank balance sheets into sharper focus.Inflation: Import cost pressuresHigher import costs for goods and raw materials are a key channel through which exchange rate movements feed into domestic inflation, particularly in sectors heavily reliant on imported inputs<a href="http://inputs.Data" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">.</a>Data from the Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS) show urban annual inflation easing to 13.9 per cent in September 2026 from 14.5 per cent in August, even as monthly inflation climbed to 1.3 per cent from 0.1 per cent a month earlier.A sustained rise in the dollar could lift import and production costs and weigh on the disinflation trend, with the extent of the impact depending on how long the increase lasts and on whether companies can absorb it without passing it fully on to consumers.Banks: Implications for financial positionsExchange rate movements change the pound value of banks' foreign currency assets and liabilities, including deposits, investments and foreign currency loans.A stronger dollar raises the pound value of these items, but that does not automatically translate into profit, since the final effect depends on the bank's net position in each currency, the hedging instruments it uses and the timing of asset and liability maturities.Across the banking sector as a whole, net foreign assets stood at around USD 31.2 bn at the end of August 2026, according to Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) data, a figure that combines commercial banks and the central bank and therefore does not, on its own, show how exposed any individual bank is to exchange rate risk.Foreign currency positions: A key measure of FX riskThe net open foreign currency position is a key measure of a bank's exposure to exchange rate risk, expressed as a percentage of its capital base to show the size of that exposure relative to capital.Published sector data show the net foreign currency position moving to a surplus equal to 2.4 per cent of the capital base at the end of June 2026, from a deficit of 1.6 per cent at the end of March.The effect of a stronger dollar varies from bank to bank, as a bank holding net dollar assets may gain from their higher pound value while a bank with net dollar liabilities may face the opposite outcome, with the level of risk shaped by currency mix, maturities, available liquidity and the extent of hedging.Customers: Diverging impacts on depositors and borrowersThe impact also extends to bank customers. While the Egyptian pound value of US dollar deposits rises, borrowers earning income in local currency face a heavier burden on foreign currency-denominated loans and other obligations.The risks are particularly acute for import-dependent businesses without foreign currency revenues, as rising import and debt-servicing costs may weaken their repayment capacity. This makes close monitoring of loan portfolio quality and credit risk especially important during periods of exchange rate volatility.Dollar fluctuations test banks’ FX risk managementDollar movements place greater emphasis on banks’ foreign currency risk management, with the impact varying according to their net foreign currency positions and use of hedging instruments.Meanwhile, companies’ ability to meet their foreign currency obligations remains a key determinant of loan portfolio quality, making the assessment of both exchange rate and credit risk essential to understanding the implications of dollar fluctuations for the banking sector.inflation,CAPMAS,Egyptian Pound,US dollar,exchange ratehttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13499https://en.firstbankeg.com/13499Aya ElsayedEmirates NBD Egypt climbs 5 places into top 10 for asset-to-deposit coverageEmirates NBD Egypt entered the top 10 banks by asset-to-deposit coverage ratio at end-June 2026, climbing fiveSun, 25 Oct 2026 10:29:30 +03002026-10-25T10:29:30+03:00<h3 data-id="sdUAIU">Emirates NBD Egypt climbs from 14th to 9th in three months as asset-to-deposit coverage rises to 128.94%</h3><h3 data-id="zfmiqc">Assets rise by EGP 10.15bn in Q2 2026, while deposits grow by EGP 7.35bn</h3><h3 data-id="uvLLcM">Emirates NBD Egypt ranks third among foreign banks covered by the ranking</h3>Emirates NBD Egypt entered the top 10 banks by asset-to-deposit coverage ratio at end-June 2026, climbing five places during the second quarter, supported by asset growth that outpaced the expansion in customer deposits.The bank advanced from 14th at end-March to ninth at end-June in First Bank’s rankings, marking a notable improvement in its competitive standing within Egypt’s banking sector.The improvement coincided with an increase in the asset-to-deposit coverage ratio to 128.94 per cent at end-June 2026, from 128.58 per cent at end-March, a rise of 0.36 percentage points over three months.The advance is particularly significant given the narrow differences in coverage ratios among several leading banks. Emirates NBD Egypt improved its relative standing despite only a modest increase in the ratio.The asset-to-deposit coverage ratio is an indicator of financial soundness, measuring the extent to which a bank’s assets cover its customer deposits.<h3 data-id="we31GJ">Asset growth outpaces deposit expansion</h3>The improvement in Emirates NBD Egypt’s asset-to-deposit coverage ratio came alongside continued balance-sheet expansion in Q2 2026.Total assets rose approximately 4.3 per cent to EGP 247.63bn at end-June, from EGP 237.47bn at end-March.The bank consequently added around EGP 10.15bn to its asset base over the three-month period.Customer deposits, meanwhile, increased approximately 4 per cent to EGP 192.04bn at end-June 2026, from EGP 184.69bn at end-March, an increase of around EGP 7.35bn.With assets growing faster than deposits, the gap between the two widened to approximately EGP 55.58bn at end-June, from EGP 52.78bn at end-March, an increase of around EGP 2.80bn.The development indicates a higher proportion of assets relative to the customer deposit base, reflecting a modest shift in the bank’s balance-sheet structure during the second quarter.<h3 data-id="bZT1Ot">Narrow gaps reshape competitive rankings</h3>Despite an increase of just 0.36 percentage points in its asset-to-deposit coverage ratio during Q2 2026, Emirates NBD Egypt advanced five places between the two rankings.The bank secured ninth place at end-June with a coverage ratio of 128.94 per cent, ahead of 10th-ranked Suez Canal Bank, which recorded 128.48 per cent, a difference of 0.46 percentage points.It also moved closer to Commercial International Bank – Egypt (CIB), which ranked eighth with a coverage ratio of 129.02 per cent, leaving a gap of just 0.08 percentage points between the two institutions.The narrow differences highlight how sensitive ranking positions are to relatively small movements in coverage ratios, with gaps of less than one percentage point potentially influencing banks’ competitive standing.Emirates NBD Egypt’s advance also coincided with declining coverage ratios at several banks that had ranked ahead of it in March, contributing to the reshuffle in positions at end-June.<h3 data-id="b3RB7M">Third among foreign banks</h3>Among banks affiliated with foreign banking groups operating in Egypt, Emirates NBD Egypt ranked third in First Bank’s June 2026 asset-to-deposit coverage ranking.It followed First Abu Dhabi Bank Misr (FABMISR), which ranked third overall with a coverage ratio of 140.70 per cent, and National Bank of Kuwait – Egypt (NBK-Egypt), which placed sixth overall at 131.36 per cent.Emirates NBD Egypt consequently became one of three banks affiliated with foreign banking groups to feature among the top 10 by asset-to-deposit coverage ratio at end-June 2026.The bank’s rise from 14th to ninth represents a notable improvement in its relative competitive position, although the increase in the coverage ratio itself remained limited.The significance of this performance lies in the bank’s entry into the top 10 alongside continued growth in both assets and deposits, against a backdrop of exceptionally narrow coverage gaps among several competing institutions.These small differences also indicate that maintaining its newly secured position will depend on the pace of asset and deposit growth relative to other banks, making changes in its balance-sheet structure an important measure of its competitive performance in the coming periods.Growth,assets,Emirates NBD Egypt,Customer Deposits,asset-to-deposit coverage ratiohttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13498https://en.firstbankeg.com/13498First Index: Al Baraka climbs five places on EGP 500mn credit card growthAl Baraka Bank Egypt strengthened its competitive position in the credit card market over the past three and aThu, 22 Oct 2026 14:27:16 +03002026-10-22T14:27:24+03:00Al Baraka Bank Egypt strengthened its competitive position in the credit card market over the past three and a half years, climbing five places from 25th at end-2022 to 20th at end-June 2026.The advance was driven by exceptional growth in outstanding credit card balances, enabling the bank to overtake several competitors that had ranked ahead of it at the beginning of the period.The bank’s credit card portfolio surged to EGP 532.39mn at end-June 2026, from EGP 29.71mn at end-2022, an increase of EGP 502.68mn and a cumulative growth of 1,692.2 per cent.This brought the portfolio to approximately 17.9 times its level three and a half years earlier.The significance of this expansion lies in its outperformance of the bank’s overall retail financing growth, alongside an improvement in its competitive position against institutions that started with larger portfolios.This indicates that growth extended beyond an increase in outstanding balances to a notable shift in the relative weight of credit cards within the bank’s retail banking business.<h3 data-id="2ContP">Al Baraka overtakes KFH-Egypt, Suez Canal Bank from last place</h3>A comparison with Kuwait Finance House – Egypt (KFH-Egypt) and Suez Canal Bank highlights the scale of Al Baraka’s competitive advance, with the bank overtaking both institutions despite trailing them at end-2022.At end-2022, Al Baraka’s outstanding credit card balances stood at approximately EGP 29.71mn, compared with EGP 41.99mn at KFH-Egypt and EGP 36.46mn at Suez Canal Bank.By end-June 2026, the competitive order had reversed. Al Baraka’s portfolio reached approximately EGP 532.39mn, exceeding KFH-Egypt’s EGP 370.48mn and Suez Canal Bank’s EGP 280.56mn.Al Baraka consequently turned an EGP 12.28mn deficit against KFH-Egypt into a lead of EGP 161.91mn. Against Suez Canal Bank, its initial EGP 6.75mn shortfall became an advantage of EGP 251.83mn.<h3 data-id="30wqrB">Credit cards gain a larger share of retail financing</h3>The impact of this growth extended beyond competition between banks, reshaping the composition of Al Baraka’s retail financing portfolio.Credit card balances recorded cumulative growth of 1,692.2 per cent over the period, compared with 361 per cent for total retail financing.The bank’s retail financing portfolio expanded to EGP 19.94bn at end-June 2026, from EGP 4.33bn at end-2022. Credit card balances therefore grew at approximately 4.7 times the percentage growth rate of the overall retail financing portfolio.This divergence lifted the share of credit cards in total retail financing to 2.67 per cent at end-June 2026, from just 0.69 per cent at end-2022.The figures highlight the growing importance of credit cards within Al Baraka’s retail financing business, although their contribution remains relatively modest compared with other financing products.