FirstBank

FirstBankhttps://en.firstbankeg.com/First digital institution in Egypt for financial and banking ratings arجميع الحقوق محفوظة © 2026 FirstBankMon, 07 Sep 2026 14:22:19 +0200https://en.firstbankeg.com/UserFiles/SiteImages/Logo.pngFirstBankhttps://en.firstbankeg.com/https://en.firstbankeg.com/13345https://en.firstbankeg.com/13345HDB strengthens retail banking position with higher loans, deposits in H1 2026Housing and Development Banks HDB retail banking business recorded strong growth in H1 2026, reflecting its fiMon, 07 Sep 2026 13:58:38 +02002026-09-07T13:58:38+02:00Housing and Development Bank’s (HDB) retail banking business recorded strong growth in H1 2026, reflecting its firm commitment to excellence and meeting customers’ expectations amid an evolving economic environment.In retail lending, this was reflected in the development of smart financing solutions tailored to customers’ changing needs, supported by advanced digital platforms that streamlined financing procedures, helping broaden financial inclusion and improve customer satisfaction.According to the bank’s standalone financial statements, its retail loan portfolio rose by around 11.4 per cent in H1 2026 to EGP 36.69 billion at end-June 2026, compared with EGP 32.93 billion at end-2025.The growth was supported by an increase in personal loans to EGP 20.44 billion at end-June 2026, from EGP 17.36 billion at end-2025, representing half-year growth of 17.7 per cent.Mortgage loans increased by around 3.3 per cent in the first half of this year to EGP 14.89 billion at end-June 2026, compared with EGP 14.42 billion at end-2025.Credit card balances rose to EGP 1.11 billion at end-June 2026, from EGP 765.35 million at end-2025, representing growth of 44.9 per cent, while retail overdrafts stood at EGP 244.13 million at end-June.HDB’s retail segment accounted for around 45 per cent of the bank’s total loan portfolio, which increased to EGP 81.44 billion at end-June, from EGP 65.72 billion at end-2025, representing half-year growth of 23.9 per cent.On deposits, the bank attracted retail deposits through a balanced range of offerings combining security, flexibility and competitive returns, strengthening customer confidence and the sustainability of fund inflows while supporting the bank’s stability and sustainable growth.This was reflected in a roughly 9 per cent increase in retail deposits in H1 2026 to EGP 113.59 billion at end-June 2026, compared with EGP 104.25 billion at end-2025.The retail segment accounted for around 56.2 per cent of the bank’s total deposit portfolio, after HDB’s customer deposits rose to EGP 202.21 billion at end-June 2026, compared with EGP 179.13 billion at end-2025.HDB,deposits,Loans,Retail loan portfolio,Retail bankinghttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13344https://en.firstbankeg.com/13344CIB leads EGX-listed banks in net fee and commission income growthCommercial International Bank-Egypt CIB recorded strong growth in net fee and commission income this year, risMon, 07 Sep 2026 12:44:59 +02002026-09-07T12:44:59+02:00Commercial International Bank-Egypt (CIB) recorded strong growth in net fee and commission income this year, rising 39.7 per cent to around EGP 5.76 billion in H1 2026, compared with EGP 4.12 billion in the corresponding period of 2025.The strong performance pushed the bank to the top of First Bank’s ranking of the fastest-growing banks listed on the Egyptian Exchange (EGX) by net fee and commission income in H1 2026, up from fifth place in the H1 2025 ranking.Alongside the growth in net fee and commission income, the bank delivered a strong performance in the first half of this year, recording net profit of EGP 39.24 billion in H1 2026, compared with EGP 33.41 billion in the same period of 2025, representing growth of 17.4 per cent and a total increase of EGP 5.83 billion.Profit before income tax rose to EGP 54.08 billion in H1 2026, compared with EGP 46.40 billion in the same period of 2025, representing growth of 16.6 per cent.Net interest income increased by around 18.2 per cent to EGP 60.48 billion in H1 2026, compared with EGP 51.15 billion in the corresponding period of 2025.On the financial position, total assets rose 17.1 per cent in H1 2026 to EGP 1.68 trillion at end-June, up from EGP 1.44 trillion at end-2025.Customer deposits increased by around 18 per cent in the first half of this year to EGP 1.30 trillion at end-June 2026, compared with EGP 1.11 trillion at end-2025.The bank’s net loans to customers rose to EGP 591.34 billion at end-June 2026, compared with EGP 503.36 billion at end-2025, representing growth of around 17.5 per cent on a half-year basis.CIB,net fee and commission incomehttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13343https://en.firstbankeg.com/13343Egyptian banks fall in First Bank’s top 100 MENA deposit rankingFirst Banks ranking of the 100 largest banks in the Middle East and North Africa MENA by customer deposits sawMon, 07 Sep 2026 12:02:00 +02002026-09-07T12:02:00+02:00First Bank’s ranking of the 100 largest banks in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) by customer deposits saw notable shifts among Egyptian banks in the first quarter of 2026, with seven of the eight banks included falling in position, while one maintained its ranking.This coincided with the exit of three Egyptian banks from the list, reducing the number of Egyptian banks represented in the ranking to eight, from eleven at end-2025.National Bank of Egypt (NBE) retained eighth place in the MENA region by customer deposits, which totalled USD 111.37bn at end-March 2026.By contrast, the remaining Egyptian banks moved down the ranking, as Banque Misr ranked 19th at end-March 2026, down two places from 17th at end-2025, as the value of its deposits in US dollar terms fell by around 9 per cent quarter-on-quarter to approximately USD 58.02bn, from USD 63.49bn at end-2025.Commercial International Bank – Egypt (CIB) also fell three places to 41st at end-March 2026, from 38th at end-2025, as the value of its deposits in US dollar terms declined by around 4 per cent during the first quarter of the year to approximately USD 22.19bn, from USD 23.17bn.Arab African International Bank (AAIB) dropped eight places to 56th at end-March 2026, from 48th at the end of last year, as the value of its deposits in US dollar terms fell by around 7 per cent during the first quarter of the year to approximately USD 13.42bn, from USD 14.40bn.The decline extended to Banque du Caire, which lost nine places to rank 78th at end-March 2026, from 69th at end-2025, as the value of its deposits in US dollar terms fell by around 7 per cent quarter-on-quarter to USD 7.86bn, from USD 8.41bn.Suez Canal Bank also fell nine places to 93rd at end-March 2026, from 84th at the end of last year, despite the value of its deposits in US dollar terms declining by only around 4 per cent to USD 4.20bn, from USD 4.38bn.Faisal Islamic Bank of Egypt lost seven places to rank 95th at end-March 2026, from 87th at end-2025, as the value of its deposits in US dollar terms declined by around 3 per cent during the first quarter of the year to USD 3.97bn, from USD 4.09bn.Meanwhile, ALEXBANK fell six places to 96th at end-March 2026, from 90th at end-2025, as the value of its deposits in US dollar terms declined by around 5 per cent quarter-on-quarter to USD 3.69bn, from USD 3.89bn.These movements came as Egyptian banks continued to record notable growth in customer deposits in Egyptian pounds.However, the pound’s depreciation of around 4 per cent against the US dollar in the first quarter of 2026 reduced the US dollar value of deposits when converted from the local currency, putting pressure on banks’ positions in the regional ranking despite continued growth in their local-currency deposit portfolios.Accordingly, the decline in Egyptian banks’ positions in the ranking does not reflect a contraction in their domestic deposit base. Rather, it was partly driven by the accounting effect of exchange-rate movements on the US dollar value of deposits, as reflected in the first-quarter 2026 results.First Bank,Egyptian banks,Customer Deposits,MENA,100 largest bankshttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13340https://en.firstbankeg.com/13340CIB maintains credit lead among EGX-listed banks in H1 2026Commercial International Bank Egypt CIB significantly expanded lending during the year, with its total customeSun, 06 Sep 2026 16:21:28 +02002026-09-06T16:21:28+02:00Commercial International Bank – Egypt (CIB) significantly expanded lending during the year, with its total customer loan portfolio increasing by around EGP 89.94bn during the first six months of 2026 to EGP 631.34bn at end-June, from EGP 541.41bn at end-2025.This strong performance placed CIB at the top of First Bank’s ranking of Egyptian Exchange (EGX)-listed banks on the First Bank Credit Competitiveness Index in H1 2026.CIB retained its lead after also ranking first in the 2025 classification, continuing to record the largest absolute increase in its customer loan portfolio among banks listed on the EGX.Overall, CIB delivered a strong performance during the year, with net profit reaching EGP 39.24bn in H1 2026, compared with EGP 33.41bn in the same period of 2025, representing growth of 17.4 per cent and an increase of EGP 5.83bn.Profit before income tax rose to EGP 54.08bn in H1 2026, from EGP 46.40bn in the same period of 2025, representing growth of 16.6 per cent.Net interest income increased by around 18.2 per cent to EGP 60.48bn in H1 2026, from EGP 51.15bn in the corresponding period of 2025.Net fee and commission income jumped to EGP 5.76bn in the first six months of 2026, from EGP 4.12bn in the same period of 2025, representing growth of 39.7 per cent.In terms of the bank’s financial position, total assets increased to EGP 1.68tn at end-June 2026, from EGP 1.44tn at end-2025, representing half-year growth of 17.1 per cent.Customer deposits rose by around 18 per cent during the first half of the year to EGP 1.30tn at end-June 2026, from EGP 1.11tn at end-2025.To view the full ranking, click <a href="https://en.firstbankeg.com/13337">here</a>.CIB,credit competitiveness index,customer loan portfolio,EGX-listed banks,lendinghttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13339https://en.firstbankeg.com/13339AAIB reaps rewards of three years of development under Tamer WaheedArab African International Bank AAIB has undergone a marked shift in its growth trajectory since Tamer Waheed Sun, 06 Sep 2026 15:33:22 +02002026-09-06T15:33:22+02:00Arab African International Bank (AAIB) has undergone a marked shift in its growth trajectory since Tamer Waheed became Vice Chairman and Managing Director in May 2023, as the bank moved to broaden its core business, diversify growth drivers and strengthen operational, financial and risk-management capabilities.During this period, the bank advanced on several fronts in parallel, from strengthening its customer base and growing its main portfolios to expanding credit activity, reinforcing its capital base and improving asset quality and profitability indicators.The results of this strategy became more evident in H1 2026, as the bank’s assets exceeded EGP 1 trillion, while deposits and financing continued to grow at strong rates. At the same time, the NPL ratio fell to its lowest level in a decade, capital adequacy strengthened and the bank recorded the highest quarterly profit in its history.These results reflect more than an expansion in business volumes. They show broad-based improvement across key indicators, as the bank grew its operations while maintaining a strong financial position and improving the efficiency of asset and capital deployment.<h3 data-id="TZxDLd">Sustained expansion across core financial portfolios</h3>The bank’s total assets recorded notable growth during H1 2026, reaching EGP 1.04 trillion at end-June 2026, compared with EGP 955.24 billion at end-2025, representing growth of 9 per cent and an increase of more than EGP 82 billion in just six months.Customer deposits also maintained their upward trajectory, rising to EGP 739.98 billion at end-June 2026 from EGP 687.08 billion at end-2025, representing growth of 8 per cent and an increase of EGP 52.90 billion.Deposit growth was supported by strong performance across customer segments. Retail deposits increased by 9 per cent during H1 2026 to EGP 324.49 billion at end-June, from EGP 296.89 billion at end-2025.Corporate deposits also increased to EGP 415.49 billion at end-June 2026, from EGP 390.19 billion at end-2025, representing half-year growth of 6 per cent.On the credit side, the bank continued to expand its customer loan portfolio at a strong pace, rising to EGP 287.50 billion at end-June 2026 from EGP 240.67 billion at end-2025, representing half-year growth of 19 per cent.Corporate loans were the main driver of this expansion, rising by around 19 per cent to EGP 250.32 billion at end-June 2026, from EGP 209.72 billion at end-2025, including small loans for economic activities.At the same time, the retail loan portfolio recorded strong growth, increasing by 20 per cent during H1 2026 to EGP 37.18 billion at end-June, from EGP 30.96 billion at end-2025.This performance reflects continued expansion in the bank’s core business and credit activity, alongside strong growth in assets and deposits during H1 2026.<h3 data-id="9n2qGN">Strong improvement in financial soundness indicators</h3>The bank strengthened its financial soundness indicators during H1 2026, supported by improved credit portfolio quality and stronger solvency levels alongside continued business growth.The non-performing loan (NPL) ratio declined to 1.15 per cent at end-June 2026 from 2.1 per cent at end-2025, its lowest level in a decade, placing the bank among the five best banks in the Egyptian market in terms of NPL ratio.This improvement is particularly significant given the strong growth in the loan portfolio, reflecting the bank’s ability to expand credit activity while maintaining greater discipline in portfolio quality and risk management.At the capital level, the bank’s capital adequacy ratio stood at 18.50 per cent at end-June 2026, above the 12.5 per cent regulatory minimum set by the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) under Basel requirements, providing a strong capital base to support continued growth and absorb potential risks.The leverage ratio also reached 12.54 per cent at end-June 2026, more than three times the minimum regulatory requirement of 3 per cent, reflecting the strength of the bank’s capital base and its ability to support asset growth while maintaining strong solvency levels.<h3 data-id="Cg8QfA">Strong growth in profitability and returns</h3>As the bank expanded its core business and strengthened asset quality, its financial performance also improved, with profitability rising strongly in H1 2026.The bank recorded net profit of EGP 10.25 billion during H1 2026, compared with EGP 8.09 billion in the corresponding period of 2025, representing growth of 27 per cent and an increase of EGP 2.16 billion.This marked the highest first-half profit in the bank’s history, reflecting strong financial performance during the first six months of the year and continued improvement in its ability to generate higher levels of profitability.The improvement extended to return indicators, with return on average equity rising to 14.08 per cent during H1 2026 from 12.09 per cent in the corresponding period of 2025, an increase of 1.99 percentage points.Return on average assets also increased to 2.06 per cent during H1 2026 from around 1.75 per cent in the same period a year earlier, an increase of 0.31 percentage point.<h3 data-id="VJUM5U">Global recognition of AAIB’s progress</h3>Alongside the strong financial performance recorded during H1 2026, AAIB received notable global recognition during the year through a series of awards covering several key areas of its banking activities.The bank was named Best Bank for Large Corporates in Egypt 2026 by Euromoney and Best Retail Bank – Egypt 2026 at MENA Banking Excellence Awards by MEED, recognising its performance across both corporate and retail banking.The awards also extended to customer experience, banking solutions and corporate social responsibility. World Business Outlook named AAIB Best Customer Experience in Banking, recognised it for Excellence in Corporate Financing Solutions, and awarded it Best CSR Initiative in Banking in Egypt 2026.The bank also received the Best Sustainable Bank and Best Investment Bank in Egypt 2026 awards from World Economic Magazine, extending its international recognition across several areas linked to its business model and diversified services.<h3 data-id="EAPci3">Years of development lay the foundation for a new phase</h3>AAIB’s H1 2026 results point to broad-based improvement across business activity, profitability, asset quality and solvency, providing a stronger foundation for the next phase of its strategy.The bank’s broader core business and strong financial position provide room for further growth, while maintaining asset quality and capital efficiency will remain key to translating that expansion into sustainable gains and strengthening its position in Egypt’s banking market.Arab African International Bank,AAIB,Growth,Tamer Waheed,bankhttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13338https://en.firstbankeg.com/13338EBank strengthens solvency, leverage ratios in H1 2026Export Development Bank of Egypts EBank standalone financial statements for the period ended 30 June 2026 showSun, 06 Sep 2026 13:21:23 +02002026-09-06T13:21:23+02:00Export Development Bank of Egypt’s (EBank) standalone financial statements for the period ended 30 June 2026 showed that the bank’s capital adequacy ratio increased to 17.70 per cent at end-June 2026, from 17.17 per cent at end-2025.The capital adequacy ratio measures the bank’s capital components relative to its risk-weighted assets and contingent liabilities, reflecting the relationship between its capital base and the risks associated with its assets and other operations.It is also a measure of the bank’s solvency, or its ability to meet its obligations and absorb potential future losses, with the aim of protecting the bank, depositors and other creditors.<h3 data-id="rk3rez">EBank’s leverage ratio rises to 10.23% at end-June 2026</h3>The bank’s leverage ratio increased to 10.23 per cent at end-June 2026, from 9.47 per cent at end-2025.The leverage ratio reflects the relationship between Tier 1 capital used in the capital adequacy ratio, after deductions, and the bank’s on- and off-balance-sheet other assets without applying risk weights.The leverage ratio is calculated by dividing Tier 1 capital after deductions by total assets on- and off-balance-sheet without applying risk weights.The stronger leverage ratio came as total Tier 1 capital increased by 16.6 per cent to EGP 25.90 billion at end-June 2026, from EGP 22.21 billion at end-2025.The increase in Tier 1 capital was supported by a 32.4 per cent rise in issued and paid-up capital to EGP 18 billion at end-June 2026, from EGP 13.60 billion at end-2025.Meanwhile, total on- and off-balance-sheet exposures increased to EGP 253.28 billion at end-June 2026, from EGP 234.61 billion at end-2025.Ebank,capital adequacy,leverage ratio,solvencyhttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13336https://en.firstbankeg.com/13336Palestinian banks secure a single place among the Arab world’s 100 largest banksBank of Palestine was the only Palestinian lender to make First Banks ranking of the 100 largest Arab banks atSun, 06 Sep 2026 10:19:36 +02002026-09-06T10:19:36+02:00Bank of Palestine was the only Palestinian lender to make First Bank’s ranking of the 100 largest Arab banks at end-March 2026, placing 71st with total assets of USD 10.90 billion, up 2.4 per cent quarter-on-quarter from USD 10.65 billion at end-2025.Despite the relatively limited weight of the Palestinian banking sector compared with the largest Arab banks, several Palestinian banks secured relatively strong positions outside the top 100, with most improving their rankings during Q1 2026, supported by asset growth.Arab Islamic Bank moved up two places to 111th at end-March 2026, from 113th at end-2025, alongside quarter-on-quarter asset growth of around 1.8 per cent to USD 1.98 billion, from USD 1.94 billion.Palestine Islamic Bank also moved up one place to 113th at end-March, from 114th at end-2025, after its assets increased by around 1.8 per cent quarter-on-quarter to USD 1.82 billion, compared with USD 1.78 billion.Quds Bank advanced one place to 114th, from 115th at end-2025, supported by asset growth of around 5.5 per cent during Q1 2026 to USD 1.76 billion, from USD 1.67 billion.Similarly, The National Bank moved up one place to 115th, from 116th at end-2025, despite a decline of around 2.8 per cent in its assets during the first three months of 2026 to USD 1.44 billion, from USD 1.48 billion.Palestine Investment Bank also rose one place to 117th at end-March 2026, from 118th at end-2025, with its assets edging up 0.77 per cent quarter-on-quarter to USD 890 million, from USD 883 million.Safa Bank advanced one place to 122nd at end-March, from 123rd at end-2025, despite a marginal decline of around 0.98 per cent in its assets to USD 366 million, from USD 370 million.Turning to H1 2026 results, the picture appears more positive in terms of asset growth, with all Palestinian banks covered by the analysis recording increases in their asset bases during the period, indicating continued expansion in the sector despite the challenges facing the local market.Quds Bank led Palestinian banks in asset growth during H1 2026, with its assets rising by around 14.3 per cent to USD 1.91 billion at end-June 2026, making it the fastest-growing bank by assets among the Palestinian banks covered by the analysis.Bank of Palestine also recorded asset growth of 8.8 per cent during H1 2026, taking its total assets to USD 11.59 billion at end-June 2026, reinforcing its position as the largest Palestinian bank by assets and maintaining a wide gap over other local banks.Palestine Islamic Bank’s assets increased by around 7.6 per cent over the same period to USD 1.92 billion, while Arab Islamic Bank recorded growth of 7.5 per cent, taking its assets to USD 2.09 billion at end-June 2026.The National Bank’s assets also grew by around 6.4 per cent during H1 2026 to USD 1.57 billion, while Palestine Investment Bank’s assets rose by around 5.4 per cent to USD 931 million at end-June.Safa Bank also recorded asset growth of around 2.2 per cent during the first half of the year, reaching USD 378 million at end-June 2026.These developments highlight a clear contrast in the Palestinian banking sector. While only one Palestinian bank ranks among the 100 largest Arab banks, most continue to expand their asset bases and improve their regional positions.However, this growth will need to be sustained over several periods before it materially reshapes their standing in the Arab banking rankings, given the wide asset gap with the region’s largest banks.First Bank,assets,largest Arab banks,Palestinian banks,Palestinianhttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13335https://en.firstbankeg.com/13335CIB tops EGX-listed banks on First Bank’s Depositor Confidence Index in H1 2026Commercial International Bank Egypt CIB recorded strong growth in customer deposits during 2026, with the balaThu, 03 Sep 2026 16:12:15 +02002026-09-03T16:12:15+02:00Commercial International Bank – Egypt (CIB) recorded strong growth in customer deposits during 2026, with the balance increasing by around EGP 198.44 billion in the first six months of the year to EGP 1.30 trillion at end-June, from EGP 1.11 trillion at end-2025.This performance placed CIB at the top of First Bank’s Depositor Confidence Index for Egyptian Exchange (EGX)-listed banks in H1 2026.Overall, CIB delivered a strong performance during the year, with net profit rising to EGP 39.24 billion in H1 2026, from EGP 33.41 billion in the same period of 2025, representing growth of 17.4 per cent and an increase of EGP 5.83 billion.Profit before income tax increased to EGP 54.08 billion in H1 2026, from EGP 46.40 billion in the same period of 2025, representing growth of 16.6 per cent.Net interest income rose by around 18.2 per cent to EGP 60.48 billion in H1 2026, from EGP 51.15 billion in the corresponding period of 2025.Net fee and commission income jumped to EGP 5.76 billion in the first six months of 2026, from EGP 4.12 billion in the same period of 2025, representing growth of 39.7 per cent.In terms of financial position, total assets increased to EGP 1.68 trillion at end-June 2026, from EGP 1.44 trillion at end-2025, representing half-year growth of 17.1 per cent.Customer deposits rose by around 18 per cent during the first half of the year to EGP 1.30 trillion at end-June 2026, from EGP 1.11 trillion at end-2025.Net loans to customers increased to EGP 591.34 billion at end-June 2026, from EGP 503.36 billion at end-2025, representing half-year growth of around 17.5 per cent.CIB,EGX,First Bank,Listed Banks,Customer Deposits,Depositor Confidence Indexhttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13334https://en.firstbankeg.com/13334Mahynar MohamedFirst Indicator: QNB Egypt reshapes retail loans as real estate gains groundQNB Egypts financial statements show a relative shift in the composition of its retail loan portfolio over theThu, 03 Sep 2026 14:38:19 +02002026-09-03T14:38:19+02:00Translated & Edited by Aya ElsayedQNB Egypt’s financial statements show a relative shift in the composition of its retail loan portfolio over the past five years, with changes in the weight of its individual components pointing to greater portfolio diversification compared with end-2021.Real estate loans recorded the fastest growth among the portfolio components, rising by around 378.6 per cent over the past five years to EGP 13.62 billion at end-June 2026, from EGP 2.85 billion at end-2021. Their share of the retail loan portfolio consequently increased to 14.81 per cent from 7.84 per cent.This growth increased the importance of real estate lending within the portfolio, making it the second-largest component after personal loans, supported by the bank’s expansion in the segment and participation in several mortgage finance initiatives.Credit cards also recorded strong growth during the period under review, with balances rising by around 182.2 per cent to EGP 3.71 billion at end-June 2026, from EGP 1.31 billion at end-2021. Their share of the total portfolio edged up to 4.03 per cent from 3.62 per cent.Personal loans, meanwhile, retained their position as the largest component of the retail loan portfolio, despite their share declining to 77.42 per cent at end-June 2026 from 79.96 per cent at end-2021. Balances grew by around 145.4 per cent to EGP 71.22 billion, from EGP 29.03 billion.Personal loans also remained the main driver of growth in the retail loan portfolio, increasing by EGP 42.20 billion over the past five years and accounting for around 76 per cent of the total increase in retail loans. The overall portfolio expanded by around EGP 55.70 billion to EGP 92 billion, from EGP 36.30 billion, representing growth of 153.4 per cent.Overdraft balances recorded the largest decline in relative weight among the portfolio components, with their share falling to 3.75 per cent at end-June 2026 from 8.59 per cent at end-2021, making them the smallest component of the portfolio by share.Despite this, overdraft balances increased by around 10.7 per cent during the period under review to EGP 3.45 billion at end-June 2026, from EGP 3.12 billion at end-2021, representing an increase of around EGP 334 million.These shifts point to a clear reshaping of QNB Egypt’s retail loan portfolio over the