<h3 data-id="CPU77S">2024 and 2025 account for 81% of portfolio expansion</h3>The strongest expansion in Al Baraka’s credit card balances was concentrated in 2024 and 2025, which together accounted for 81.3 per cent of the total increase recorded between end-2022 and end-June 2026, adding EGP 408.49mn.After the portfolio reached EGP 60.03mn at end-2023, 2024 delivered the fastest annual percentage growth of the period. Outstanding balances surged 304.9 per cent to EGP 243.04mn, an increase of EGP 183.01mn.In 2025, the bank recorded its largest annual increase in absolute terms, adding EGP 225.48mn to bring the portfolio to EGP 468.52mn, representing growth of 92.8 per cent.The figures show that 2024 marked the sharpest acceleration in percentage growth, while 2025 consolidated the expansion through larger absolute additions, despite a slower growth rate as the portfolio increased in size.During H1 2026, Al Baraka continued to expand its credit card balances, adding approximately EGP 63.87mn, equivalent to growth of 13.6 per cent since the beginning of the year, taking the portfolio beyond EGP 500mn.Over the past three and a half years, credit cards have therefore evolved from a relatively small business into an increasingly important component of Al Baraka’s retail financing portfolio.The expansion, coupled with Al Baraka’s advance past competitors with previously larger portfolios, marks a notable strengthening of its competitive position in the credit card market.Al Baraka Bank Egypt,Growth,Credit card portfolio,credit card,Credit card balanceshttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13497https://en.firstbankeg.com/13497Inside the shifting rankings of Egyptian banks among Arab top 100First Banks ranking of the 100 largest Arab banks by total assets at end-June 2026 revealed contrasting movemeThu, 22 Oct 2026 13:03:37 +03002026-10-22T13:03:37+03:00First Bank’s ranking of the 100 largest Arab banks by total assets at end-June 2026 revealed contrasting movements among Egyptian banks compared with end-2025.Four banks retained their positions, another four advanced, while two slipped in the rankings during the first half of the year.The shifts reflect differences in the pace of asset growth among Egyptian banks. In some cases, asset expansion was insufficient to preserve previous positions, while stronger growth enabled other institutions to climb the ranking.<h3 data-id="gwnrwV">NBE, Banque Misr lead banks retaining their positions</h3>Four Egyptian banks retained their positions in First Bank’s ranking at end-June 2026, led by the National Bank of Egypt (NBE), which held seventh place among Arab banks with total assets of approximately USD 197.98bn, maintaining its presence among the region’s 10 largest banks.Banque Misr also retained 14th place, with total assets of approximately USD 94.98bn at end-June 2026, preserving its position among the highest-ranked Egyptian banks in the Arab banking sector.Further down the ranking, Arab African International Bank (AAIB) held 47th place, with total assets rising 5.2 per cent during H1 2026 to USD 21.05bn at end-June, from USD 20.01bn at end-2025.Export Development Bank of Egypt (EBank) also maintained its position among the 100 largest Arab banks, retaining 98th place. Its total assets grew 4.8 per cent during the first half of the year to approximately USD 4.55bn at end-June 2026, from USD 4.34bn at end-2025.<h3 data-id="9EknwB">CIB, Alexbank lead advances</h3>Four Egyptian banks improved their positions among the 100 largest Arab banks, led by Commercial International Bank – Egypt (CIB), which climbed two places to 36th at end-June 2026, from 38th at end-2025.CIB’s advance was supported by asset growth of approximately 14 per cent during H1 2026, taking its total assets to USD 34.24bn at end-June, from USD 30.11bn at end-2025. This marked the fastest asset growth among the Egyptian banks included in the ranking.Suez Canal Bank also advanced one place to 85th, from 86th at end-2025, supported by a 10.3 per cent increase in total assets during the first six months of 2026. Its assets reached USD 6.25bn at end-June, compared with USD 5.66bn at end-2025.Alexbank recorded the largest improvement in ranking position among Egyptian banks, climbing three places to 89th at end-June 2026, from 92nd at end-2025.The advance coincided with a 9.5 per cent increase in total assets during H1 2026, reaching USD 5.56bn, compared with USD 5.07bn at end-2025.Housing and Development Bank (HDB) moved up one place to 93rd at end-June 2026, from 94th at end-2025, after recording asset growth of approximately 8.3 per cent during the first half of the year. Its total assets reached USD 5.22bn, compared with USD 4.82bn at end-2025.<h3 data-id="XAWszb">Banque du Caire, Faisal Islamic slip despite asset growth</h3>Two Egyptian banks lost ground in the ranking despite recording asset growth during H1 2026, highlighting the impact of differences in growth rates on competitive positions.Banque du Caire slipped two places to 72nd among Arab banks at end-June 2026, from 70th at end-2025, after posting modest asset growth of 0.72 per cent during the first half of the year. Its total assets reached USD 11.25bn, compared with USD 11.16bn at end-2025.Faisal Islamic Bank of Egypt also fell one place to 88th, from 87th at end-2025, despite a 3.4 per cent increase in total assets during H1 2026, reaching approximately USD 5.59bn at end-June, from USD 5.41bn at end-2025.The changes in Egyptian banks’ positions among the 100 largest Arab banks demonstrate that asset growth alone does not determine ranking performance.Rather, the pace of expansion relative to competing institutions played a decisive role, with differences in growth rates shaping movements across the ranking during H1 2026.Egyptian banks,total assets,100 largest Arab bankshttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13496https://en.firstbankeg.com/13496Eman ElsharkawyUS inflation data redraws the outlook for the dollar, goldUS inflation data released on Wednesday, 14 October 2026, prompted investors to reassess their expectations foThu, 22 Oct 2026 12:33:26 +03002026-10-22T12:33:26+03:00Translated & Edited by Aya ElsayedUS inflation data released on Wednesday, 14 October 2026, prompted investors to reassess their expectations for global financial markets after both headline and core inflation exceeded analysts’ forecasts.The stronger-than-expected readings reinforced expectations of further US monetary tightening, pushing the dollar and Treasury yields higher while placing gold under selling pressure.The significance of the data extends beyond persistent price pressures. It has prompted markets to reassess the expected path of US interest rates, with implications for the attractiveness of dollar-denominated assets and the opportunity cost of holding gold.<h3 data-id="K1sh3y">US inflation clouds Fed’s policy outlook</h3>Data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that annual headline inflation accelerated to 3.7 per cent in September 2026, from 3.4 per cent in August, exceeding analysts’ expectations of 3.6 per cent.Monthly inflation also accelerated to 0.6 per cent, compared with 0.4 per cent in the previous month.Core inflation, which excludes food and energy prices, rose to 2.6 per cent year on year, above forecasts of 2.5 per cent. On a monthly basis, core prices increased 0.3 per cent, exceeding expectations of 0.2 per cent.The figures indicate that inflationary pressures are not confined to energy prices but extend to other components of the US economy, complicating the Federal Reserve’s efforts to bring inflation back towards its target of 2 per cent.<h3 data-id="goA2YY">Inflation surprise fuels rate hike bets, lifts dollar</h3>The inflation data prompted markets to reprice the probability of an interest rate increase at the Federal Reserve’s upcoming October meeting.The implied probability of a rate hike rose to approximately 47 per cent following the release, from around 20 per cent beforehand.The shift reflects growing investor concerns that inflation could remain elevated, potentially prompting the Fed to maintain restrictive monetary policy for longer or introduce an additional interest rate increase.These expectations supported the US dollar, with the dollar index rising approximately 0.4 per cent following the release. Meanwhile, the yield on two-year US Treasury notes climbed around seven basis points to 4.872 per cent.The market reaction illustrates the relationship between inflation and foreign exchange markets. Higher interest rate expectations increase the attractiveness of US debt instruments and support demand for the dollar, particularly as the potential yield differential between US assets and those in other major economies widens.<h3 data-id="WLRF0E">Gold pressured by dollar strength and rising yields</h3>Gold prices moved in the opposite direction, with spot gold falling 1.8 per cent to USD 4,083.94 an ounce.December gold futures also declined approximately 1.7 per cent to USD 4,107.90 an ounce, weighed down by the stronger dollar and higher US Treasury yields, which reduced the metal’s appeal relative to interest-bearing assets.Although gold is widely regarded as a hedge against inflation, rising consumer prices do not necessarily support the metal.Tighter monetary policy can increase the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding assets, limiting gold’s attractiveness even during periods of elevated inflation.This creates a notable paradox: higher inflation may strengthen gold’s appeal as a store of value over the longer term, but it can exert downward pressure on prices in the short term if it leads to higher interest rates and real yields.<h3 data-id="M3ewMm">Dollar and gold: What lies ahead?</h3>The next phase of market movements will depend on the persistence of inflationary pressures, particularly after gasoline prices surged 9.1 per cent in September, accounting for more than half of the monthly increase in headline inflation.If core inflation continues to exceed expectations, the dollar could receive further support while gold faces additional pressure.Conversely, easing price pressures could weaken expectations of further monetary tightening, potentially creating room for gold to recover.The most significant consequence of September’s inflation report, therefore, is not simply the acceleration in consumer prices, but its impact on expectations for US monetary policy.Upcoming inflation readings and movements in Treasury yields will remain decisive in determining the direction of the dollar and gold. Dollar,Gold,interest rates,US inflation data,global financial marketshttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13493https://en.firstbankeg.com/13493Yasmin ElsayedThe Big Numbers Race: Stronger MAD lifts Attijariwafa past Banque Misr to 2nd in North AfricaAttijariwafa bank overtook Banque Misr to become North Africas second-largest bank by total assets at end-JuneWed, 21 Oct 2026 16:08:09 +03002026-10-21T16:08:09+03:00Translated & Edited by Aya ElsayedAttijariwafa bank overtook Banque Misr to become North Africa’s second-largest bank by total assets at end-June 2026, according to a recent First Bank analysis.Its dollar-denominated assets reached USD 87.94bn, narrowly surpassing Banque Misr’s USD 87.34bn, marking a shift in the regional rankings despite a gap of just USD 600mn between the two institutions.But was Attijariwafa bank’s advance driven by stronger underlying asset growth, or did exchange rate movements prove decisive?A comparison of the banks’ performance from end-2022 to end-June 2026 reveals two contrasting trends, depending on whether asset growth is measured in local currencies or US dollars.In dollar terms, Attijariwafa bank’s total assets rose 45.8 per cent to USD 87.94bn at end-June 2026, from USD 60.33bn at end-2022.Banque Misr, by contrast, recorded a 2.7 per cent decline in its dollar-denominated assets, from USD 89.74bn to USD 87.34bn over the same period, allowing the Moroccan bank to secure second place.The balance shifts considerably when asset growth is measured in each bank’s domestic currency.Banque Misr recorded a 93.2 per cent increase in total assets, reaching EGP 4.29tn at end-June 2026, compared with EGP 2.22tn at end-2022.Attijariwafa bank, meanwhile, reported growth of 30.9 per cent, with assets rising to MAD 825.30bn from MAD 630.42bn over the same period.The figures reveal that Banque Misr achieved substantially faster asset growth in local currency terms, yet this expansion failed to translate into a stronger position when measured in US dollars.The divergence highlights the extent to which exchange rate movements can reshape cross-border banking comparisons, even when underlying asset growth points in a different direction.Currency movements played a significant role in the contrasting dollar valuations of the two banks.Between end-2022 and end-June 2026, the Egyptian pound lost approximately 49.6 per cent of its value against the US dollar, reducing the dollar equivalent of Banque Misr’s expanding asset base.The Moroccan dirham, by contrast, appreciated by approximately 11.3 per cent against the dollar, supporting the US dollar valuation of Attijariwafa bank’s assets.Attijariwafa bank’s advance over Banque Misr, therefore, does not necessarily indicate stronger asset growth in local currency terms.Rather, it reflects the combined influence of underlying asset expansion and exchange rate movements, which ultimately reshaped the relative positions of the two institutions when measured in US dollars.Banque Misr,total assets,Attijariwafa bank,North Africa,exchange ratehttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13492https://en.firstbankeg.com/13492FABMISR advances among largest banks by syndicated loansFirst Abu Dhabi Bank Misr FABMISR has strengthened its competitive position in the syndicated loan market amonWed, 21 Oct 2026 15:55:37 +03002026-10-21T15:55:37+03:00First Abu Dhabi Bank Misr (FABMISR) has strengthened its competitive position in the syndicated loan market among the largest banks operating in Egypt at the end of June 2026.The bank moved up one place from ninth to eighth at the end of December 2025, supported by growth in its syndicated loan portfolio over the period.FABMISR’s syndicated loan portfolio expanded by 8.47 per cent in the first half of 2026, reaching EGP 19.09 bn at the end of June 2026, compared with EGP 17.60 bn at the end of December 2025.The EGP 1.49 bn rise reflects the bank’s continued expansion in this loan category and its growing presence in large-scale transactions across the Egyptian market.FABMISR’s strength in the syndicated loans market is reflected in its participation in major transactions, demonstrating its capacity to arrange and finance large-scale projects in Egypt.Notably, the bank played a lead role in arranging an EGP 4.2bn syndicated loan for Redcon Properties to finance the development of the Golden Gate commercial and administrative project in New Cairo.FABMISR acted as Initial Mandated Lead Arranger, bookrunner, facility agent, security agent and account bank in the transaction, which attracted strong demand from participating banks. The facility was 1.2 times oversubscribed, prompting an increase in its size from EGP 3.5bn to EGP 4.2bn.The transaction highlights FABMISR’s ability to mobilise liquidity and strengthen its presence in major syndicated lending transactions, consolidating its position among the leading banks in this segment at end-June 2026.Growth,FABMisr,syndicated loan portfolio,syndicated loan markethttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13491https://en.firstbankeg.com/1349122 Egyptian banks lend under 60% of deposits, will rate cuts change that?The loan-to-deposit ratio is a key measure of deposit deployment, reflecting the proportion of customer deposiWed, 21 Oct 2026 15:28:55 +03002026-10-21T15:28:55+03:00The loan-to-deposit ratio is a key measure of deposit deployment, reflecting the proportion of customer deposits allocated to lending. It also provides insight into a bank’s asset composition and funding structure.Against this backdrop, First Bank examined loan-to-deposit ratios across 28 banks operating in Egypt, based on financial data available at end-June 2026, to assess differences in deposit deployment across the banking sector.The analysis revealed substantial disparities, with loan-to-deposit ratios ranging from 10.45 per cent to 80.24 per cent at end-June 2026.Three segments reveal the spread in deployment ratesBanks were divided into three segments by deposit deployment rate in loans, the first with rates of 70 per cent or more, the second from 60 per cent to below 70 per cent, and the third below 60 per cent.The first segment comprised only 3 banks, namely National Bank of Egypt (NBE), Kuwait Finance House bank– Egypt (KFH– Egypt), and National Bank of Kuwait – Egypt (NBK– Egypt).The second segment comprised 3 banks, namely BANK NXT, Al Baraka Bank – Egypt, and the Export Development Bank of Egypt (EBank).The third segment was the largest, comprising 22 banks, or approximately 78.57 per cent of those reviewed.These included Attijariwaf Egypt, ADIB– Egypt, saib, Emirates NBD Egypt, Suez Canal Bank, Banque du Caire, EGBANK, Crédit Agricole Egypt, QNB Egypt, Bank ABC Egypt and FABMISR.The segment also included Banque Misr, Agricultural Bank of Egypt, ABK– Egypt, The United Bank, ADCB Egypt, CIB, Alexbank, Housing and Development Bank, Arab African International Bank, HSBC Egypt and Faisal Islamic Bank of Egypt.Most banks deploy less than 60% of deposits in loansMost of the Egyptian banks reviewed recorded deployment rates below 60 per cent, while only 3 banks reached 70 per cent or more.This points to a low ratio of loans to customer deposits at most banks, though it does not on its own indicate how conservative a bank is in lending, since it may stem from deposits growing faster than loans, from differing business models, or from a greater weight of financial investments and other assets.The finding carries more weight against the Egyptian banking sector’s average of 68.9 per cent at end-June 2026, when most of the banks reviewed sit below 60 per cent.The difference arises because the sector-wide ratio is shaped by the size of each bank’s loan portfolio and deposits, rather than being a simple arithmetic average of individual rates, and so it does not necessarily reflect the level at which most banks operate by number.Regional market gap, accounting for differences in comparisonThe gap is clear against regional markets, where the loan-to-deposit ratio stood at around 79.68 per cent in Saudi Arabia and 79.5 per cent in the UAE at end-June 2026, compared with 68.9 per cent in Egypt, a difference of 10.78 percentage points from Saudi Arabia and 10.6 percentage points from the UAE.These ratios point to a lower loan-to-deposit ratio in Egypt than in the Saudi and Emirati markets, raising questions about how banking resources are deployed across the three.The comparison remains indicative, however, as an accurate assessment must allow for differences in calculation methodologies, including the use of gross or net loans and the scope of deposits counted, as well as differences in regulatory frameworks, funding structures and market characteristics.Lower rates may boost lending, but deposit growth shapes deploymentInterest rate trends are among the factors that may reshape how banks deploy resources, as a decline over the medium term could shift the trade-off between extending loans and investing in financial instruments, particularly if yields on new investments fall while credit demand improves.Some banks may then expand their loan portfolios, raising the relative weight of lending in their asset structures, possibly at the expense of part of their financial investments, if loans become more attractive on a risk-adjusted basis.Higher loan volumes do not necessarily mean higher deployment rates, however, because that requires loans to grow faster than customer deposits.The shift remains contingent on how credit demand responds to lower rates, on banks’ ability to price loans in line with their risks, and on funding costs and liquidity requirements.Lower rates may therefore open the way to a redistribution of resources between loans and financial investments, with the scale of the shift varying by bank according to strategy, asset profile, and funding sources.NBE,interest rate,loan-to-deposit ratio,deposit deployment,KFH– Egypthttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13490https://en.firstbankeg.com/13490ADIB-Egypt leads top five private-sector banks in loan-to-deposit ratio at end-June 2026Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank Egypt ADIB-Egypt emerged as the leader in deposit deployment among Egypts five largest Wed, 21 Oct 2026 13:53:17 +03002026-10-21T13:53:17+03:00Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank – Egypt (ADIB-Egypt) emerged as the leader in deposit deployment among Egypt’s five largest private-sector banks, recording the highest loan-to-deposit ratio at end-June 2026.The bank outperformed QNB Egypt, First Abu Dhabi Bank Misr (FABMISR), Commercial International Bank – Egypt (CIB) and Arab African International Bank (AAIB) at 59.59 per cent.The distinction is particularly notable given that three of its competitors held substantially larger loan and deposit portfolios. ADIB-Egypt’s leadership was driven not by the absolute size of its loan portfolio but by the greater proportion of customer deposits deployed into loans.ADIB-Egypt’s customer loan portfolio reached approximately EGP 198.23bn at end-June 2026, against customer deposits of EGP 332.67bn, securing the highest loan-to-deposit ratio among the five institutions.QNB Egypt ranked second with a loan-to-deposit ratio of 57 per cent, supported by customer loans of approximately EGP 518.91bn and deposits of EGP 910.37bn at end-June 2026. Despite its considerably larger lending and deposit bases, QNB recorded a lower ratio than ADIB-Egypt.FABMISR followed in third place with a ratio of 55.98 per cent. Its customer loan portfolio stood at approximately EGP 167.10bn, against deposits of EGP 298.50bn, placing it behind ADIB-Egypt and QNB Egypt in the proportion of deposits allocated to lending.CIB ranked fourth with a loan-to-deposit ratio of 48.42 per cent, despite commanding the largest loan and deposit portfolios among the five banks, at EGP 631.34bn and EGP 1.30tn, respectively, at end-June 2026.The contrast demonstrates that greater balance-sheet scale does not necessarily translate into a higher rate of deposit deployment.AAIB placed fifth with a ratio of 38.85 per cent, having recorded customer loans of approximately EGP 287.50bn and deposits of EGP 739.98bn at end-June 2026.It posted the lowest ratio within the group, despite holding larger loan and deposit portfolios than ADIB-Egypt.The comparison places ADIB-Egypt’s performance in sharper perspective. Its lead over CIB, QNB Egypt and AAIB, despite their larger lending portfolios, highlights the different proportions of deposit funding allocated to credit activity across the five banks.The disparity is substantial, with loan-to-deposit ratios ranging from 59.59 per cent at ADIB-Egypt to 38.85 per cent at AAIB, a gap of 20.74 percentage points. This reflects differing levels of lending relative to each institution’s customer deposit base.Overall, ADIB-Egypt’s leadership illustrates a distinction between banking scale and deposit deployment.While larger institutions dominate in absolute loan and deposit volumes, the ranking by loan-to-deposit ratio reveals a different competitive order, with ADIB-Egypt leading Egypt’s five largest private-sector banks at end-June 2026.ADIB-Egypt,FABMisr,top five,loan-to-deposit ratio,deposit deploymenthttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13485https://en.firstbankeg.com/13485Al Rajhi outperforms Arab banking giants in return on assets First Banks analysis of return on average assets ROAA among the five largest Arab banks by total assets at endTue, 20 Oct 2026 14:07:07 +03002026-10-20T14:07:07+03:00First Bank’s analysis of return on average assets (ROAA) among the five largest Arab banks by total assets at end-June 2026 revealed a clear lead for Saudi Arabia’s Al Rajhi Bank, which topped the group in H1 2026 despite ranking fifth by asset size.The result highlights the bank’s ability to generate superior returns relative to its asset base, outperforming institutions with substantially larger balance sheets.Al Rajhi Bank’s leadership was underpinned by the highest net profit among the five banks, reaching approximately USD 3.67bn in H1 2026. This supported a ROAA of 2.63 per cent, placing it ahead of the four largest Arab banks by assets.The performance is particularly notable given that Al Rajhi held the smallest asset base within the group, with total assets of approximately USD 280.73bn at end-June 2026.The bank's ability to generate substantial earnings relative to its assets secured its leadership in profitability efficiency.Saudi National Bank (SNB) ranked second with a ROAA of 2.12 per cent in H1 2026, supported by net profit of USD 3.47bn. Its total assets reached approximately USD 331.28bn at end-June, placing it fourth among Arab banks by asset size.Emirates NBD followed in third place with a ROAA of 2.07 per cent, having recorded net profit of USD 3.50bn during the first six months of 2026. Its total assets stood at approximately USD 360.08bn at end-June, making it the third-largest Arab bank by assets.The comparison between SNB and Emirates NBD reveals a notable distinction. Despite reporting slightly lower net profit, SNB achieved a higher ROAA, reflecting the influence of differences in their average asset bases on the returns generated.First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) ranked fourth with a ROAA of 1.53 per cent in H1 2026, supported by net profit of USD 2.93bn. Its total assets reached approximately USD 383.57bn at end-June, securing second place among the largest Arab banks by assets.Qatar National Bank (QNB) ranked fifth and last within the group by ROAA, recording a return of 1.25 per cent and net profit of USD 2.43bn in H1 2026.This came despite QNB retaining its position as the largest Arab bank by assets, with a balance sheet of approximately USD 394.72bn at end-June 2026.The findings reveal a striking contrast among the five largest Arab banks. Al Rajhi, despite having the smallest asset base, achieved the highest ROAA, outperforming QNB, the region’s largest bank by assets, by approximately 1.37 