past five years. Personal loans remained the dominant component, while real estate loans gained significant weight on the back of the fastest growth among portfolio segments. Credit cards also increased their share, while overdrafts declined markedly as a proportion of the portfolio.QNB,Retail loan portfolio,QNB Egypt,Real estate loanshttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13333https://en.firstbankeg.com/13333The Big Numbers Race: JPMorgan Chase vs Bank of America for a global top-five spotJPMorgan Chase has widened its lead over Bank of America across key financial indicators, despite ranking justThu, 03 Sep 2026 12:56:35 +02002026-09-03T12:56:35+02:00JPMorgan Chase has widened its lead over Bank of America across key financial indicators, despite ranking just one place ahead globally, fifth versus sixth.The gap is most evident in balance-sheet scale, growth momentum and profitability, where JPMorgan Chase continues to outperform its rival.The race for a place among the world’s five largest banks depends on more than ranking, with growth, scale and profitability all playing a decisive role.On these measures, June 2026 figures give JPMorgan Chase a clear edge, while Bank of America faces a steeper challenge in narrowing the gap.According to June 2026 data, JPMorgan Chase’s total assets stood at around USD 5.02 trillion, compared with USD 3.50 trillion at Bank of America.JPMorgan Chase also maintained a clear lead in deposits, with its deposit base reaching around USD 2.71 trillion at end-June 2026, compared with around USD 2.03 trillion at Bank of America at the end of the same period.The advantage extended to lending, with JPMorgan Chase’s loan portfolio reaching around USD 1.54 trillion, compared with around USD 1.22 trillion at Bank of America at the end of the same period.However, looking only at the current size of the banks’ main portfolios does not reveal the full picture. Their trajectories over the past three years show how JPMorgan Chase’s advantage has developed into a wider gap.From end-2023 to June 2026, JPMorgan Chase recorded asset growth of 29.4 per cent, compared with just 10 per cent at Bank of America.The gap extended beyond growth rates, with JPMorgan Chase’s asset lead widening from around USD 694.88 billion at end-2023 to USD 1.52 trillion at end-June 2026, reflecting its faster expansion.A similar pattern emerged in deposits. JPMorgan Chase recorded cumulative growth of 13 per cent over the past three years, compared with 5.3 per cent at Bank of America, widening the gap between their deposit bases from around USD 476.86 billion at end-2023 to USD 688.58 billion at end-June 2026.This is particularly significant because deposits are one of the main sources of strength for large banks, not only as an indicator of the breadth of their customer base, but also because they provide capacity to support business expansion and enhance funding flexibility.In lending, the competition was closer in terms of growth rates, as JPMorgan Chase’s loan portfolio grew by 16.5 per cent over the past three years, compared with 15.6 per cent at Bank of America.However, this relatively narrow difference was not enough to reduce the gap. Instead, JPMorgan Chase continued to extend its lead in absolute terms, with the difference between the two loan portfolios widening from around USD 269.97 billion at end-2023 to USD 324.84 billion at end-June 2026.TThis highlights one of JPMorgan Chase’s key strengths: growth from a much larger business base gives it greater capacity to widen the absolute gap even when the two banks post relatively similar growth rates.While growth in the main financial portfolios reflects scale, profitability shows how efficiently that scale is managed. Here, the advantage tilts more clearly towards JPMorgan Chase.The bank recorded net profit of USD 37.65 billion in H1 2026, exceeding Bank of America’s USD 17.66 billion over the same period.JPMorgan Chase also recorded a return on average assets (ROAA) of 1.60 per cent and a return on average equity (ROAE) of 20.43 per cent, compared with 1.02 per cent and 11.69 per cent, respectively, at Bank of America in H1 2026.The profitability gap reflects more than the difference in earnings. It highlights JPMorgan Chase’s stronger ability to deploy its assets and capital and convert its larger business base into higher returns, giving it an advantage beyond balance-sheet scale.Although only one position separates JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America in the global rankings, their performance trajectories show a much wider gap.JPMorgan Chase has strengthened its lead through faster growth in assets and deposits, alongside stronger lending and profit generation, widening the gap over the past three years.Fifth place therefore reflects more than the current ranking; it also points to the strength of the trends behind it. Sustained growth and profitability would help JPMorgan Chase consolidate its position, while Bank of America would need faster expansion across its core businesses indicators to narrow the gap.The gap between the two banks extends well beyond the single position separating them in the global ranking. JPMorgan Chase continues to widen its lead in scale while delivering stronger growth and profitability.Bank of America, meanwhile, would need a meaningful acceleration in business growth to reverse the trend and narrow the gap.If current trends continue, JPMorgan Chase could strengthen its fifth-place position and potentially move higher among the world’s largest banks, while Bank of America’s ability to accelerate growth will remain key to narrowing the gap.Ranking,JPMorgan Chase,Bank of America,top fivehttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13328https://en.firstbankeg.com/13328Shimaa NasserNBK Egypt marks seven years of expansion under Yasser El TayebNational Bank of Kuwait Egypt NBK-Egypt has recorded strong growth across its business base over the seven yeaTue, 01 Sep 2026 14:58:52 +02002026-09-01T14:58:52+02:00Translated & Edited by Aya ElsayedNational Bank of Kuwait – Egypt (NBK-Egypt) has recorded strong growth across its business base over the seven years since Yasser El-Tayeb took over as Vice Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director in August 2019.During his tenure, the bank expanded its assets, loans and deposits, while also achieving greater business diversification, a stronger capital base and consistently high asset quality across its loan portfolios.The bank’s indicators over this period point to an expansion that went beyond growth in scale to encompass its business structure, profitability and funding sources, reflecting a clear evolution in NBK-Egypt’s business model.According to the bank’s financial statements, total assets increased from EGP 64.3 billion at end-2019 to EGP 270.3 billion at end-June 2026, representing growth of 320.2 per cent, while loans rose from EGP 32.3 billion to EGP 148.5 billion over the same period, an increase of 360.1 per cent.As a result, loans as a share of total assets increased from about 50.2 per cent to 54.9 per cent, reflecting the allocation of a larger share of the balance sheet to core banking activities as the bank expanded.The expansion was not limited to growth in the loan portfolio, but also extended to its composition. Retail loans increased from EGP 5.5 billion at end-2019 to EGP 31.7 billion at end-June 2026, growing by 474.6 per cent, while corporate loans rose from EGP 26.8 billion to EGP 116.8 billion over the same period, an increase of 336.5 per cent.As a result of the different growth rates between the two segments, retail loans increased their share of the total portfolio from 17.1 per cent to 21.4 per cent, while the share of corporate loans declined from 82.9 per cent to 78.6 per cent over the period under review. This reflects a gradual expansion of the retail business while corporates remained a core component of the bank’s business model.The quality of the portfolio reinforces the significance of this expansion. The quality of the retail loan portfolio stood at 99.18 per cent at end-June 2026, compared with 99.39 per cent for the corporate loan portfolio.These levels are particularly significant given the strong growth in lending, especially in the retail segment, indicating that the expansion of the portfolio was not accompanied by a material deterioration in asset quality.This trend points to a management approach focused on broadening the bank’s growth base rather than redistributing it. Retail grew at a faster pace and gained a larger presence within the portfolio, but not at the expense of the corporate segment, which remained the largest component of the business.The diversification also extended to the funding base. Retail deposits increased from EGP 31.8 billion at end-2019 to EGP 105.8 billion at end-June 2026, growing by 233 per cent, while corporate deposits rose from EGP 19.8 billion to EGP 99.9 billion over the same period, an increase of 404.9 per cent. As a result, corporate deposits accounted for close to half of the total deposit base at end-June 2026, compared with less than 40 per cent at end-2019.This shift reflects an evolution in both the bank’s business and funding sources. The bank did not expand only the asset side of its balance sheet, but also broadened the customer and funding base supporting that growth, alongside a gradual change in the distribution of components within the balance sheet.<h3 data-id="8PoOI9">Broader base supports earnings quality, profitability</h3>The impact of this expansion was clearly reflected in the bank’s income-generating capacity.Net interest income increased from EGP 3.09 billion in 2019 to EGP 13.74 billion in 2025, representing growth of 344.5 per cent, while net income from fees and commissions rose from EGP 506.9 million to EGP 1.87 billion, an increase of 268.4 per cent over the same period.This was reflected in net profit, which increased from EGP 2.17 billion in 2019 to EGP 8.09 billion in 2025, representing growth of 273 per cent. At the same time, Return on Average Assets (ROAA) improved from 3.1 per cent to 3.8 per cent, while Return on Average Equity (ROAE) rose from 30.2 per cent to 30.7 per cent over the same period.The significance of these indicators lies in the relationship between growth and the preservation of productivity. As assets expanded to more than four times their 2019 level, ROAA did not decline but instead improved, while ROAE remained at a high level.This reflects management’s ability to translate growth in the business base into profitability rather than merely achieving expansion in scale.At the same time, business growth was accompanied by an expansion in the capital base. Shareholders’ equity increased from EGP 8.01 billion at end-2019 to EGP 33.08 billion at end-June 2026, representing growth of 313 per cent.Despite this substantial increase, the equity-to-assets ratio remained relatively stable at 12.2 per cent at end-June 2026, compared with 12.5 per cent at end-2019, reflecting growth in the capital base alongside balance-sheet expansion without a material change in the contribution of equity to asset funding.<h3 data-id="j3WhVO">2026: A new phase in the growth trajectory</h3>The first-half 2026 results reflect the strength of the trajectory built over the seven-year period. The bank recorded net profit of EGP 4.22 billion, net interest income of EGP 7.24 billion and net income from fees and commissions of EGP 994.2 million, while ROAA stood at 3.4 per cent and ROAE at 26.7 per cent.The seven years under Yasser El-Tayeb’s leadership therefore point to a transformation in NBK-Egypt’s capabilities that goes beyond an increase in the bank’s scale.The bank's asset base expanded, the loan mix shifted as retail grew at a faster pace, the capital base strengthened and its ability to generate income and profitability increased, while maintaining high levels of quality across its loan portfolios.The outcome suggests that management’s mark over the period was not to change the bank’s identity, but rather to expand its capacity to operate and grow within its core business model, while adding new growth engines and preserving its existing strengths.As the bank reaches this scale, the nature of the management challenge in the next phase is changing.The priority is no longer to build scale at the same pace, but to maximise returns from the base already established, maintain asset quality, improve capital efficiency and develop income sources in a way that supports continued and sustainable profitability growth.NBK-Egypt,bank,Yasser El-Tayeb,business base,seven yearshttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13327https://en.firstbankeg.com/13327NBE vs Standard Bank: Will June 2026 results redraw Africa’s banking landscape? The competition for Africas top banking position is back in focus between South Africas Standard Bank Group anTue, 01 Sep 2026 12:54:56 +02002026-09-01T12:54:00+02:00The competition for Africa’s top banking position is back in focus between South Africa’s Standard Bank Group and the National Bank of Egypt (NBE), after the lead shifted between the two over recent years. After NBE held the top position through the end of 2022, Standard Bank Group subsequently moved into first place, in a shift driven not only by changes in asset size but also by the sharp movements in the Egyptian pound and South African rand against the US dollar. The comparison between the two banks is particularly significant given the different reporting dates of their latest available data.  