percentage points.The divergence demonstrates that balance-sheet size alone does not determine profitability. Rather, the ability to generate earnings relative to average assets remains a defining measure of financial performance.On this measure, Al Rajhi Bank established a clear lead among the five largest Arab banks in H1 2026, demonstrating that superior returns can be achieved without commanding the largest asset base.ROAA,Al Rajhi Bank,five largest Arab banks,asset basehttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13482https://en.firstbankeg.com/13482Top 100 Arab lenders: Record Egyptian loan growth reshapes rankingsFirst Banks latest ranking of the 100 largest Arab banks by loans at end-June 2026 revealed that 11 Egyptian bMon, 19 Oct 2026 18:09:36 +03002026-10-19T18:09:36+03:00First Bank’s latest ranking of the 100 largest Arab banks by loans at end-June 2026 revealed that 11 Egyptian banks featured on the list, unchanged from the 2025 ranking.A comparison between the rankings at end-2025 and June 2026 showed that nine Egyptian banks advanced, while two maintained their positions. No Egyptian bank recorded a decline in its ranking.3 banks advance 4 places, with AAIB leading the gainsArab African International Bank (AAIB), Export Development Bank of Egypt (EBank), and Housing and Development Bank (HDB) led Egyptian banks in terms of ranking gains, with each advancing four places.AAIB climbed from 70th place at end-2025 to 66th at June 2026, as its loan portfolio rose to around USD 6.34 bn, compared to USD 5.31 bn, marking 19.4 per cent half-year growth.EBank advanced from 96th to 92nd place, with its loan portfolio increasing to around USD 2.02 bn at June 2026, compared to USD 1.87 bn at end-2025, representing 8 per cent half-year growth.HDB also moved up from the bottom of the list to 96th place, as its loan portfolio increased to around USD 1.54 bn at June 2026, compared to USD 1.26 bn at end-2025, marking 22.1 per cent half-year growth.4 banks advance 3 places, led by CIBMeanwhile, four Egyptian banks advanced three places each, led by Commercial International Bank (CIB), which climbed from 51st to 48th place. Its loan portfolio increased to around USD 13.02 bn at June 2026, compared to USD 11.28 bn at end-2025, recording 15.5 per cent half-year growth.Suez Canal Bank advanced from 87th to 84th place, with its loan portfolio rising to around USD 2.76 bn at June 2026, compared to USD 2.57 bn at end-2025, marking 7.4 per cent half-year growth.AlexBank also climbed from 97th to 94th place, as its loan portfolio increased to around USD 1.92 bn at June 2026, compared to USD 1.69 bn at end-2025, recording 13.7 per cent half-year growth.SAIB recorded the same ranking improvement, advancing from 98th to 95th place. This came as its loan portfolio rose to around USD 1.71 bn at June 2026, compared to USD 1.59 bn at end-2025, representing 7.5 per cent growth in just six months.NBE and Banque Misr advance one placeNational Bank of Egypt (NBE) advanced from eighth to seventh place, with its loan portfolio reaching around USD 100.51 bn at June 2026.Banque Misr also moved up from 25th to 24th place, with its loan portfolio reaching around USD 31.36 bn at the end of June.Growth without ranking gains: Banque du Caire and EGBank hold their positionsIn contrast, Banque du Caire maintained its 71st-place ranking, despite an increase in its loan portfolio to around USD 5.34 bn at June 2026, compared to USD 5.04 bn at end-2025, marking 5.9 per cent half-year growth.Similarly, Egyptian Gulf Bank (EGBank) retained its 99th-place ranking, even as its loan portfolio increased to around USD 1.35 bn at June 2026, compared to USD 1.27 bn at end-2025, recording 6.1 per cent half-year growth.These results reflect the strong performance of Egyptian banks during the first half of 2026, as growth in loan portfolios was accompanied by improved rankings for most Egyptian banks on First Bank’s list of the top 100 Arab banks by loans. This indicates that their loan growth outpaced that of several regional competitors. Ebank,AAIB,Loans,100 largest Arab banks,loan growthhttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13481https://en.firstbankeg.com/13481Retail Index: Attijariwafa’s five-year growth lifts loan portfolio quality Attijariwafa bank Egypts retail banking business recorded substantial growth over the past five years, combiniMon, 19 Oct 2026 17:58:27 +03002026-10-19T17:58:27+03:00Attijariwafa bank Egypt’s retail banking business recorded substantial growth over the past five years, combining an expansion in retail lending and deposits with improved credit quality, reflecting progress in both the scale of operations and the bank’s risk indicators.The bank’s retail loan portfolio grew 149.7 per cent over the period under review, reaching EGP 14.60bn at end-June 2026, compared with EGP 5.85bn at end-June 2021.The increase of EGP 8.76bn brought the portfolio to approximately 2.5 times its level five years earlier, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20.1 per cent.Deposit growth was even stronger. Retail deposits rose 173.6 per cent to EGP 52.27bn at end-June 2026, from EGP 19.10bn at end-June 2021, an increase of EGP 33.16bn and a CAGR of 22.3 per cent, strengthening the bank’s funding base and its capacity to support business expansion.Improved credit quality emerged as a defining feature of the bank’s performance. The retail non-performing loan (NPL) ratio declined to 0.68 per cent at end-June 2026, from 1.93 per cent at end-June 2021, an improvement of approximately 1.25 percentage points.Based on the outstanding balances corresponding to these ratios, non-performing retail loans fell to EGP 99.90mn from approximately EGP 112.96mn, despite the substantial expansion in the overall portfolio.This reinforces the significance of the improvement, indicating that the lower NPL ratio was not merely a consequence of loan growth.Despite this expansion, retail banking’s relative weight within the bank’s overall business declined.Retail loans accounted for 18.1 per cent of total customer loans at end-June 2026, down from 25.3 per cent at end-June 2021, while retail deposits represented 38.9 per cent of total customer deposits, compared with 54 per cent five years earlier.The shift reflected faster growth in total customer loans and deposits, which increased by 248.2 per cent and 279.5 per cent, respectively, indicating the growing contribution of corporate banking alongside the continued expansion of retail operations.In the competitive landscape, Attijariwafa bank Egypt ranked 10th in First Bank’s ranking of the fastest-growing retail banking businesses among banks operating in Egypt in H1 2026.The bank recorded growth of 15.23 per cent, compared with an average of 7.7 per cent across the 27 banks covered by the ranking.The performance was supported by a 16.52 per cent increase in retail deposits and 10.82 per cent growth in retail loans during the first six months of 2026, securing the bank a place among the top 10 in retail banking growth.Taken together, these indicators highlight Attijariwafa bank Egypt’s ability to expand its retail banking business while improving credit quality.Looking ahead, a key opportunity lies in deploying a greater share of its growing retail deposit base into lending while maintaining low levels of non-performing loans.loan portfolio,Attijariwafa,retail loans,retail lending,loan portfolio qualityhttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13480https://en.firstbankeg.com/13480HDB leads return on average equity in H1 2026Housing and Development Bank HDB delivered a strong performance in H1 2026, retaining its position at the top Mon, 19 Oct 2026 14:34:00 +03002026-10-19T14:34:00+03:00Housing and Development Bank (HDB) delivered a strong performance in H1 2026, retaining its position at the top of First Bank’s ranking of banks operating in Egypt by return on average equity (ROAE), having also led the ranking in the corresponding period of 2025.HDB recorded a ROAE of 50.55 per cent in H1 2026, reflecting its efficiency in deploying shareholders’ equity to generate net profit.The bank’s broader financial performance was equally strong, with net profit rising 11.2 per cent to EGP 9.92bn in H1 2026, from EGP 8.93bn in the corresponding period of 2025.On the financial position front, total assets increased by approximately 12 per cent during H1 2026 to EGP 256.44bn at end-June, from EGP 229.80bn at end-2025.Customer deposits grew by around 12.9 per cent to EGP 202.21bn at end-June 2026, compared with EGP 179.13bn at end-2025.Total customer loans and facilities rose 23.9 per cent during the first half of the year to EGP 81.44bn at end-June 2026, from EGP 65.72bn at end-2025.Shareholders’ equity also increased by approximately 9.2 per cent to EGP 40.99bn at end-June 2026, from EGP 37.54bn at end-2025.HDB,Growth,total assets,financial position,ROAEhttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13479https://en.firstbankeg.com/13479Yasmin ElsayedDecision Makers: Hisham Okasha’s two-year tenure reshapes Banque Misr’s growth trajectoryEvaluating the performance of major banks requires more than measuring asset growth and lending expansion. TheMon, 19 Oct 2026 13:30:25 +03002026-10-19T13:30:25+03:00Evaluating the performance of major banks requires more than measuring asset growth and lending expansion.The more revealing indicators lie in how effectively resources are deployed, how credit growth is balanced against asset quality, and whether an expanding balance sheet translates into stronger returns.Against this backdrop, Banque Misr’s performance under Hisham Okasha, who assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer in September 2024, warrants closer examination.As one of Egypt’s largest banking institutions, Banque Misr faces the challenge of managing an extensive business base while generating returns commensurate with the scale of its resources.The analysis examines three interconnected dimensions of the bank’s performance under his leadership: the development of its financial position and funding base, the pace and quality of lending expansion, and the extent to which these developments have translated into profitability and returns.Together, they provide a broader assessment of the period beyond growth in absolute figures.<h3 data-id="AryV02">Financial position expansion underpinned by stronger deposit growth</h3>Banque Misr’s total assets rose 30.2 per cent to EGP 4.29tn at end-June 2026, from EGP 3.29tn at end-June 2024, an increase of EGP 996.17bn, according to the bank’s standalone financial statements.The expansion reflects the growth of the bank’s business over the period, with the strengthening of its funding base emerging as a key driver. Customer deposits rose 32.2 per cent to EGP 3.02tn at end-June 2026, from EGP 2.28tn at end-June 2024, an increase of EGP 735.75bn.Deposit growth outpaced asset expansion by approximately two percentage points, indicating that the bank’s principal funding source expanded faster than its overall balance sheet.The significance of this trend lies in the central role customer deposits play in financing banking activities, making their growth an important measure of the resources available to support further business expansion.<h3 data-id="QVKCBI">Retail deposits emerge as the main driver of funding growth</h3>Retail deposits accounted for the largest share of Banque Misr’s funding growth, rising 39.3 per cent to EGP 2.13tn at end-June 2026, from EGP 1.53tn at end-June 2024, an increase of EGP 602.48bn.Corporate deposits, meanwhile, grew at a more moderate pace of 17.7 per cent to EGP 885.88bn, from EGP 752.61bn over the same period, adding EGP 133.27bn.Retail customers therefore accounted for approximately 82 per cent of the total increase in deposits, highlighting the segment’s dominant contribution to the expansion of Banque Misr’s funding base.The contrast also reveals different growth dynamics across the two segments, with retail deposits outperforming corporate balances in both percentage growth and absolute additions.<h3 data-id="leuKtC">Lending outpaces deposits as corporates drive expansion</h3>Banque Misr’s customer loan portfolio expanded 40.4 per cent to EGP 1.67tn at end-June 2026, from EGP 1.19tn at end-June 2024, representing an increase of EGP 479.48bn.Lending growth exceeded deposit growth over the period, pointing to a faster expansion in credit activity relative to the bank’s funding base.This shift was reflected in the loan-to-deposit ratio, which increased to 55.18 per cent at end-June 2026, from 51.96 per cent at end-June 2024, a rise of 3.22 percentage points. The movement indicates that a greater proportion of customer deposits was being deployed into lending.A closer examination of the loan portfolio reveals contrasting growth patterns between corporate and retail banking.Corporate loans, including lending to small economic activities, increased 38.5 per cent to EGP 1.47tn at end-June 2026, from EGP 1.06tn at end-June 2024, adding EGP 408.89bn.Retail loans recorded faster percentage growth of 57 per cent, reaching EGP 194.36bn from EGP 123.77bn over the same period, an increase of EGP 70.59bn.The difference highlights the distinct roles of the two segments. Corporate lending accounted for approximately 85 per cent of the total increase in customer loans, supported by its substantially larger starting base, while retail lending expanded more rapidly in percentage terms.Corporates therefore remained the principal driver of absolute credit growth, even as retail banking gained momentum.<h3 data-id="Szkpu2">Credit quality remains a priority as the loan portfolio expands</h3>The strength of credit expansion cannot be assessed through loan growth alone. Equally important is whether the bank has maintained lending discipline and controlled the risks associated with a larger portfolio.Banque Misr’s non-performing loan (NPL) ratio declined to 1.66 per cent at end-June 2026, from 2.35 per cent at end-June 2024, an improvement of 0.69 percentage points.The decline is particularly significant given the scale of the bank’s lending expansion, indicating that portfolio growth was accompanied by an improvement in overall credit quality.The combination of faster lending growth and a lower NPL ratio represents an important dimension of the bank’s performance, reflecting a more favourable balance between credit expansion and asset quality.<h3 data-id="6ugT1p">Profits rise strongly as net interest income and fee income diverge</h3>Banque Misr recorded a net profit of EGP 57.47bn in H1 2026, compared with EGP 48.19bn in the corresponding period of 2024, representing growth of 19.2 per cent and an increase of EGP 9.28bn.The improvement came despite a decline in net interest income, which fell 4.7 per cent to EGP 69.57bn, from EGP 72.99bn in H1 2024.This divergence indicates that growth in the bank’s principal income stream was not the source of the increase in net profit.Net fee and commission income, by contrast, recorded substantial growth, rising 69.5 per cent to EGP 17.57bn, from EGP 10.37bn in the corresponding period of 2024, an increase of EGP 7.20bn.The contrasting trends highlight the growing contribution of fee and commission income to Banque Misr’s earnings performance, even as net interest income came under pressure.<h3 data-id="iGzS7Z">Profitability trends outpace the scope of absolute net profit growth</h3>A comprehensive assessment of profitability also requires examining returns, as higher net profit does not necessarily indicate improved operating efficiency.Against this backdrop, Banque Misr’s return on average assets (ROAA) declined to 2.71 per cent in H1 2026, from 3.30 per cent in the corresponding period of 2024, a decrease of 0.59 percentage points.Return on average equity (ROAE) also fell to 26.34 per cent, from 38.77 per cent over the same period, a decline of 12.43 percentage points.This divergence highlights the contrasting trends in earnings and returns. Despite higher net profit, both profitability ratios declined, indicating that earnings growth was not accompanied by a corresponding improvement in returns relative to the bank’s asset and equity bases.<h3 data-id="Ny99Js">Beyond growth: assessing Okasha’s leadership</h3>Taken together, Banque Misr’s performance under Hisham Okasha reflects a combination of business expansion and improved credit quality, with retail deposits playing an increasingly important role in strengthening the funding base. Corporate lending remained the principal driver of absolute loan growth, despite the faster pace of expansion recorded in the retail portfolio.On profitability, net profit growth was supported by higher net fee and commission income, even as net interest income declined. At the same time, returns on average assets and equity fell compared with their H1 2024 levels.The period was therefore characterised by an expanding banking business and broader sources of earnings support, while profitability ratios followed a different trajectory from net profit growth. This divergence highlights the importance of balancing business expansion with improvements in returns as Banque Misr seeks to strengthen its capacity to generate sustainable profit growth.Banque Misr,Growth,Hisham Okasha,financial position,expansionhttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13475https://en.firstbankeg.com/13475FABMISR advances among largest banks by retail depositsFirst Abu Dhabi Bank Egypt FABMISR advanced one place in the ranking of banks operating in Egypt by retail depSun, 18 Oct 2026 15:17:53 +03002026-10-18T15:17:53+03:00First Abu Dhabi Bank Egypt (FABMISR) advanced one place in the ranking of banks operating in Egypt by retail deposits, reaching 11th place at the end of June 2026, compared to 12th place at the end of December 2025.This progress was supported by a 20.29 per cent growth in its retail deposit portfolio during H1 2026.The bank’s retail deposit portfolio reached EGP 89.76 bn at the end of June 2026, compared to EGP 74.62 bn at the end of December 2025, marking an increase of EGP 15.14 bn over six months. This reflects notable growth in the savings base attracted from individual customers.FABMISR’s advancement came amid strong competition among banks to attract retail deposits. Its portfolio surpassed that of Al Baraka Bank Egypt at the end of June 2026, after trailing it at the end of December 2025, securing an advance by a narrow margin of approximately EGP 135.2 mn.In terms of growth rates, FABMISR recorded an increase in retail deposits that exceeded the average growth registered by several banks on the list.Its performance also ranked among the relatively high growth rates recorded by banks, with retail deposit portfolios exceeding EGP 50 bn, with a growth rate of 20.29 per cent, strengthening its competitive position in the retail banking market.This performance reflects FABMISR’s ability to expand the volume of retail savings it attracts, supporting the diversification of its funding sources and providing a larger funding base that can be deployed in lending and investment activities. It also supports the bank’s plans to expand its banking services for individual customers.The bank’s advancement in the ranking carries additional significance amid intense competition among banks to attract retail deposits, which represent one of their key funding sources.The improvement extends beyond portfolio growth to a stronger market ranking, reflecting the bank’s growing ability to attract customer savings and expand its presence in this segment.Al Baraka Bank Egypt,retail deposits,Growth,Ranking,FABMisrhttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13474https://en.firstbankeg.com/13474The Big Numbers Race: Alinma, Banque Saudi Fransi pursue Attijariwafa in Arab rankingsThe ranking of the largest Arab banks is no longer defined by wide disparities in financial position scale.Sun, 18 Oct 2026 14:47:37 +03002026-10-18T14:47:37+03:00The ranking of the largest Arab banks is no longer defined by wide disparities in financial position scale.June 2026 data reveal a narrowing gap between Attijariwafa, Alinma Bank and Banque Saudi Fransi, despite marked differences in asset growth rates, raising the prospect of further shifts in their ranking positions.According to First Bank’s ranking of the Top 100 Arab Banks by the end of June 2026, Attijariwafa ranked 15th among Arab banks, followed by Alinma Bank in 16th place and Banque Saudi Fransi in 17th.The ranking highlights an exceptional convergence in balance sheet, with the gap between the leading bank in the group and the bank in last place standing at approximately USD 645 mn, equivalent to less than 1 per cent of the total assets of any of the three banks.With such a narrow gap, asset growth rates are becoming increasingly important in shaping competition for the three positions, particularly given the differences in expansion rates during the first half of 2026.While Attijariwafa Bank maintained its lead in terms of total assets, it recorded the slowest growth rate among the three banks. Its total assets rose to approximately USD 87.94 bn at the end of June 2026, compared to USD 87.23 bn at the end of 2025, marking a 0.82 per cent increase on a half-year basis.In contrast, Alinma Bank expanded at a faster pace, with its assets increasing to approximately USD 87.64 bn, compared to USD 82.93 bn at the end of 2025, representing 5.7 per cent growth on a half-year basis.Banque Saudi Fransi recorded the highest asset growth rate among the three banks, with total assets rising to approximately USD 87.29 bn at the end of June 2026, compared to USD 82.38 bn at the end of last year, marking a 6 per cent increase on a half-year basis.This increase is particularly significant given the current convergence in total assets. Attijariwafa Bank added approximately USD 710 mn to its assets during the period, compared to USD 4.71 bn for Alinma Bank and USD 4.91 bn for Banque Saudi Fransi.This means that the latter two banks narrowed the gap with Attijariwafa in just six months, increasing the likelihood of a reshuffle in their rankings if the differences in growth rates persist during the second half of the year.The differences among the three banks extend beyond their performance in the first half of 2026 to their longer-term asset growth trajectories.Alinma Bank recorded the highest three-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in assets, measured from the end of 2022 through June 2026, at approximately 15.2 per cent, compared to 11.4 per cent for Attijariwafa and 10.4 per cent for Banque Saudi Fransi.These rates highlight differences in the pace of asset growth among the three banks. Growth rates in the first half of 2026 did not align with their CAGRs over the longer period: Banque Saudi Fransi led in asset growth during the first half of 2026, while Alinma Bank recorded the highest CAGR over the longer timeframe.This underscores how the banks’ relative performance varies depending on the period under comparison.Assuming the three banks maintain their H1 2026 growth rates through the second half, Alinma Bank’s assets could reach approximately USD 92.61bn by end-2026, compared with around USD 92.50bn for Banque Saudi Fransi and USD 88.66bn for Attijariwafa bank.These projections are based on a scenario in which each bank sustains the same pace of asset growth recorded during the first half of 2026.Under this scenario, Alinma Bank could move ahead of the other two banks to rank first in terms of total assets by the end of 2026, followed by Banque Saudi Fransi and then Attijariwafa Bank, provided that the growth rates recorded in the first half of the year persist.These figures remain conditional estimates rather than confirmed forecasts. The actual ranking will depend on the banks’ performance during the second half of the year, whether current asset growth rates are sustained, and any changes in the composition of their financial positions.Attijariwafa,financial position,Arab banks,Banque Saudi Fransi,Alinma Bankhttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13471https://en.firstbankeg.com/13471Ali AdelEBank climbs four places among Arab lenders on USD 149mn loan growthExport Development Bank of Egypt EBank strengthened its position among the regions major lenders, recording a Sun, 18 Oct 2026 11:30:53 +03002026-10-18T11:30:53+03:00Translated & Edited by Aya ElsayedExport 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. Ebank,First Bank,Loans,100 largest Arab banks,Arab lendershttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13470https://en.firstbankeg.com/13470KFH vs ABK: How a retail deposit gap turned into a fierce, close raceThe comparison between Al Ahli Bank of KuwaitEgypt ABK-Egypt and Kuwait Finance HouseEgypt KFH-Egypt reflects Thu, 15 Oct 2026 14:40:08 +03002026-10-15T14:40:08+03:00The comparison between Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait–Egypt (ABK-Egypt) and Kuwait Finance House–Egypt (KFH-Egypt) reflects a notable shift in the competitive landscape for retail deposits over the period from end-2022 to June 2026.The gap, which initially stood at EGP 2.57 bn in favour of ABK-Egypt, did not move in one direction. Instead, it widened initially, reaching a peak of around EGP 8.3 bn in 2024, before reversing during 2025 and narrowing to just EGP 233 mn in June 2026.retail deposits at ABK-Egypt stood at approximately EGP 16.60 bn at end-2022, compared with EGP 14.03 bn at KFH-Egypt, giving the former an initial lead