NBE’s most recently published figures showed total assets equivalent to USD 186.67 billion at end-September 2025, while Standard Bank Group’s assets stood at about USD 232.27 billion at end-June 2026. Although NBE republished several financial indicators for the period ended June in August 2026, including deposits, retail financing and retail deposits, the figures did not include total assets. This leaves the latest comparison incomplete, as NBE’s most recent available asset figure dates to September 2025, while Standard Bank Group’s is for June 2026. The apparent gap between the two banks therefore cannot be regarded as a definitive indication of their current positions, as nine months separate NBE’s latest disclosed asset figure from the data available for Standard Bank Group. The disclosure of NBE’s total assets at end-June 2026 therefore becomes the key missing piece needed to complete the comparison and determine the actual gap between Africa’s two largest banks. Exchange rates are a key factor in explaining the shift in the two banks’ positions over recent years, particularly when their assets are compared in US dollar terms.  NBE continued to expand its assets in local-currency terms, but the sharp depreciation of the Egyptian pound reduced the dollar value of that growth, limiting the extent to which its domestic expansion was reflected in its ranking when comparisons were made in US dollars. The movements of the two currencies illustrate the scale of this impact. The US dollar rose about 98.5 per cent against the Egyptian pound between end-2022 and end-June 2026, meaning that assets denominated in Egyptian pounds would need to grow substantially to offset the impact of the currency’s depreciation when converted into US dollars. By contrast, the South African rand appreciated by about 3.4 per cent against the US dollar over the same period, allowing the dollar value of Standard Bank Group’s assets to move in a more supportive currency environment than that of NBE and strengthening the group’s position in US dollar-based rankings and comparisons. Africa’s banking leadership landscape therefore reflects not only the scale of each bank’s domestic growth, but also the impact of exchange-rate movements when their assets are converted into US dollars. This helps explain the shift in the top position from NBE to Standard Bank Group, despite NBE’s continued strong expansion in the Egyptian market. With NBE’s full June 2026 financial data expected soon, banking and financial circles are awaiting a clearer picture of Africa’s banking leadership based on the latest available figures for both banks.  The data will show the current gap and whether Standard Bank Group retains the top position, or NBE’s recent asset growth narrows the gap between Africa’s two largest banks.  NBE,Africa,Standard Bank Group,South Africa,competitionhttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13326https://en.firstbankeg.com/13326Mahynar MohamedCIB tops major Arab banks with 29.74% ROAE in Q1 2026Commercial International Bank Egypt CIB topped First Banks ranking of return on average equity ROAE among majoMon, 31 Aug 2026 15:42:29 +02002026-08-31T15:42:29+02:00Translated & Edited by Aya ElsayedCommercial International Bank – Egypt (CIB) topped First Bank’s ranking of return on average equity (ROAE) among major Arab banks, with ROAE of 29.74 per cent in Q1 2026.The result was supported by net profit of USD 325 million, reflecting the bank’s efficiency and ability to generate strong returns on shareholders’ equity.The ranking tracks ROAE among major Arab banks, defined by FirstBank’s Rankings Centre as banks with total assets exceeding USD 15 billion.CIB maintained its positive momentum in H1 2026, with ROAE rising to 33.13 per cent alongside net profit of USD 799 million.The bank delivered strong performance across its key financial indicators in H1 2026, continuing to expand its balance sheet. Total assets rose 13.7 per cent in the first six months of the year to USD 34.24 billion at end-June 2026 from USD 30.11 billion at end-2025.Its loan portfolio grew at a faster pace, rising 15.5 per cent over the same period to USD 13.02 billion at end-June 2026 from USD 11.27 billion at end-2025.Growth was not limited to assets and lending, as customer deposits also increased 14.5 per cent in H1 2026 to USD 26.54 billion at end-June from USD 23.17 billion at end-2025.On profitability, CIB reported net profit of USD 799 million in H1 2026, compared with USD 674 million in H1 2025, representing growth of 18.6 per cent.Net interest income rose 19.4 per cent to USD 1.23 billion in the first six months of 2026 from USD 1.03 billion in the same period of 2025.Net fee and commission income increased 41 per cent to USD 117 million in H1 2026 from USD 83 million in the same period of 2025.CIB’s position at the top of the ranking reflects its ability to deploy its shareholders’ equity base efficiently and translate it into strong profits, reinforcing its position as one of the leading examples of profitability and efficiency among major Arab banks.CIB,First Bank,Ranking,Arab banks,ROAEhttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13325https://en.firstbankeg.com/13325Mahynar MohamedQNB retains lead among MENA’s top banks by customer depositsQatar National Bank QNB Group topped First Banks latest ranking of MENAs top 100 banks by customer deposits atMon, 31 Aug 2026 15:02:44 +02002026-08-31T15:02:44+02:00Translated & Edited by Aya ElsayedQatar National Bank (QNB) Group topped First Bank’s latest ranking of MENA’s top 100 banks by customer deposits at end-March 2026, with its deposit portfolio reaching about USD 267.2 billion.The group continued to expand its customer deposit base in H1 2026, reaching USD 267.02 billion at end-June, compared with USD 261.40 billion at end-2025, representing growth of 2.15 per cent.Overall, QNB Group recorded strong performance in H1 2026, with total assets rising 3.69 per cent to USD 394.72 billion at end-June from USD 380.67 billion at end-2025.Its loan portfolio also increased, rising 2.67 per cent in H1 2026 to USD 285.99 billion at end-June from USD 278.54 billion at end-2025.On profitability, net profit reached about USD 2.43 billion in H1 2026, compared with USD 2.35 billion in the same period of 2025, representing growth of 3.37 per cent.Profit before income tax rose 6.41 per cent to USD 3.16 billion in H1 2026 from USD 2.97 billion in the same period of 2025.Net interest income increased 9.47 per cent to USD 5.19 billion in the first six months of 2026, compared with USD 4.74 billion in H1 2025.Net fee and commission income also rose to about USD 788 million in H1 2026 from USD 668 million in the same period of 2025, representing growth of 18 per cent.QNB,First Bank,Ranking,Customer Deposits,Top 100 Banks,MENAhttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13324https://en.firstbankeg.com/13324The Big Numbers Race: Mashreq, ADIB compete for UAE top-five statusMashreq and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank ADIB are among the most prominent players in this competition, given their Mon, 31 Aug 2026 13:58:10 +02002026-08-31T13:58:10+02:00Competition among UAE banks continues to shape the market landscape, amid differences in business scale and growth rates across banking activities.Mashreq and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB) are among the most prominent players in this competition, given their relatively close size and differing performance across several key financial indicators.According to June 2026 data, Mashreq ranks fifth among UAE banks, while ADIB ranks sixth.In terms of financial position, Mashreq’s total assets reached about USD 99.59 billion at end-June 2026, compared with USD 82.75 billion at ADIB.In deposits, ADIB maintained its lead, with deposits reaching about USD 66.89 billion at end-June 2026, compared with USD 61.86 billion at Mashreq.Mashreq, meanwhile, held the advantage in financing activity, with its portfolio reaching USD 62.93 billion at end-June 2026, compared with USD 58.34 billion at ADIB.While the June 2026 figures reflect the current balance of competition, understanding how this position developed requires examining growth trends in recent years. Both banks have expanded strongly since end-2022, although growth rates have differed across banking activities.Mashreq’s total assets grew 84 per cent over the period, compared with 80.3 per cent at ADIB. This widened the asset gap between the two banks to USD 16.84 billion at end-June 2026 from USD 8.24 billion at end-2022, reflecting Mashreq’s stronger position in terms of total assets.In deposits, Mashreq recorded growth of 99.6 per cent over the past three years, compared with 77.8 per cent at ADIB over the same period.Although ADIB continued to hold the larger deposit base, Mashreq’s faster growth helped narrow the gap between the two banks to USD 5.03 billion at end-June 2026 from USD 6.63 billion at end-2022, reflecting the faster pace of its expansion in this activity.In financing, Mashreq recorded growth of 156 per cent over the past three years, compared with 90.9 per cent at ADIB. This enabled Mashreq to overtake ADIB in the size of its financing portfolio after trailing it at end-2022, with the gap reaching USD 4.60 billion in Mashreq’s favour at end-June 2026.On profitability, Mashreq reported net profit of USD 1.10 billion in H1 2026, with return on average assets (ROAA) of 2.31 per cent and return on average equity (ROAE) of 19.13 per cent.ADIB, meanwhile, reported net profit of USD 1.02 billion in H1 2026, with ROAA of 2.57 per cent and ROAE of 23.22 per cent, reflecting higher efficiency in generating returns on assets and shareholders’ equity.On the capital side, ADIB continued to maintain a larger capital base, with capital reaching USD 988.92 million at end-June 2026, compared with USD 546.22 million at Mashreq.These indicators point to a relatively balanced competitive position between the two banks, with each holding an advantage across different key financial measures.Mashreq strengthened its position through a larger asset base, overtaking ADIB in financing activity and recording higher net profit in H1 2026, while ADIB continued to lead in deposits and recorded higher returns on average assets and average equity.The balance of competition between the two banks will therefore remain linked to each bank’s ability to strengthen its areas of advantage and translate them into sustainable growth, potentially reshaping the competitive landscape between them in the coming years.ADIB,assets,the Big Numbers Race,Mashreq,UAE bankshttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13320https://en.firstbankeg.com/13320Mahynar MohamedFirst Bank tracks 10 largest Gulf banks by loans at end-June 2026Sun, 30 Aug 2026 16:43:17 +02002026-08-30T16:44:00+02:00The 10 largest Arab banks by loans at end-June 2026 remained unchanged in terms of the banks included, although several positions shifted as relatively small differences in growth reshaped the ranking. FirstBank tracks the 10 largest Gulf banks by loans, analysing changes in their positions and portfolio growth compared with end-2025.Qatar National Bank (QNB) retained the top spot as the largest Gulf bank by loans, with its portfolio rising 2.7 per cent in H1 2026 to about USD 285.99 billion at end-June from USD 278.54 billion at end-2025.Emirates NBD, meanwhile, climbed two places to second, supported by strong growth in its loan portfolio. Loans rose 17.9 per cent in H1 2026 to USD 203.22 billion at end-June from USD 172.31 billion at end-2025, the fastest growth rate among the top 10 banks.The increase enabled Emirates NBD to overtake Al Rajhi Bank, which slipped one place to third after its loan portfolio recorded limited growth of 1.1 per cent in H1 2026. The portfolio reached USD 202.84 billion at end-June, up from USD 200.69 billion at end-2025.Saudi National Bank also fell one place to fourth, with its loan portfolio rising 1.2 per cent in H1 2026 to USD 196.84 billion at end-June from USD 194.44 billion at end-2025.First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), meanwhile, retained fifth place after its loan portfolio grew 7.3 per cent in H1 2026 to about USD 180.03 billion at end-June from USD 167.81 billion at end-2025.Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) remained sixth, with its loan portfolio reaching USD 121.05 billion at end-June 2026 from USD 110.53 billion at end-2025, an increase of 9.5 per cent in H1 2026.Riyad Bank retained seventh place after its loan portfolio rose 1 per cent in the first six months of 2026 to about USD 100.51 billion at end-June from USD 99.53 billion at end-2025.National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) remained eighth, with its loan portfolio increasing 3.6 per cent in H1 2026 to about USD 90.19 billion at end-June from USD 87.09 billion at end-2025.Saudi Awwal Bank (SAB) retained ninth place after its loan portfolio grew 7 per cent in H1 2026 to about USD 85.22 billion at end-June from USD 79.62 billion at end-2025.Dubai Islamic Bank rounded out the ranking of the 10 largest Gulf banks by customer loans, retaining 10th place as its portfolio rose 7.2 per cent in H1 2026 to USD 76.51 billion at end-June from USD 71.35 billion at end-2025.https://en.firstbankeg.com/13319https://en.firstbankeg.com/13319Mahynar MohamedSNB regains Saudi deposit crown from Al Rajhi after nine monthsSaudi National Bank SNB regained the lead in Saudi Arabias deposit market at end-June 2026, after nine consSun, 30 Aug 2026 16:39:04 +02002026-08-30T16:41:00+02:00Saudi National Bank (SNB) regained the lead in Saudi Arabia’s deposit market at end-June 2026, after nine consecutive months in which Al Rajhi Bank held the top position following its move into first place at end-September 2025, according to a recent analysis by First Bank’s Research Centre.The shift reflects the continuing change in the competitive balance between the kingdom’s two largest banking institutions.According to the banks’ consolidated financial statements, SNB’s customer deposits rose to USD 185.82 billion at end-June 2026 from USD 169.59 billion at end-2025, representing growth of 9.6 per cent in H1 2026.By comparison, Al Rajhi Bank’s customer deposits increased to USD 183.21 billion at end-June 2026 from about USD 177.91 billion at end-2025, up 3 per cent over the same period.The results show that the change at the top was not driven by a decline in Al Rajhi Bank’s deposit base, but by the widening gap between the two banks’ growth rates during the first half of the year.While Al Rajhi Bank continued to record positive deposit growth, SNB accelerated its deposit mobilisation at a rate more than three times that of its rival, allowing it to close the gap and regain first place within six months.This reflects a shift in the nature of competition in Saudi Arabia’s deposit market. Maintaining a larger deposit base is no longer sufficient to secure the leading position, while the ability to achieve faster growth and attract new deposit inflows has become increasingly influential in reshaping the rankings among the kingdom’s largest banks.The development comes amid intense competition between the two banks over the past five years. SNB had long been Saudi Arabia’s largest bank by customer deposits before Al Rajhi Bank took first place for the first time in its history during 2024, marking the start of a new phase characterised by an unprecedented narrowing of the gap between their deposit bases and repeated changes in leadership.Since then, neither bank has maintained a stable lead, with the top position shifting according to differences in deposit growth during each financial period. After Al Rajhi Bank first moved into first place, SNB regained the lead at end-June 2025. Al Rajhi Bank then returned to the top at end-September of the same year and held the position for nine consecutive months, before SNB regained it once again at end-June 2026.This pattern confirms that competition between the two banks has entered a more dynamic phase than in previous years. The gap between them has become extremely narrow, meaning that even a relatively small difference in deposit growth over a single financial period can reshape the leadership of the market.Despite SNB’s return to first place, the competition remains open, as the gap between the two banks stood at just USD 2.61 billion at end-June 2026, a very narrow margin relative to the size of their respective deposit bases. This suggests that leadership of Saudi Arabia’s deposit market will continue to depend on each bank’s ability to maintain growth momentum and attract further deposits in the coming periods.https://en.firstbankeg.com/13318https://en.firstbankeg.com/13318Mahynar MohamedFirstBank tracks the 10 largest Gulf banks by deposits at end-June 2026Sun, 30 Aug 2026 16:36:11 +02002026-08-30T16:37:00+02:00H1 2026 results point to a shift in the competitive dynamics among Gulf banks. While the same 10 banks remained in the ranking, differences in customer deposit growth reshuffled several positions, changing the order within the group without altering its composition.The movements suggest that maintaining a leading position now depends not only on the size of a bank’s deposit base, but also on how quickly it grows relative to competitors. With deposit balances relatively close across several of the top 10 banks, differences in growth rates became the main factor reshaping the ranking during H1 2026.Against this backdrop, FirstBank tracks the 10 largest Gulf banks by customer deposits at end-June 2026, analysing changes in their positions and deposit balances compared with end-2025.Qatar National Bank retained the top spot after customer deposits rose 2.1 per cent to USD 267.02 billion at end-June 2026 from USD 261.40 billion at end-2025, maintaining the largest deposit base among Gulf banks.Emirates NBD climbed two places to second, supported by the fastest customer deposit growth among the top 10 banks. Deposits rose 13.5 per cent to USD 242.89 billion at end-June 2026 from USD 214.01 billion at end-2025, enabling the bank to overtake First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB).FAB, meanwhile, slipped to third despite customer deposits rising to USD 232.25 billion at end-June 2026 from USD 228.92 billion at end-2025. Its 1.5 per cent growth rate was the slowest among the top 10 and was not enough to retain second place.Saudi National Bank (SNB) rose to fourth from fifth, supported by a 9.6 per cent increase in customer deposits to USD 185.82 billion at end-June 2026 from USD 169.59 billion at end-2025.Al Rajhi Bank, by contrast, fell to fifth despite customer deposits rising 3 per cent to USD 183.21 billion at end-June 2026 from USD 177.91 billion at end-2025. The increase was not enough to preserve its previous position given the stronger growth recorded by SNB.Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) retained sixth place after customer deposits rose 5.4 per cent to USD 143.39 billion at end-June 2026 from USD 136.07 billion at end-2025.Riyad Bank also held seventh place, with customer deposits increasing 4.8 per cent to USD 92.69 billion at end-June 2026 from USD 88.44 billion at end-2025.Saudi Awwal Bank (SAB) climbed to eighth from ninth after customer deposits rose 5.7 per cent to USD 91.07 billion at end-June 2026 from USD 86.19 billion at end-2025, allowing it to move ahead of Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB).DIB slipped to ninth despite customer deposits rising 2.1 per cent to USD 89.03 billion at end-June 2026 from USD 87.18 billion at end-2025. The pace of growth was not enough to maintain its previous position.National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) rounded out the ranking, retaining 10th place after customer deposits rose 3.6 per cent to USD 87.74 billion at end-June 2026 from USD 84.65 billion at end-2025.The results show that competition among the largest Gulf banks is increasingly being shaped by the pace of deposit growth rather than deposit size alone. With the top 10 unchanged, differences in growth rates became the main driver of shifts in ranking, underscoring that maintaining a leading position depends not only on the scale of the deposit base but also on the ability to expand it faster than competitorshttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13317https://en.firstbankeg.com/13317Mahynar MohamedFirstBank ranks the 10 largest Arab banks by assets at end-June 2026Sun, 30 Aug 2026 16:31:16 +02002026-08-30T16:31:16+02:00The 10 largest Arab banks remained unchanged, although several members shifted positions as relatively narrow gaps in asset size meant that modest differences in growth were enough to reshape the ranking.H1 2026 data show that competition at the top of the Arab banking sector has become increasingly sensitive to differences in growth rates. Qatar National Bank (QNB) regained first place after its assets rose 3.7 per cent, or USD 14.05 billion, to USD 394.72 billion at end-June 2026 from USD 380.67 billion at end-2025.QNB’s return to the top pushed First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) into second place.FAB recorded more moderate asset growth of just 0.4 per cent, adding USD 1.34 billion over the same period to reach USD 383.57 billion at end-June 2026, compared with USD 382.23 billion at end-2025. The slower pace of growth was not enough to preserve its lead against a faster-growing rival.Emirates NBD recorded the fastest asset growth among the 10 largest banks, with assets rising 13.6 per cent, or USD 43.04 billion, during the first six months of 2026. Its assets reached USD 360.08 billion at end-June, up from USD 317.04 billion at end-2025, lifting the bank from fourth to third place.As a result, Saudi National Bank (SNB) slipped to fourth place at end-June 2026 from third at end-2025, despite recording asset growth of about 2.7 per cent. Its assets increased by USD 8.67 billion to USD 331.28 billion from USD 322.61 billion, but the pace of growth was slower than that recorded by Emirates NBD.Al Rajhi Bank remained fifth, with total assets reaching USD 280.73 billion at end-June 2026 from USD 278.15 billion at end-2025, representing growth of 0.93 per cent and an increase of USD 2.59 billion in H1 2026.Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) retained sixth place, with assets rising to USD 226.86 billion at end-June 2026 from USD 210.64 billion at end-2025, up 7.7 per cent or USD 16.21 billion over the period.National Bank of Egypt (NBE) also remained seventh, with total assets of USD 197.98 billion at end-June 2026.National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) retained eighth place after its assets reached USD 150.16 billion at end-June 2026, compared with USD 148.14 billion at end-2025, representing growth of 1.4 per cent and an increase of USD 2.01 billion in H1 2026.The final two positions saw Riyad Bank and Kuwait Finance House (KFH) exchange places. Riyad Bank moved up to ninth at end-June 2026 after its assets increased 2.6 per cent, or USD 3.53 billion, to USD 142.03 billion from USD 138.50 billion at end-2025.By contrast, KFH slipped to tenth after its assets declined 1.3 per cent in H1 2026 to USD 137.11 billion from USD 138.88 billion at end-2025.These movements show that competition among the largest Arab banks is no longer determined solely by the absolute size of their asset bases, but increasingly by the pace of growth. With asset levels among the region’s largest banks relatively close, even modest differences in performance can produce clear changes in ranking.https://en.firstbankeg.com/13315https://en.firstbankeg.com/13315Mahynar MohamedFirst Indicator: Major banks drive Arab banking sector growth, top 10 capture 74% of asset increaseSun, 30 Aug 2026 16:26:31 +02002026-08-30T16:26:31+02:00Growth rates alone do not tell the full story of expansion in the Arab banking sector, particularly when growth is measured by the absolute increase in assets.While some mid-sized and emerging banks may record high growth rates, the much larger asset bases of major banks mean that even relatively modest percentage increases can translate into substantial gains in absolute terms, allowing them to drive sector growth and preserve their relative weight.Data from First Bank’s ranking of the 100 largest Arab banks at end-March 2026 confirm this trend. Asset growth across the 100 banks was not evenly distributed, with the largest institutions accounting for the bulk of the increase recorded during Q1 2026.The 10 largest Arab banks added about USD 52 billion to their assets during Q1 2026, accounting for around 74 per cent of the total increase recorded by the top 100 banks, which stood at about USD 70 billion.As a result, total assets across the ranking rose to USD 5.05 trillion at end-March 2026 from USD 4.97 trillion at end-2025.This performance also lifted the top 10 banks’ share of the combined assets of the 100 largest Arab banks to around 51 per cent at end-March 2026 from 50 per cent at end-2025, reflecting the continued concentration of financial strength among a limited number of major banking institutions.Although the composition of the top 10 remained unchanged, competition within the group remained active. Q1 2026 saw limited shifts in the rankings of several banks, driven by relatively small differences in asset portfolios and the increases recorded during the period, without any new entrants or exits.Emirates NBD climbed to third from fourth at end-2025 after adding about USD 14.20 billion to its assets, which rose to USD 331.24 billion at end-March 2026 from USD 317.04 billion at end-2025.The bank overtook Saudi National Bank, which slipped to fourth from third after adding just USD 4.73 billion in Q1 2026, taking its assets to USD 327.34 billion at end-March from USD 322.61 billion at end-2025.Riyad Bank also rose to ninth from 10th after adding USD 4.61 billion to its assets, which reached USD 143.11 billion at end-March 2026 from USD 138.50 billion at end-2025.It moved ahead of Kuwait Finance House (KFH), which fell to 10th from ninth despite adding about USD 3 billion to its assets, taking the total to USD 141.87 billion at end-March 2026 from USD 138.88 billion at end-2025.These movements reflect the relatively close asset sizes of several major banks, making their rankings more sensitive to differences in the absolute increases recorded across reporting periods.https://en.firstbankeg.com/13314https://en.firstbankeg.com/13314AAIB leads banks operating in Egypt in retail deposits over three yearsArab African International Banks AAIB retail deposit portfolio recorded strong growth over the past three yearSun, 30 Aug 2026 14:30:18 +02002026-08-30T14:30:18+02:00Arab African International Bank’s (AAIB) retail deposit portfolio recorded strong growth over the past three years, rising at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 59.74 per cent to EGP 296.89 billion at end-2025 from EGP 72.84 billion at end-2022.This strong performance pushed the bank to the top of First Bank’s ranking of the fastest-growing banks operating in Egypt by retail deposits over the three-year period from 2022 to 2025.The bank’s retail deposits continued to grow during the current year, reaching EGP 322.43 billion at end-March 2026.Overall, AAIB recorded strong performance during the current year, reporting net profit of EGP 4.6 billion in Q1 2026, compared with EGP 3.2 billion in the corresponding period of 2025.Net interest income reached EGP 8 billion in the first three months of the year, amid continued strong growth across the bank’s operating activities.The bank’s total assets rose to EGP 1.04 trillion at end-March 2026, while its total loan portfolio reached about EGP 255.9 billion, comprising EGP 221 billion in corporate loans and EGP 34.9 billion in retail loans.Total deposits reached EGP 733 billion at end-March 2026, including EGP 322 billion in retail deposits and EGP 411 billion in corporate deposits.AAIB,First Bank,Banks,retail deposithttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13313https://en.firstbankeg.com/13313Amr El-Shafei lifts Emirates NBD Egypt deposits by over EGP 100bn in four yearsSun, 