of around EGP 2.57 bn.During 2023, retail deposits at the two banks increased to approximately EGP 21.47 bn and EGP 18.41 bn, respectively, widening the gap to around EGP 3.06 bn and maintaining ABK-Egypt’s lead during the early stages of the period.In 2024, the gap between the two banks widened to its highest level, as retail deposits at ABK-Egypt reached approximately EGP 33.93 bn, compared with EGP 25.61 bn at KFH-Egypt. The difference consequently increased to around EGP 8.32 bn, marking its highest level throughout the period under review.This indicates that the subsequent convergence was not a continuous trend from the beginning of the period but rather followed a significant widening of the gap in favour of ABK-Egypt.2025 marks a turning point as KFH-Egypt narrows the gapThe competitive dynamics began to shift in 2025, as retail deposits at KFH-Egypt rose to approximately EGP 37.97 bn, compared with EGP 44.69 bn at ABK-Egypt, narrowing the gap to around EGP 6.72 bn.This came as KFH-Egypt recorded a larger annual increase in retail deposits, adding approximately EGP 12.36 bn, compared with around EGP 10.76 bn at ABK-Egypt. This marked the beginning of a reduction in the gap that had peaked in the previous year.The first half of 2026 witnessed the most significant movement in the deposit gap. retail deposits at KFH-Egypt increased to approximately EGP 48.25 bn, rising by around EGP 10.28 bn in just six months, while deposits at ABK-Egypt reached EGP 48.48 bn, up by approximately EGP 3.79 bn.As a result, the gap narrowed by around EGP 6.49 bn in just six months, falling from EGP 6.72 bn at end-2025 to approximately EGP 233 mn in June 2026.The significance of this shift becomes clearer when examining the cumulative increase since the beginning of the period. retail deposits at ABK-Egypt rose by approximately EGP 31.88 bn between end-2022 and June 2026, compared with an increase of around EGP 34.22 bn at KFH-Egypt.This means that KFH-Egypt added approximately EGP 2.34 bn more than its competitor, despite starting the period with a lower deposit base of around EGP 2.57 bn.Accordingly, the convergence did not result from stagnant deposits at ABK-Egypt, but rather from KFH-Egypt recording a larger increase in deposits, particularly during the latter part of the period.The gap narrows, while changes in rankings remain limitedAt the ranking level, movements were more modest than the change in the financial gap. ABK-Egypt advanced from 22nd place at end-2022 to 21st place in June 2026, while KFH-Egypt moved up from 23rd to 22nd place, leaving the difference between the two banks unchanged at one position at both points of comparison.This comparison highlights an important distinction: while each bank advanced by only one position, the financial gap between them changed much more substantially. It increased from EGP 2.57 bn at end-2022 to EGP 8.32 bn in 2024, before narrowing to just EGP 233 mn in June 2026.Therefore, rankings alone do not fully capture the shift in competitive intensity, as the most significant change occurred in the financial distance separating the two banks.Overall, competition between the two banks shifted from a relatively modest gap at the beginning of the period to a difference exceeding EGP 8 bn in 2024, before narrowing to just EGP 233 mn in June 2026.Although ABK-Egypt remained ahead in both deposit balances and rankings, its lead in retail deposits became marginal in financial terms. The gap that had separated the two banks by billions of Egyptian pounds in 2024 had narrowed to just EGP 233 mn by June 2026, as KFH-Egypt recovered most of the difference during the latter part of the period.ABK-Egypt,retail deposits,KFH-Egypthttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13469https://en.firstbankeg.com/13469ODIN, Prime top EGX-listed investment banks by return on average assets in H1 2026ODIN Investments topped First Banks ranking of the most efficient EGX-listed investment banks by return on aveThu, 15 Oct 2026 13:54:17 +03002026-10-15T13:54:17+03:00<h3 data-id="1wgezD">ODIN tops EGX-listed investment banks by return on average assets at 25.92%</h3><h3 data-id="NcPSmS">Prime ranks second at 6.72%, while Aspire Capital takes third place at 4.47%</h3>ODIN Investments topped First Bank’s ranking of the most efficient EGX-listed investment banks by return on average assets (ROAA) in the first half of 2026, recording a ratio of 25.92 per cent.The ranking states that the company posted a net profit of EGP 462.1mn during the first six months of the year.The ranking covered seven investment banks listed on the Egyptian Exchange (EGX). Six recorded positive ROAA during H1 2026, supported by varying levels of profitability, while one posted a negative ratio after reporting a loss over the same period.ROAA measures an investment bank’s efficiency in using its asset base to generate net profit during the period under review. A higher ratio indicates greater efficiency in generating returns from assets.Prime Holding for Financial Investments ranked second, with ROAA of 6.72 per cent, after recording net profit of EGP 43.73mn in H1 2026.Aspire Capital Holding for Financial Investments came third, with ROAA of 4.47 per cent, after posting net profit of EGP 74.74mn during the first half of the year, according to the ranking.CI Capital Holding for Financial Investments ranked fourth, with ROAA of 3.95 per cent, supported by net profit of EGP 838.35mn in H1 2026.Beltone Holding placed fifth, recording ROAA of 1.66 per cent after posting net profit of EGP 780.38mn during the first half of 2026.All figures used to calculate ROAA are based on the consolidated financial statements published by each investment bank at end-June 2026 and were annualised. EGX-listed,ODIN,Prime,nvestment banks,return on average assets (ROAA),Aspire Capital Holdinghttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13468https://en.firstbankeg.com/13468CIB’s corporate banking delivers strong performance in H1 2026Commercial International Bank Egypt CIB significantly expanded its credit activity in the first half of 2026, Thu, 15 Oct 2026 13:35:16 +03002026-10-15T13:35:16+03:00Commercial International Bank – Egypt (CIB) significantly expanded its credit activity in the first half of 2026, driven mainly by increased loans to corporates, alongside strong growth in retail loans.According to the bank’s standalone financial statements, total customer loans rose to EGP 631.34bn at end-June 2026, compared with EGP 541.41bn at end-2025, a growth rate of 16.6 per cent and a total increase of EGP 89.94bn.Corporate loans was the main driver of credit expansion in H1 2026. The corporate loan portfolio, including small loans for economic activities, grew by 17.6 per cent to EGP 527.99bn at end-June 2026, compared with EGP 449.13bn at end-2025, an increase of EGP 78.86bn.Retail loan balances, meanwhile, rose to EGP 103.36bn at end-June 2026, compared with EGP 92.28bn at end-2025, a growth rate of 12 per cent and an increase of EGP 11.08bn.Although both the corporate and retail segments grew, the sheer scale of corporate lending meant it contributed far more to the overall increase.Corporate accounted for about 87.7 per cent of the total rise in customer loan balances in H1 2026, versus 12.3 per cent for retail, reflecting the central role of corporate loans in driving the bank’s credit growth during the period.This performance was reflected in the corporate segment’s share of the total loan portfolio, which rose to about 83.6 per cent at end-June 2026, from 82.9 per cent at end-2025.By contrast, the retail segment’s share of the total loan portfolio declined to about 16.4 per cent at end-June 2026, from 17.1 per cent at end-2025.These indicators must be read alongside the quality of the loan portfolio, the primary measure for judging the efficiency and sustainability of credit expansion.Growth in loan volumes is not, on its own, a measure of strong performance. Its quality ultimately depends on disciplined risk management and adherence to creditworthiness standards, as aggressive lending can drive up defaults and turn near-term growth into longer-term pressure.Against this backdrop, the non-performing loan (NPL) ratio improved to 1.61 per cent at end-June 2026, from around 1.78 per cent at end-2025.Overall, CIB’s performance in H1 2026 reflects the pivotal role of the corporate segment in driving credit growth, together with an improvement in the NPL ratio.This highlights the importance of balancing corporate lending expansion with maintaining loan portfolio quality, which supports sustainable credit growth and a more efficient portfolio in the coming periods.CIB,Growth,corporates,loan portfolio,corporate loans,credit activityhttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13465https://en.firstbankeg.com/13465First Bank: 10 Arab banks account for half of top 100 assetsFirst Banks ranking of the 100 largest Arab banks at end-June 2026 shows that financial strength remains heaviThu, 15 Oct 2026 11:59:52 +03002026-10-15T11:59:52+03:00First Bank’s ranking of the 100 largest Arab banks at end-June 2026 shows that financial strength remains heavily concentrated among a small group of major institutions, with the top 10 accounting for 50.37 per cent of the combined assets of all banks included in the ranking.Total assets across the Arab top 100 reached approximately USD 5.17tn at end-June 2026, up from USD 4.98tn at end-2025, representing growth of around 4 per cent and an increase of USD 195.82bn during the first half.The 10 largest banks alone held approximately USD 2.60tn in assets at end-June, compared with USD 2.51tn at end-2025, an increase of USD 96.63bn and growth of 3.9 per cent on a half-year basis.Despite that expansion, the top 10’s share of total assets edged down to 50.37 per cent from 50.41 per cent, a decline of just 0.04 percentage points.The movement is marginal and does little to alter the broader picture: the region’s 10 largest banks still control roughly half of the assets held by the Arab top 100.The figures underline the degree of concentration at the top of the sector. While 10 institutions account for more than half of total assets, the remaining 49.63 per cent is spread across 90 banks, highlighting the wide disparity in scale across Arab banking.That concentration is reinforced by the size of the institutions at the top of the ranking. QNB held USD 394.72bn in assets at end-June 2026, followed by First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) at USD 383.57bn and Emirates NBD at approximately USD 360.08bn.The implications extend beyond balance-sheet size. Larger banks benefit from greater capacity to expand lending and investment, build deeper deposit bases and sustain a stronger presence across the markets in which they operate.Mid-sized and emerging institutions, by contrast, compete from smaller asset bases, making it more difficult to close the gap with the sector’s largest players.The June 2026 data therefore point to an Arab banking landscape in which financial power remains firmly concentrated at the top. Banks outside the top 10 gained only marginal ground in relative terms, leaving the competitive balance between the region’s largest institutions and its mid-sized and emerging banks broadly unchanged.First Bank,assets,Arab banks,top 100,100 largest Arab bankshttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13461https://en.firstbankeg.com/13461Ali AdelHDB over five years: Investment expansion as corporates take a larger shareHousing and Development Banks HDB standalone financial statements for the period ended 30 June 2026 showed a sTue, 13 Oct 2026 14:38:11 +03002026-10-13T14:38:11+03:00Translated & Edited by Aya ElsayedHousing and Development Bank’s (HDB) standalone financial statements for the period ended 30 June 2026 showed a sharp expansion in its balance sheet over the past five years.The bank's total assets rose 296.3 per cent to EGP 256.44bn from EGP 64.71bn at end-June 2021, an increase of EGP 191.73bn.HDB continued to allocate the largest share of its asset base to financial investments, which accounted for 47.9 per cent of total assets at end-June 2026, up from 42.13 per cent five years earlier.The financial investment portfolio surged 350.5 per cent over the period to EGP 122.83bn, from EGP 27.26bn at end-June 2021, reinforcing financial investments as the bank’s largest asset component.<h3 data-id="j4Fnrq">Total customer loans</h3>Net customer loans and facilities ranked second, accounting for 29.47 per cent of total assets at end-June 2026, compared with 32.74 per cent at end-June 2021.The portfolio expanded 256.7 per cent over the five-year period, adding EGP 54.38bn to reach EGP 75.57bn, from EGP 21.18bn.<h3 data-id="M6nHxz">Cash and bank balances witg the Central Bank</h3>Cash and balances with the Central Bank accounted for 10.92 per cent of total assets at end-June 2026, with a value of EGP 28.01bn, compared with 9.85 per cent and EGP 6.38bn at end-June 2021.<h3 data-id="rwdb7x">Balances with banks</h3>Balances with banks represented a further 6.25 per cent of total assets, broadly stable from 6.21 per cent five years earlier. Their value rose to EGP 16.02bn from EGP 4.02bn, marking growth of 298.7 per cent.Other assets accounted for 2.94 per cent of the balance sheet at end-June 2026, with a value of approximately EGP 7.55bn, compared with 2.51 per cent and EGP 1.62bn at end-June 2021.<h3 data-id="vLAyLE">HDB’s lending mix</h3>The more significant structural shift appears within HDB’s loan portfolio.Corporate loans increased their share of total customer loans and facilities to 54.95 per cent at end-June 2026, from 36.04 per cent at end-June 2021.The corporate portfolio expanded 431.2 per cent over the five-year period, adding EGP 36.33bn to reach EGP 44.75bn, from EGP 8.43bn.Retail loans, meanwhile, accounted for 45.05 per cent of total customer loans and facilities, down from 63.96 per cent five years earlier.Even so, the retail portfolio more than doubled, rising 145.3 per cent to EGP 36.69bn at end-June 2026, from EGP 14.95bn at end-June 2021.The figures point to a clear shift in HDB’s asset allocation over the past five years. Expansion was driven not only by strong growth in total assets and financial investments, but also by a pronounced rebalancing of the loan portfolio towards corporates.Corporate lending increased from just over one-third of total customer loans in 2021 to more than half by end-June 2026, while retail lending continued to grow in absolute terms despite a decline in its relative share.The result is a more diversified asset mix, combining a sizeable financial investment portfolio with a much stronger corporate lending base and a still-substantial retail business, reinforcing a broader and more balanced approach to asset deployment and balance-sheet growth.HDB,financial investments,corporates,total assets,expansionhttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13460https://en.firstbankeg.com/13460Emirates NBD’s credit card team delivers strong three-year performanceEmirates NBD Egypts credit card balances surged 352.3 per cent over the past three years to EGP 2.52bn at end-Tue, 13 Oct 2026 13:24:57 +03002026-10-13T13:24:57+03:00Emirates NBD Egypt’s credit card balances surged 352.3 per cent over the past three years to EGP 2.52bn at end-June 2026, from EGP 556.49mn at end-2022, an increase of EGP 1.96bn.The expansion extended beyond portfolio growth, strengthening Emirates NBD Egypt’s market position as the bank advanced from ninth place at end-2022 to seventh at end-June 2026.The shift becomes more significant when viewed against the weight of credit cards within the bank’s retail loan portfolio. Their share rose to 9.89 per cent at end-June 2026 from 4.45 per cent at end-2022.This means the increase in credit card balances was not simply a by-product of broader retail banking expansion. Credit cards grew at a pace that materially increased their share of the overall retail portfolio.The strength of that performance becomes clearer when compared with the retail loan portfolio as a whole. Retail loans rose 103.6 per cent over the period, reaching EGP 25.44bn at end-June 2026 from EGP 12.50bn at end-2022, while credit card balances surged 352.3 per cent.The wide gap between the two growth rates shows that credit cards expanded far faster than the overall retail portfolio, directly increasing their relative weight within it.The transformation in the credit card business therefore went beyond balance growth. It also reshaped the composition of the retail loan portfolio, with cards gaining a larger share while the bank improved its market ranking over the past three years.The performance consequently reflects the credit card team’s success in expanding the business and strengthening its position within Emirates NBD Egypt’s retail banking portfolio.retail loans,Emirates NBD Egypt,Credit card balances,credit card teams,credit card businesshttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13458https://en.firstbankeg.com/13458Yasmin ElsayedThe Big Numbers Race: Four banks battle for Arab top 30 lenders spotCompetition at the edge of the Arab worlds 30 largest lenders is becoming increasingly intense, with narrow poTue, 13 Oct 2026 12:56:41 +03002026-10-13T12:56:41+03:00Translated & Edited by Aya ElsayedCompetition at the edge of the Arab world’s 30 largest lenders is becoming increasingly intense, with narrow portfolio gaps and sharply different growth rates turning scale into a battle for position.The pressure is particularly evident at the edge of the top 30 with Commercial Bank of Qatar ranking 30th, followed by Emirates Islamic in 31st place, Boubyan Bank in 32nd and Dukhan Bank in 33rd.With the gaps between these positions relatively narrow, the pace of loan growth becomes a decisive factor in determining the direction of competition and the potential for further changes in ranking.Movements in loan portfolios during the first half of 2026 reveal a clear divergence in performance across the four banks. Three recorded growth, while Commercial Bank posted a decline, producing markedly different trajectories despite the relatively close size of their portfolios.Compared with end-2025, Commercial Bank’s loan portfolio declined 1.5 per cent to USD 28.18bn at end-June 2026, from USD 28.60bn at the end of last year.By contrast, Emirates Islamic recorded the strongest loan growth among the four banks during the first half, with its portfolio rising 9.1 per cent on a half-year basis to USD 26.39bn at end-June 2026, from USD 24.19bn at end-2025.Boubyan Bank’s loan portfolio increased 5.4 per cent on a half-year basis to USD 26.29bn at end-June 2026, from USD 24.94bn at end-2025.Dukhan Bank’s loans rose 5.5 per cent to USD 25.99bn at end-June 2026, from USD 24.63bn at end-2025.The differences become more pronounced when measured by the actual increase in loans during the first six months of 2026.Emirates Islamic added approximately USD 2.19bn to its portfolio, compared with USD 1.37bn for Dukhan Bank and USD 1.35bn for Boubyan Bank, while Commercial Bank of Qatar’s portfolio contracted by approximately USD 420.52mn.<h3 data-id="7wInFA">Short-term momentum, different trajectories</h3>While loans movements during H1 2026 are important in assessing the current competitive picture, they do not alone capture the longer-term paths of the four banks. Compound annual growth rates over the past three years, specifically from end-2022 to June 2026, reveal deeper differences in the pace of expansion.Emirates Islamic also ranked first among the four by compound annual growth in loans, at approximately 22 per cent, followed by Boubyan Bank at 9.2 per cent and Dukhan Bank at around 6.6 per cent. Commercial Bank recorded approximately 1.3 per cent.Comparing H1 2026 growth with compound annual loan growth since end-2022 confirms Emirates Islamic’s sustained advantage in expansion. It ranked first among the four across both periods, followed by Boubyan Bank and Dukhan Bank, while Commercial Bank recorded the lowest growth rate over the longer period.This suggests that the differences in growth momentum are not merely the product of short-term performance, but reflect more persistent divergence in loan portfolio expansion, giving the faster-growing banks greater scope to narrow the gap with institutions immediately ahead of them.<h3 data-id="ULL78W">What if current momentum continues?</h3>Assuming the four banks sustain their H1 2026 growth pace through the second half, Emirates Islamic’s loan portfolio could reach approximately USD 28.78bn by year-end, compared with around USD 27.77bn for Commercial Bank, USD 27.71bn for Boubyan Bank and USD 27.44bn for Dukhan Bank.Under this scenario, the ranking could shift materially. Emirates Islamic’s faster growth would be enough to overtake Commercial Bank of Qatar by end-2026, move into 30th place, and enter the Arab world’s 30 largest lenders, while Commercial Bank would slip to 31st and fall outside the group.For Boubyan Bank and Dukhan Bank, despite growth in their loan portfolios during H1 2026, the increases recorded would not be sufficient to close the existing gap with the two banks immediately ahead of them.Competition around the Arab top 30 is therefore shaped not by loan scale alone, but by each bank’s ability to sustain growth strong enough to close the gap with those ahead, particularly where portfolio sizes are tightly clustered and modest differences in momentum can quickly alter the ranking. Emirates Islamic Bank,top 30,four banks,Arab largest lenders,Commercial Bank of Qatarhttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13457https://en.firstbankeg.com/13457Yasmin ElsayedAAIB advances sharply among leading Arab lendersFirst Banks ranking of the 100 largest Arab banks by loans at end-June 2026 showed a marked improvement in AraTue, 13 Oct 2026 11:34:07 +03002026-10-13T11:34:07+03:00Translated & Edited by Aya ElsayedFirst Bank’s ranking of the 100 largest Arab banks by loans at end-June 2026 showed a marked improvement in Arab African International Bank’s (AAIB) position.The bank climbed four places to 66th from 70th at end-2025, strengthening its standing among the region’s major lenders.The advance was supported by strong loan growth, with AAIB’s net loan portfolio rising 19.5 per cent to approximately USD 6.34bn at end-June 2026, from USD 5.31bn at end-2025, an increase of more than USD 1bn.Notably, the expansion was accompanied by an improvement rather than a deterioration in asset quality. The bank’s non-performing loan ratio declined to 1.15 per cent at end-June 2026, from 2.11 per cent at end-2025, signalling a clear improvement in loan portfolio quality as the portfolio expanded.This combination represents one of the key drivers behind AAIB’s advance in the Arab ranking. Its rise was not driven by loan growth alone, but by the bank’s ability to deliver strong credit expansion while simultaneously reducing its non-performing loan ratio, strengthening its competitive position among the region’s major lenders.Alongside loan growth, AAIB delivered strong performance during the first half of 2026. Net profit rose 26.6 per cent to USD 202.84mn, from USD 160.17mn in the same period of 2025, an increase of USD 42.67mn.Net interest income increased 17.9 per cent to USD 346.17mn in H1 2026, from USD 293.51mn in the corresponding period of 2025, an increase of USD 52.66mn.On the balance sheet, total assets rose 5.2 per cent during the first half to USD 21.05bn at end-June 2026, from USD 20.01bn at end-2025. AAIB’s official website reports total assets of approximately USD 21.1bn as of June 2026.Customer deposits increased 4.3 per cent on a half-year basis to USD 15.02bn at end-June 2026, from USD 14.40bn at end-2025.AAIB,Loans,First Bank Ranking,100 largest Arab banks,lenders,loan growthhttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13454https://en.firstbankeg.com/13454Shimaa NasserFive banks enter EGP 1tn club as the top tier reshapes over 3 yearsThe trillion-pound mark is no longer a threshold reserved for Egypts very largest banking balance sheets. It nMon, 12 Oct 2026 15:44:27 +03002026-10-12T15:44:27+03:00Translated & Edited by Aya ElsayedThe trillion-pound mark is no longer a threshold reserved for Egypt’s very largest banking balance sheets. It now defines a broader tier of major institutions, with five banks operating above that level: National Bank of Egypt (NBE), Banque Misr, Commercial International Bank – Egypt (CIB), QNB Egypt, and Arab African International Bank (AAIB).NBE remains far ahead, with total assets of approximately EGP 9.22tn at end-2025, followed by Banque Misr at around EGP 4.21tn.Among private-sector banks, CIB reached approximately EGP 1.68tn in assets at end-June 2026, while QNB Egypt and AAIB stood at around EGP 1.06tn and EGP 1.04tn, respectively.The analysis takes end-2022 balances as its starting point and compares them with the latest available asset figures for each bank. For NBE and Banque Misr, the latest figures are as of end-2025, while those for the three private-sector banks are based on end-June 2026 data.NBE’s assets rose from approximately EGP 4.37tn at end-2022 to EGP 9.22tn at end-2025, extending its lead as Egypt’s largest bank by assets. Banque Misr followed a similar path, with assets rising from approximately EGP 2.22tn to EGP 4.21tn over the same period, leaving it firmly above the EGP 1tn.