30 Aug 2026 14:07:39 +02002026-08-30T14:07:39+02:00Emirates NBD Egypt has entered a new phase of growth and expansion since Amr El-Shafei, chief executive officer and managing director, assumed executive leadership in February 2023.During the period under review, the bank recorded strong growth across its financial indicators over a relatively short period, supported by an integrated strategy aimed at improving operational efficiency, diversifying income sources and providing innovative banking solutions, strengthening Emirates NBD Egypt’s position among banks operating in Egypt.Emirates NBD Egypt’s total customer deposits jumped 125.4 per cent under El-Shafei’s leadership, reaching EGP 192.04 billion at end-June 2026 from EGP 85.22 billion at end-2022, an increase of EGP 106.82 billion.The strong increase in total customer deposits was driven by substantial growth in retail deposits, which surged 197.3 per cent to EGP 80.11 billion at end-June 2026 from EGP 26.95 billion at end-2022, an increase of EGP 53.16 billion.This growth increased the share of retail deposits in total customer deposits to 41.7 per cent at end-June 2026 from 31.6 per cent at end-2022.Corporate deposits accounted for 58.3 per cent of total customer deposits at end-June 2026, after growing 92.1 per cent over the period. The portfolio increased by EGP 53.66 billion to EGP 111.93 billion at end-June 2026 from EGP 58.27 billion at end-2022.Retail deposits therefore grew faster than corporate deposits over the period and recorded a larger percentage increase, reflecting a shift in the deposit mix towards retail customers, while corporate deposits remained the bank’s main source of funding.Overall, El-Shafei’s tenure was accompanied by strong growth across the bank’s financial indicators in H1 2026. Net profit rose 9.6 per cent to EGP 3.31 billion in the first half of 2026 from EGP 3.02 billion in the corresponding period of 2025.Profit before tax increased 16.9 per cent to EGP 5.13 billion in H1 2026 from EGP 4.39 billion in the same period of 2025.Net interest income rose to EGP 7.55 billion in H1 2026 from EGP 6.09 billion a year earlier, representing growth of about 24 per cent.Net fees and commission income edged up 0.6 per cent to EGP 923.56 million in H1 2026 from EGP 918.46 million in the corresponding period of 2025.On the financial position side, total assets jumped to EGP 247.63 billion at end-June 2026 from EGP 207.53 billion at end-2025, representing growth of 19.3 per cent in the first half of the year.Total loans and facilities to customers also grew 19.3 per cent in H1 2026 to EGP 114.01 billion at end-June from EGP 95.57 billion at end-2025.In terms of asset quality, the non-performing loan ratio declined to 3.40 per cent at end-June 2026 from 4.01 per cent at end-2025, a decrease of 61 basis points, reflecting the effectiveness of the bank’s credit risk management.retail deposits,Growth,Emirates NBD Egypt,Customer Deposits,Amr El-Shafeihttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13309https://en.firstbankeg.com/13309The Big Numbers Race: Emirates Islamic, Dukhan Bank renew battle for Arab world’s Islamic top 10Emirates Islamic Bank has reshaped its competition with Dukhan Bank in recent years, as faster growth enabled Wed, 26 Aug 2026 15:21:59 +02002026-08-26T15:22:59+02:00Emirates Islamic Bank has reshaped the competitive landscape with Dukhan Bank in recent years, as faster growth enabled the UAE lender to overtake its Qatari rival while also outperforming it on profitability and return indicators.According to June 2026 data, Emirates Islamic ranks 10th among Islamic banks in the Arab world by total assets, while Dukhan Bank ranks 11th.Based on the two banks’ consolidated financial statements, Emirates Islamic’s total assets reached about USD 41.88 billion at end-June 2026, compared with USD 35.46 billion for Dukhan Bank, reflecting the UAE bank’s larger scale of operations and balance sheet.The advantage extended to deposits, with Emirates Islamic reporting USD 30.11 billion at end-June 2026, compared with USD 25.79 billion at Dukhan Bank, reflecting its greater capacity to attract liquidity and expand the funding base supporting business growth.In financing activity, Emirates Islamic’s net customer financing reached USD 26.39 billion at end-June 2026, compared with USD 26 billion at Dukhan Bank, leaving the UAE bank slightly ahead in loans alongside its broader funding base.The competitive shift becomes clearer when tracking the two banks’ performance from end-2022 to June 2026. Emirates Islamic recorded total asset growth of 105.7 per cent over the period, compared with 21.4 per cent at Dukhan Bank.The wide difference in growth rates changed the balance of competition between the two banks, with Emirates Islamic overtaking its Qatari rival at end-2025 and widening the asset gap to USD 6.43 billion by end-June 2026.Deposits at Emirates Islamic grew 96.2 per cent over the same period, compared with 25.9 per cent at Dukhan Bank. This also enabled the UAE bank to overtake its rival at end-2025, with the gap widening to USD 4.32 billion at end-June 2026.This indicates that Emirates Islamic’s advance was not driven by asset expansion alone, but was accompanied by strong deposit growth, strengthening the funding base available to support further expansion.A similar pattern emerged in financing activity, as Emirates Islamic recorded 100.3 per cent growth in net customer financing over the same period, compared with 25 per cent at Dukhan Bank, allowing it to overtake its rival at end-2025 before widening the gap to about USD 392.58 million at end-June 2026.This reflects growth moving from the funding side to asset deployment, with the bank converting the expansion in its funding base into tangible growth in financing activity.The stronger operating performance was also reflected in profitability. Emirates Islamic reported net profit of USD 466.73 million in H1 2026, compared with USD 223.07 million at Dukhan Bank, extending its advantage from scale and growth indicators to profit generation.Emirates Islamic also held an advantage in asset utilisation efficiency, recording return on average assets (ROAA) of 2.29 per cent in H1 2026, compared with 1.29 per cent at Dukhan Bank, reflecting higher efficiency in generating returns from its asset base.Return on average equity (ROAE) at Emirates Islamic reached 20.10 per cent, compared with 10.58 per cent at Dukhan Bank in H1 2026, indicating that the gap extends beyond business scale to the bank’s ability to generate higher returns for shareholders.On the capital side, Emirates Islamic’s capital stood at USD 1.48 billion at end-June 2026, compared with USD 1.44 billion at Dukhan Bank, supporting the UAE bank’s capacity to continue expanding and build on its recent momentum.Based on these figures, Emirates Islamic Bank enters the next phase with a clear advantage over Dukhan Bank after moving ahead across the main financial portfolios while also outperforming its rival on profitability and returns.However, that advantage remains dependent on whether the current growth differential continues, leaving the competitive balance open to change in the coming periods. Sustained strong growth at Emirates Islamic would strengthen its ability to widen the gap and consolidate its lead, while faster growth at Dukhan Bank could narrow the gap and allow it to reclaim 10th place among Islamic banks in the Arab world.The direction of the competition will therefore be determined not by current business scale alone, but by each bank’s ability to maintain strong growth and translate it into sustainable expansion while preserving high levels of profitability and efficiency. Arab world,Dukhan Bank,Emirates Islamic Bankhttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13308https://en.firstbankeg.com/13308Yasmin ElsayedCompetitiveness Indicator: AAIB, QNB Egypt intensify race for second place among private-sector banksCompetition for second place among Egypts private-sector banks is intensifying between Arab African InternatioWed, 26 Aug 2026 13:23:29 +02002026-08-26T13:23:29+02:00Translated & Edited by Aya ElsayedCompetition for second place among Egypt’s private-sector banks is intensifying between Arab African International Bank (AAIB), led by Tamer Waheed, vice chairman and managing director, and QNB Egypt, led by Mohamed Bedeir, chief executive officer, as the gap between the two banks’ total assets narrows.The close contest is not a recent development. QNB Egypt ranked behind Commercial International Bank – Egypt (CIB) for years before the competitive landscape shifted in June 2024, when AAIB overtook its rival to claim second place.Since AAIB moved into the second position, the asset gap between the two banks has fluctuated considerably, widening at some points and narrowing sharply at others as their respective asset growth rates changed from one period to another.The gap stood at EGP 76.03 billion at end-September 2024 before widening to a peak of EGP 114.67 billion at end-2024. It then narrowed to EGP 46.18 billion at end-March 2025.The gap widened again to EGP 96.12 billion at end-June 2025 before falling to EGP 45.57 billion at end-September 2025 and EGP 39.68 billion at end-2025. By end-March 2026, it had narrowed further to just EGP 16.09 billion.The decline marks a notable shift in the competition. A gap that exceeded EGP 100 billion at end-2024 shrank to EGP 16.09 billion only 15 months later, its lowest level since June 2024, leaving the two banks in an increasingly tight race for second place.The narrowing gap coincided with a milestone in both banks’ growth, as their total assets exceeded EGP 1 trillion for the first time at end-March 2026.AAIB’s assets rose to EGP 1.04 trillion at end-March 2026 from EGP 955.24 billion at end-2025, representing quarterly growth of 9.3 per cent.QNB Egypt’s assets, meanwhile, increased to about EGP 1.03 trillion from EGP 915.56 billion over the same period, recording quarterly growth of 12.2 per cent.Although AAIB remained ahead by EGP 16.09 billion, QNB Egypt’s stronger asset growth in Q1 2026 adds a new dimension to the competition. With the gap now at a level where differences in growth rates could alter the ranking, the pace of asset expansion has become increasingly important in determining the direction of the race.Attention is now turning to the H1 2026 results as the next test of the balance between the two banks. QNB Egypt has already announced its results for the period, while the market awaits AAIB’s results, expected in the coming days.The upcoming results are particularly significant given the narrow gap between the two banks. They will show whether AAIB can maintain its lead and whether QNB Egypt sustained the momentum recorded in Q1 2026, potentially allowing it to overtake its rival and reclaim second place.The question now is whether AAIB can retain its position and widen the gap again, or whether QNB Egypt will reverse the order and reclaim second place. As attention turns to the latest figures, First Bank continues to track the two banks’ positions and whether the upcoming results will reinforce the current ranking or reshape the landscape of Egypt’s private-sector banks.AAIB,total assets,QNB Egypt,private-sector,private-sector bankshttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13307https://en.firstbankeg.com/13307Shaimaa NasserCorporate Indicator: Corporates drive over 75% of ADIB Egypt’s deposit, loan growthThe corporate segment at Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank Egypt ADIB Egypt is no longer simply the largest component of Wed, 26 Aug 2026 12:19:47 +02002026-08-26T12:19:47+02:00Translated & Edited by Aya ElsayedThe corporate segment at Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank – Egypt (ADIB Egypt) is no longer simply the largest component of its loan portfolio, but has become a key driver of the bank’s business expansion in H1 2026.The segment accounted for most of the new growth in both deposits and loans, while also increasing its weight within the asset structure. H1 2026 data show that the corporate segment expanded faster than the bank as a whole across both deposits and loans, strengthening its role in shaping the balance sheet.Corporate deposits rose to EGP 184.13 billion at end-June 2026 from EGP 143.29 billion at end-2025, an increase of EGP 40.84 billion and growth of 28.5 per cent. Corporate loans increased to EGP 139.20 billion from EGP 105.60 billion over the same period, up EGP 33.60 billion or 31.8 per cent.By comparison, total customer deposits rose 19.5 per cent to EGP 332.09 billion at end-June 2026, while total loans increased 28 per cent to EGP 197.92 billion. Corporate business therefore grew faster than the bank overall in both deposits and loans.The significance of this expansion becomes clearer when measured by the corporate segment’s contribution to new growth rather than simply by the size of its balances. Total deposits increased by about EGP 54.23 billion during the period, of which corporate deposits accounted for EGP 40.84 billion, equivalent to 75.3 per cent of the increase.On the lending side, the total increase amounted to EGP 43.25 billion, with the corporate segment contributing about EGP 33.60 billion, or 77.7 per cent. These figures show that the corporate segment was the main driver of new business growth in H1 2026, rather than simply the largest segment by existing balances.This growth also reshaped the balance sheet, as corporate loans increased to 70.3 per cent of total customer loans at end-June 2026 from 68.3 per cent at end-2025, while corporate loans as a share of total assets rose to 33.6 per cent from 30.5 per cent over the same period. With corporate loans growing 31.8 per cent compared with 19.5 per cent growth in total assets, the relative weight of corporate activity within the balance sheet increased faster than the asset base itself.The shift was not limited to loans. Corporate deposits grew 28.5 per cent during the period, outpacing the 19.5 per cent increase in total customer deposits and raising the segment’s share of the bank’s deposit base.Corporate business therefore expanded faster than the bank across both deposits and loans, while simultaneously increasing its share of the loan portfolio and asset structure.This points to an important shift in the nature of ADIB Egypt’s growth in H1 2026. The corporate segment was no longer simply the largest component of the loan portfolio, but became the largest contributor to new growth and expanded faster than the bank’s overall business, while increasing its weight across deposits, loans and assets.ADIB Egypt’s H1 2026 growth therefore cannot be assessed without examining the corporate segment. Its expansion became a key factor in determining both the direction and composition of balance-sheet growth, combining three developments: faster growth than the bank overall, a contribution of more than three-quarters of the new increase in deposits and loans, and a higher share of both the loan portfolio and total assets.ADIB Egypt,corporates,loan portfolio,corporate segmenthttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13305https://en.firstbankeg.com/13305First Index: Greater Cairo retains dominance in EBank’s performance in H1 2026Export Development Bank of Egypt EBank recorded total assets rise 8 per cent in the first half of 2026 to EGTue, 25 Aug 2026 15:25:50 +02002026-08-25T16:26:00+02:00<section data-testid="conversation-turn-8" data-turn="assistant" data-turn-id="request-WEB:0dc45225-7a81-4241-9344-eb5bde2572b6-26" data-turn-id-container="request-WEB:0dc45225-7a81-4241-9344-eb5bde2572b6-26" dir="auto">Export Development Bank of Egypt (EBank) recorded total assets rise 8 per cent in the first half of 2026 to EGP 223.45 billion at end-June, from EGP 206.93 billion at end-2025, according to the bank’s standalone financial statements for the six-month period ended 30 June 2026.