<h3 data-id="vrgUMK">Different paths to the trillion-pound mark: how private banks built scale</h3>The expansion of Egypt’s top banking tier becomes more striking when viewed through the three private-sector banks that have crossed the trillion-pound mark.CIB’s assets rose from approximately EGP 633.6bn at end-2022 to EGP 1.68tn at end-June 2026, representing a growth of 165.5 per cent. Its trajectory stands out not only for crossing EGP 1tn, but for continuing beyond EGP 1.5tn, reinforcing CIB’s position among Egypt’s largest private-sector banks by assets.QNB Egypt’s assets increased from approximately EGP 476.8bn at end-2022 to EGP 1.06tn at end-June 2026, up 122.8 per cent. The bank therefore moved from an asset base below EGP 500bn to above EGP 1tn, strengthening its position within Egypt’s largest private-sector banking institutions.AAIB recorded the fastest growth among the five banks, with assets rising from approximately EGP 326.1bn at end-2022 to EGP 1.04tn at end-June 2026, an increase of 218.1 per cent. The scale of that expansion is particularly notable given its starting point: AAIB began with the smallest asset base in the current group before crossing the trillion-pound threshold, marking the strongest relative growth among them.<h3 data-id="MocKmz">Beyond EGP 1tn: why scale tells only part of the story</h3>These trajectories draw an important distinction between percentage growth and absolute expansion. Growth rate shows how far a bank has moved relative to its starting point, while absolute growth captures the volume of assets actually added to the balance sheet.AAIB therefore recorded the strongest percentage growth, while CIB combined rapid expansion with a substantially larger ending asset base. NBE and Banque Misr, by contrast, demonstrate the different dynamics of growing from already dominant starting positions.The scale of change is even clearer when the three private-sector banks are viewed together. Their combined assets rose from approximately EGP 1.44tn at end-2022 to around EGP 3.78tn at end-June 2026, an increase of nearly EGP 2.35tn.All three began the period below EGP 1tn and now operate above that level, highlighting the broadening of Egypt’s large-scale private banking segment.Yet the group is becoming increasingly differentiated. CIB has advanced to around EGP 1.68tn in assets, while QNB Egypt and AAIB have moved only modestly beyond the trillion-pound mark. EGP 1tn, therefore, is no longer an end point in measuring scale, but an entry point into a wider tier of balance-sheet sizes shaped by each bank’s growth trajectory.That is the broader significance of the shift, as Egypt’s trillion-pound banking club is expanding not simply in number, but in depth, with the upper tier of the sector now broader and more differentiated than it was in 2022.NBE and Banque Misr continue to deepen their weight from already substantial asset bases, while the three private-sector banks have entered the trillion-pound tier through markedly different combinations of starting scale, growth pace and final size.The EGP 1tn mark is therefore no longer simply a dividing line in Egypt’s asset rankings ,it has become a measure of how far the country’s large-bank segment has broadened.The five banks show that scale can be built through different paths: sustained expansion from an already dominant base, rapid growth from hundreds of billions of pounds into trillion-pound territory, or a combination of strong growth and continued progression within that tier.The real value of the comparison lies not simply in how many banks have crossed EGP 1tn, but in how much broader, deeper and more diverse the landscape above that threshold has become.NBE,Banque Misr,CIB,AAIB,EGP 1tn,Five bankshttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13453https://en.firstbankeg.com/13453NBE consolidates its leadership under Mohamed El-EtrebyLeadership is often judged by a simple measure: how much an institution grows under management. At National BaMon, 12 Oct 2026 14:21:45 +03002026-10-12T14:21:45+03:00Leadership is often judged by a simple measure: how much an institution grows under management. At National Bank of Egypt (NBE), however, the benchmark is more demanding.When Mohamed El-Etreby took the helm in early October 2024, he inherited not a bank seeking scale but Egypt’s largest lender, an institution whose size, reach, and responsibilities place it in a category of its own.The challenge, therefore, was not to establish a leading position but to deepen it: expanding the bank’s operations while ensuring its infrastructure, resources, and capabilities kept pace with a growing balance sheet.Viewed through this lens, the two-year record is less a story of growth than a measure of how effectively NBE has managed its scale and strengthened the capabilities needed to sustain it.<h3 data-id="XZ1QBX">Financial position expands to record levels</h3>According to the latest financial data, NBE’s total assets reached EGP 10.60tn at end-August 2026, up from EGP 7.39tn at end-September 2024, a 43.4 per cent increase, equivalent to EGP 3.21tn.For Egypt’s largest bank, however, balance-sheet growth is only part of the measure. The more important question is how far that expansion translated into deeper core banking activity and a greater flow of loans to customers and key sectors of the economy.<h3 data-id="8f4CSz">From balance-sheet expansion to broader business activity</h3>Loans provide the clearest evidence of that expansion translating into core banking activity. NBE’s loan portfolio climbed to EGP 5.80tn at end-August 2026, from EGP 3.64tn at end-September 2024, marking a growth of 59.3 per cent and an increase of EGP 2.16tn.Corporate loans accounted for the bulk of the increase. Including small loans for economic activities, the portfolio rose to EGP 5.22tn at end-August 2026, from EGP 3.30tn at end-September 2025, up 58.4 per cent, or EGP 1.92tn.Retail loans also expanded, reaching EGP 506bn at end-August 2026, from EGP 344.80bn at end-September 2024, an increase of approximately 46.7 per cent.Deposits: the funding base behind expansionAs financing expanded, the focus shifts to the other side of the balance sheet, which is the funding base supporting that growth.Customer deposits rose to EGP 6.40tn at end-August 2026, from EGP 4.69tn at end-September 2024, representing growth of 36.4 per cent.Financing therefore outpaced deposit growth over the period, while customer deposits remained the principal source of funding underpinning NBE’s expanding balance sheet.This movement does not, in itself, amount to a judgement on the efficiency of resource management. It does, however, show that the expansion in financing activity was accompanied by a broader deposit base, with financing growing at a faster pace.The figures therefore point to a larger business base on both sides of the balance sheet: more resources on one side and greater financing on the other. This leads to the more important question: what did that expansion generate?<h3 data-id="8Wq8LC">Profitability: what business expansion deliver?</h3>On profitability, NBE recorded a net profit of EGP 175.49bn in 2025, compared with EGP 133.27bn in 2024, an increase of 31.7 per cent. These remain the bank’s latest disclosed profitability figures, with no results for a more recent period yet published.Net Interest Income (NII) also rose to EGP 343.71bn in 2025, from EGP 278.02bn in 2024, representing growth of 23.6 per cent.Net fee and commission income reached EGP 36.60bn in 2025, compared with EGP 26.91bn in 2024, an increase of 36 per cent.Return on average assets (ROAA) stood at 2.02 per cent in 2025, compared with 1.99 per cent in 2024, while Return on Average Equity (ROAE) reached 28.69 per cent, compared with 32.08 per cent over the same period.<h3 data-id="LT8pup">Capacity to absorb a larger business base</h3>As NBE’s operations expanded, the focus shifts to whether its infrastructure and banking channels evolved sufficiently to support that scale.The indicators point to substantial progress. Instant payment transactions through IPN and InstaPay rose to around 717 million in 2025, with a total value of EGP 2.87tn, compared with 333 million transactions worth EGP 1.5tn in 2024 — a 91 per cent increase in value.The bank also expanded its physical payments infrastructure. Its ATM network reached 7,572 machines at end-2025, up from 7,232 a year earlier, while point-of-sale terminals increased to around 758,000 from 633,000.Credit cards reached 1.9 million, while debit cards stood at 8.4 million.That expansion extended beyond digital and payments channels. NBE’s domestic network exceeded 700 branches, offices and banking units, including around 38 electronic service branches, alongside an international presence in Johannesburg, Dubai, Addis Ababa, New York, Shanghai and Riyadh.The expansion of NBE’s business base was matched by a broader operating platform and wider distribution network, strengthening the infrastructure needed to support its scale. This is a key part of assessing leadership at an institution of NBE’s size, even though the available channel comparisons are concentrated mainly in 2024 and 2025.<h3 data-id="e8EhBl">NBE deepens its leadership</h3>Looking across the two-year record, the defining feature of Mohamed El-Etreby’s tenure is not the creation of a leadership position, but the continued development of one built over decades, supported by a broader set of capabilities and operating tools.That growth has been anchored in NBE’s underlying model: a broad customer base, substantial institutional activity, extensive reach, and a steadily expanding banking platform.Seen in this context, the past two years represent less a break with the bank’s long-term trajectory than a further extension of it, adding scale, deepening activity, and strengthening the foundations of its market leadership.El-Etreby’s first two years at NBE should therefore be judged not only by the increase in headline figures but also by the bank’s ability to build on an already dominant position and broaden the platform supporting it.NBE,deposits,Mohamed El-Etreby,Loans,assets,financial position,bank,leadershiphttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13447https://en.firstbankeg.com/13447Attijariwafa delivers strong profitability after five years of growthAttijariwafa bank Egypt recorded a notable improvement in profitability over the past five years, reflected inSun, 11 Oct 2026 12:21:33 +03002026-10-11T12:21:33+03:00Attijariwafa bank Egypt recorded a notable improvement in profitability over the past five years, reflected in stronger returns.The return on average equity (ROAE) of the bank increased to 20.68 per cent in the first half of 2026, compared with 7.96 per cent in the same period of 2021.The return on average assets (ROAA) rose to 1.89 per cent in the first six months of 2026, compared with1.04 per cent in the same period of 2021.The advance in both ratios mainly driven by 571.5 per cent increase in the net profit, which went up by EGP 1.26 bn to reach EGP 1.48 bn in the first six months of 2026, compared to EGP 220.87 mn in the first six months of 2021. However, the growth in the assets and equity of the bank remained moderate.The total assets of the bank increased from EGP 44.13 bn at the end of June 2021 to EGP 159.29 bn at the end of June 2026, representing a growth of 261 per cent within a period of five years.The equity of the shareholders grew by about 156.6 per cent, from EGP 5.59 bn at the end of June 2021 to EGP 14.35 bn at the end of June 2026.The bank’s earnings per share rose 33.6 per cent over the past five years to EGP 26.7 in H1 2026, from EGP 19.98 in the same period of 2021.In general, the performance of Attijariwafa Bank Egypt was impressive during the current year. Assets of the bank reached EGP 159.3 bn at the end of June 2026, compared with EGP 154.9 billion at the end of 2025, which indicates the increase of 2.8 per cent.Deposits of the bank customers increased to EGP 134.2 bn at the end of June 2026, compared with EGP 131.5 bn at the end of 2025, an increase of 2.1 per cent during the first half of 2026.Moreover, loan portfolio of the bank also increased to EGP 80.5 bn at the end of June 2026, compared with EGP 69.3 bn at the end of 2025, which is an increase of 16.1 per cent during the first half of 2026.The net interest income recorded EGP 3.48 bn during the first half of 2026, which was up from EGP 3.33 bn for the corresponding period in the previous year, reflecting growth of 4.3 per cent.On the other hand, the net fees and commissions income increased to EGP 650 mn compared to EGP 569 mn, which is a growth of 14.3 per cent.Net profit amounted to EGP 1.48 bn during the first half of 2026, compared with EGP 1.45 bn in the previous year, indicating a growth of 2.6 per cent.Attijariwafa Bank Egypt,Growth,ROAA,ROAE,returns,five years