<h3 data-id="uKJTTP">Greater Cairo accounts for 97.83% of EBank’s assets</h3>Greater Cairo continued to account for the largest share of EBank’s asset base, representing 97.83 per cent of total assets at the end of June 2026. The region’s assets grew by 8.3 per cent during the first half of 2026, reaching EGP 218.60 billion at the end of June 2026, compared with EGP 201.77 billion at the end of 2025.Meanwhile, assets in Alexandria, the Delta and Sinai declined to EGP 3.53 billion at the end of June 2026, compared with EGP 4.01 billion at the end of 2025. Consequently, the region’s contribution to EBank’s total asset base fell to 1.58 per cent, from 1.94 per cent at the end of 2025, reflecting the continued concentration of the bank’s assets in Greater Cairo.Upper Egypt, meanwhile, slightly increased its contribution to the bank’s asset base, accounting for 0.59 per cent of total assets at the end of June 2026, compared with 0.56 per cent at the end of 2025.The region recorded the fastest asset growth among EBank’s geographic regions, with its assets increasing by 13.9 per cent during the first half of 2026 to EGP 1.32 billion, compared with EGP 1.16 billion at the end of 2025. Despite recording the highest growth rate among the regions, Upper Egypt’s contribution to the bank’s overall asset base remained limited due to its relatively small share.Overall, EBank’s asset growth during the first half of 2026 was driven primarily by Greater Cairo, amid a decline in assets across Alexandria, the Delta and Sinai and a limited contribution from Upper Egypt. This highlights the continued geographic concentration of the bank’s asset base in its core market.<h3 data-id="GBljXA">Greater Cairo drives EBank’s profit growth</h3>EBanks net profit increased by 43.9 per cent during the first half of 2026 to EGP 3.75 billion, compared with EGP 2.61 billion in the corresponding period of 2025.Greater Cairo remained the largest contributor to EBank’s net profit, accounting for 69.28 per cent of total net profit during the first half of 2026. The region’s net profit increased by 44.4 per cent to EGP 2.60 billion, compared with EGP 1.80 billion in the corresponding period of 2025.Meanwhile, Alexandria, the Delta and Sinai recorded a 39.5 per cent increase in net profit to EGP 1.04 billion during the first half of 2026, compared with EGP 745.64 million in the corresponding period of 2025. The region contributed 27.73 per cent of EBank’s total net profit during the period.Upper Egypt recorded the fastest growth in net profit among the bank’s geographic regions, with net profit surging by 86.6 per cent to EGP 112.13 million during the first half of 2026, compared with EGP 60.10 million in the corresponding period of 2025. Its contribution to EBank’s total net profit increased to 2.31 per cent.The data indicate that Greater Cairo remained the primary driver of EBank’s profitability during the first half of 2026, accounting for the largest share of the bank’s net profit despite the strong growth recorded by Upper Egypt. Meanwhile, the other geographic regions continued to make relatively limited contributions, underscoring the continued concentration of EBank’s earnings in Greater Cairo.</section>https://en.firstbankeg.com/13304https://en.firstbankeg.com/13304Yasmin ElsayedEmirates NBD Egypt’s five-year transformation reshapes growth, profitabilityEmirates NBD Egypt has recorded substantial business growth over the past five years, strengthening its financTue, 25 Aug 2026 13:00:28 +02002026-08-25T13:00:28+02:00Translated & Edited by Aya ElsayedEmirates NBD Egypt has recorded substantial business growth over the past five years, strengthening its financial position as total assets more than doubled, driven primarily by strong growth in customer deposits.The expansion extended beyond the balance sheet, with net profit rising more than elevenfold alongside a marked improvement in profitability indicators.Total assets increased to EGP 247.63 billion at end-June 2026 from EGP 82.58 billion at end-2021, representing growth of 200 per cent and an increase of about EGP 165 billion. This points to a substantial expansion in the bank’s overall scale of operations rather than growth concentrated in a single balance-sheet item.Customer deposits were the main funding driver of this expansion, rising 184.2 per cent to EGP 192.04 billion at end-June 2026 from EGP 67.58 billion at end-2021, an increase of EGP 124.46 billion.Measured against the overall increase in assets, deposit growth was equivalent to about 75.4 per cent of the expansion in the balance sheet, underlining the central role of deposit mobilisation in building the bank’s larger business base.Despite this, the bank’s relative reliance on deposits declined, with deposits accounting for 77.55 per cent of assets at end-June 2026 compared with 81.84 per cent at end-2021.This reflects a broader funding base as the balance sheet expanded, reducing the relative concentration of funding in deposits while leaving them as the bank’s largest source of funding.Equity grew at an even faster pace, rising 212 per cent to EGP 25.07 billion at end-June 2026 from EGP 8.04 billion at end-2021, an increase of EGP 17.03 billion.This growth is particularly significant from a banking perspective because it accompanied the sharp expansion in assets and lending, strengthening the bank’s capacity to absorb risk and continue growing without relying solely on higher liabilities.Although equity remained a relatively limited source of asset funding compared with deposits, its contribution increased to 10.13 per cent at end-June 2026 from 9.73 per cent at end-2021.Balances due from banks also increased sharply, reaching EGP 21.95 billion at end-June 2026 from EGP 2.81 billion at end-2021, representing exceptional growth of about 680 per cent and an increase of EGP 19.13 billion.This reflects a substantial increase in balances placed with the banking sector and highlights the importance of managing the liquidity and asset-allocation mix alongside the expansion in the deposit base.On the asset-allocation side, the bank expanded its core banking activity, with net customer loans rising 176.3 per cent to EGP 107.84 billion at end-June 2026 from EGP 39.03 billion at end-2021, an increase of EGP 68.81 billion.At the same time, the bank did not rely solely on lending to deploy its resources. Financial investments rose 186.4 per cent to EGP 81.25 billion at end-June 2026 from EGP 28.37 billion at end-2021, an increase of EGP 52.89 billion.The expansion of the balance sheet was accompanied by a much stronger increase in earnings. Net profit rose to EGP 6.08 billion in 2025 from EGP 544.73 million in 2021, an increase of about 1,016.6 per cent, meaning profit grew more than tenfnfold over the period.This indicates that the bank not only expanded the scale of its business, but also increased its ability to generate profit at a pace well above the growth of its balance sheet.The improvement was reflected in profitability indicators. Based on average opening and closing balances, return on average assets (ROAA) rose to 3.32 per cent in 2025 from about 0.73 per cent in 2021, while return on average equity (ROAE) increased to 30.12 per cent from about 6.91 per cent over the same period.These increases point to a significant improvement in the bank’s ability to generate returns from its asset and equity bases, showing that stronger profitability was not driven solely by a larger pool of resources but also by a higher level of returns generated from them.The strong performance continued into 2026, with the bank reporting net profit of EGP 3.31 billion in H1, alongside ROAA of 2.91 per cent and ROAE of 27.52 per cent.Emirates NBD Egypt’s indicators over the past five years show that the transformation extended beyond business volume expansion to the bank’s ability to mobilise resources, deploy them, and generate stronger returns. Assets, deposits, and equity all recorded strong growth alongside expansion in lending and financial investments, clearly reshaping the bank’s business base.The transformation also extended to profitability, which recorded a significant improvement, reflecting simultaneous growth in both the scale of the bank’s operations and its ability to generate returns from its business base.The past five years have therefore produced a broader financial base, supported by stronger resources, substantial expansion in lending and financial investments, and a larger equity base, strengthening the bank’s capacity to sustain growth in the next phase.Growth,profit,financial position,Emirates NBD Egypt,Customer Deposits,business growthhttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13303https://en.firstbankeg.com/13303Mahynar MohamedFirst Bank ranks 10 largest Islamic banks in Arab world at end-June 2026The 10 largest Islamic banks in the Arab world retained their positions in H1 2026, leaving First Bankranking Tue, 25 Aug 2026 11:14:15 +02002026-08-25T11:14:15+02:00Translated & Edited by Aya ElsayedThe 10 largest Islamic banks in the Arab world retained their positions in H1 2026, leaving First Bank ranking unchanged from end-2025.Al Rajhi Bank maintained its lead in the Arab Islamic banking sector, with assets reaching USD 280.73 billion at end-June 2026, compared with USD 278.15 billion at end-2025, representing marginal growth of 0.9 per cent during the first half of the year.Kuwait Finance House (KFH) ranked second despite a 1.3 per cent decline in assets during H1 2026 to USD 137.11 billion at end-June from USD 138.88 billion at end-2025. The bank retained its position, supported by the wide gap between its asset base and that of its nearest competitor.Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB) remained third, with assets rising 1.7 per cent to USD 115.22 billion at end-June 2026 from USD 113.25 billion at end-2025.Alinma Bank also retained fourth place, with assets growing 5.7 per cent to USD 87.64 billion at end-June from USD 82.93 billion at end-2025.Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB) remained fifth after its assets rose 8.3 per cent to USD 82.75 billion at end-June from USD 76.44 billion at end-2025.Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB) held sixth place, with assets reaching USD 64.24 billion at end-June 2026, up 6.2 per cent from USD 60.48 billion at end-2025.Al Rayan Bank remained seventh, with assets rising 1.9 per cent to USD 50.52 billion at end-June 2026 from USD 49.59 billion at end-2025.Bank Albilad retained eighth place after its assets increased 7.6 per cent to USD 49.63 billion at end-June from USD 46.12 billion at end-2025.Bank AlJazira remained ninth, with assets rising 9 per cent to USD 48.22 billion at end-June 2026 from USD 44.24 billion at end-2025, marking the fastest asset growth among the top 10 banks.Emirates Islamic Bank rounded out the ranking in 10th place, with assets increasing 5.5 per cent to USD 41.88 billion at end-June 2026 from USD 39.69 billion at end-2025.First Bank,Islamic banks,Banks,Arab world,largest Islamic bankshttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13299https://en.firstbankeg.com/13299Shaimaa NasserNBK Egypt strengthens retail share of depositsNational Bank of Kuwait Egypt NBK Egypt significantly expanded its retail deposit base over the past five yearMon, 24 Aug 2026 12:23:11 +02002026-08-24T12:23:11+02:00Translated & Edited by Aya ElsayedNational Bank of Kuwait – Egypt (NBK Egypt) significantly expanded its retail deposit base over the past five years, with balances rising to EGP 102.4 billion at end-March 2026 from EGP 32.6 billion at end-2020.The increase of EGP 69.8 billion, 214.5 per cent, reflecting the bank’s ability to build a substantial retail savings base that exceeded EGP 100 billion by the end of the period and became a key component of its funding structure.The significance of this growth becomes clearer when compared with corporate deposits. Although corporate deposits grew at a faster pace, rising 490.2 per cent to EGP 101.2 billion at end-March 2026 from EGP 17.2 billion at end-2020, an increase of EGP 84.1 billion, retail deposits remained the largest single component of the bank’s deposit base, exceeding corporate deposits by about EGP 1.2 billion.The period therefore ended with an almost evenly balanced deposit base between the two segments, with retail deposits retaining a slight lead. This is significant given that retail deposits reached such a substantial level alongside strong growth in corporate deposits.At the same time, total deposits rose 309.6 per cent to EGP 203.6 billion at end-March 2026 from EGP 49.7 billion at end-2020, an increase of EGP 153.9 billion.Retail deposits contributed EGP 69.8 billion, or 45.4 per cent, of that increase, compared with 54.6 per cent from corporate deposits. Retail customers therefore accounted for nearly half of the growth in the bank’s deposit base, making the segment one of the main drivers of funding expansion.The increase in deposits was also reflected directly in the bank’s asset growth. Total assets rose 314.4 per cent to EGP 257.7 billion at end-March 2026 from EGP 62.2 billion at end-2020, an increase of EGP 195.5 billion. The EGP 69.8 billion increase in retail deposits was equivalent to about 35.7 per cent of the total increase in assets.The EGP 153.9 billion rise in total deposits, meanwhile, was equivalent to about 78.7 per cent of the increase in assets. This reflects the bank’s ability to use growth in its funding sources to support balance-sheet expansion, while retail deposits became an increasingly important source of that funding.The value of building a large retail deposit base extends beyond funding alone. A broader and more diversified pool of depositors reduces reliance on a limited number of large customers and supports greater flexibility in funding management.It also gives the bank greater scope to deepen customer relationships and offer additional products such as loans, credit cards, financing and payment services, creating opportunities for future business growth and revenue diversification.The past five years therefore reflect a marked increase in both the scale and importance of retail deposits at NBK Egypt, supported by continued growth in its customer base and a stronger presence in retail banking.This development points to a more mature retail deposit base that has become one of the main pillars supporting the bank’s growth, while also creating opportunities to expand its customer base, increase banking transactions and product penetration, and strengthen its capacity to generate recurring and sustainable growth over the coming period.deposits,NBK Egypt,Retail,retail deposit,fundinghttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13297https://en.firstbankeg.com/13297Mahynar MohamedQNB Egypt strengthens lead as largest private-sector bank by corporate depositsQNB Egypt strengthened its financial position in H1 2026, with total assets rising 16 per cent to EGP 1.06 triSun, 23 Aug 2026 16:08:53 +02002026-08-23T16:08:53+02:00Translated & Edited by Aya ElsayedQNB Egypt strengthened its financial position in H1 2026, with total assets rising 16 per cent to EGP 1.06 trillion at end-June from EGP 915.56 billion at end-2025, an increase of more than EGP 146 billion in just six months.The significance of this growth lies not only in its scale, but also in the sources behind it. A closer look at the balance sheet shows that corporate deposits played a major role in the bank’s expansion during the first half of the year.Corporate deposits were the main driver of this growth, accounting for about 58 per cent of the total increase in assets during H1 2026. This means that more than half of the expansion in QNB Egypt’s balance sheet was linked to new inflows from corporates.The bank’s corporate deposit portfolio rose by about EGP 84.93 billion to EGP 576.63 billion at end-June 2026 from EGP 491.70 billion at end-2025, representing growth of 17.3 per cent in the first six months of the year.This strengthened QNB Egypt’s position as the largest private-sector bank in Egypt by corporate deposits, reflecting its strong presence in the corporate segment and its ability to attract a broad base of large customers, while supporting further expansion across its banking activities.Corporate deposits were therefore central to QNB Egypt’s growth in H1 2026, accounting for the largest share of the increase in total assets.Their faster growth relative to assets also strengthened their role as a key source of funding, supporting the bank’s continued business expansion.assets,corporate deposits,financial position,QNB Egypt,bank,balance sheethttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13296https://en.firstbankeg.com/13296Mahynar MohamedADCB Egypt expands sustainable finance, launches 1st carbon footprint calculatorTranslated & Edited by Aya ElsayedAbu Dhabi Commercial Bank - Egypts ADCB 2025 Sustainability Report showsSun, 23 Aug 2026 15:50:02 +02002026-08-23T15:50:02+02:00Translated & Edited by Aya ElsayedAbu Dhabi Commercial Bank - Egypt’s (ADCB) 2025 Sustainability Report shows how sustainability is becoming more deeply integrated into the bank’s business model, from capital allocation and risk management to long-term growth.The bank expanded sustainable finance, introduced tools to help corporate clients manage carbon emissions, increased investment in community initiatives and widened its financial inclusion efforts.<h3 data-id="ohZGAQ">Sustainable finance jumps 55.7%, portfolio exceeds EGP 13bn</h3>ADCB Egypt’s sustainable finance portfolio rose 55.7 per cent year-on-year to EGP 13.27 billion at end-2025 from EGP 8.5 billion at end-2024.Sustainable finance accounted for 24.6 per cent of the bank’s lending to corporates and SMEs, up from about 19 per cent in 2024, signalling a broader shift in the loan book.The portfolio was almost evenly split between EGP 6.66 billion in green loans and EGP 6.61 billion in social loans.Clean transport accounted for 77.2 per cent of the green loan portfolio, reflecting the bank’s focus on financing lower-emission transport projects.Within social lending, 34.5 per cent was directed towards infrastructure projects, while 29.3 per cent supported microenterprises, extending financing towards projects with broader economic and social impact.The bank also participated in arranging syndicated financing for a real estate development project in 2025, contributing EGP 1 billion. The project was designed in line with sustainability standards, while one of its buildings received EDGE green-building certification, targeting a 53 per cent reduction in energy consumption and a 44 per cent reduction in water use.ADCB Egypt also provided a EGP 200 million financing facility to support the localisation of Egypt’s pharmaceutical industry, strengthening domestic manufacturing and research and development capacity while supporting the production of vaccines and essential medicines.<h3 data-id="8WGNrQ">ADCB launches Egypt’s first corporate carbon footprint calculator</h3>ADCB Egypt also extended its sustainability strategy beyond financing by launching a carbon footprint calculator for corporates, becoming the first bank in the Egyptian market to offer the service.The service was introduced through a strategic partnership with Masader, a leading sustainability and climate advisory firm, using Thamania, Masader’s advanced digital sustainability platform..It is designed to help companies measure carbon emissions, identify opportunities to reduce them, strengthen climate disclosure and environmental governance, and prepare for regulatory requirements linked to local and international net-zero policies.The bank also continued to improve the environmental efficiency of its own operations, with its headquarters and 40 per cent of its branch network receiving EDGE green-building certification.<h3 data-id="vjrhNc">ADCB Egypt allocates EGP 16.11m to community initiatives</h3>ADCB Egypt increased spending on social responsibility initiatives by 41.1 per cent year-on-year to EGP 16.11 million in 2025, benefiting 7,324 people across healthcare, education, economic empowerment and environmental programmes.Healthcare accounted for EGP 8 million, supporting 4,550 beneficiaries as the bank contributed to Nile of Hope Hospital, which specialises in treating congenital conditions among newborns, and provided an endoscope sterilisation device to Fayoum Oncology Centre, benefiting about 900 patients annually through stronger infection-control capabilities and improved healthcare quality.In education, ADCB Egypt allocated EGP 3.46 million to support students with disabilities, including scholarships for 14 students across different universities and faculties, alongside training programmes aimed at developing skills and preparing beneficiaries for the labour market.The bank invested a further EGP 3.13 million in economic empowerment initiatives. These included the 100 Women programme, which provided practical training in business management, marketing and product development to help participants expand home-based businesses into more sustainable small enterprises.ADCB Egypt also worked with Al Orman Association to support 60 people with disabilities in establishing or expanding small businesses.In partnership with the Ataa Fund, the bank financed three-wheeled vehicles for 15 wheelchair users, supporting greater independence and access to economic opportunities.Environmental initiatives worth EGP 1.5 million benefited around 2,500 people and included two solar-powered water desalination plants in Beheira governorate, providing a more sustainable source of clean water while reducing carbon emissions.<h3 data-id="NZA2QT">Financial inclusion reaches 12.2k beneficiaries</h3>Financial inclusion formed another part of the bank’s sustainability strategy, with a focus on expanding access to financial services for women, people with disabilities and young people.Through specialised financial products and partnerships with civil society organisations, ADCB Egypt reached 12,225 beneficiaries through financial inclusion initiatives in 2025, supported by investments of about EGP 1 million.Among those initiatives was a partnership with Rahet Bally, which organised capacity-building workshops for women and connected participants with financial products suited to their needs.At the same time, the bank’s SME financing portfolio grew 16 per cent year-on-year to EGP 1.6 billion, reinforcing the link between financial inclusion, access to credit and broader economic participation.ADCB Egypt’s sustainability strategy in 2025 therefore extended beyond individual initiatives. The stronger growth in sustainable finance, broader use of environmental tools, higher community investment and wider financial inclusion efforts point to a model in which sustainability is becoming more closely integrated with the bank’s core business and long-term growth strategy.ADCB,sustainable finance,bank,sustainability,finance,carbonhttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13291https://en.firstbankeg.com/13291Hassan Abdalla’s CBE tenure: The record behind a renewed mandatePresident Abdel Fattah El-Sisi issued a presidential decree renewing Hassan Abdallas mandate as acting governoSun, 23 Aug 2026 10:16:43 +02002026-08-23T10:16:43+02:00President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi issued a presidential decree renewing Hassan Abdalla’s mandate as acting governor of the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) for another year, effective from 18 August 2026, extending his leadership of the central bank into a fifth year since he first assumed the role in August 2022.The renewal follows four particularly challenging years, during which the CBE faced a combination of inflationary pressures, foreign-exchange market imbalances, and the repercussions of the Russia-Ukraine war, followed by the US-Israeli war with Iran and the new risks it created for energy prices, supply chains, and global inflation.Against this backdrop, monetary policy moved from aggressive tightening to a reset of the foreign-exchange market, followed by monetary easing, before shifting back to a more cautious stance as the risk landscape evolved.Taken together, the period reflects a monetary-policy approach characterised by flexibility and effectiveness across shifting economic conditions. Rather than following a fixed formula, the CBE adjusted its tools and priorities as risks evolved, moving from addressing acute imbalances to restoring greater stability and, when conditions allowed, creating room to support economic activity.When Abdalla took office, the immediate priorities were to curb accelerating inflation and ease mounting pressure on the foreign-exchange market. The CBE responded by tightening monetary conditions through successive interest-rate increases, a higher required reserve ratio, and adjustments to open-market operations aimed at absorbing excess liquidity.The tightening cycle was neither brief nor straightforward. Inflation continued to accelerate in its early stages, with core inflation reaching a record 41 per cent in June 2023, while price pressures were compounded by foreign-exchange market imbalances, higher import costs, and shortages of foreign currency.Addressing inflation therefore required more than higher interest rates alone; it also demanded action to correct distortions in the foreign-exchange market, which had become a major source of price pressure.This made 6 March 2024 a major turning point in the crisis response, as the CBE raised interest rates by 600 basis points and shifted towards a more flexible exchange-rate regime.The significance of the decision went beyond the sharp increase in interest rates. The CBE simultaneously reshaped the way the foreign-exchange market operated, allowing the Egyptian pound to move more freely in response to supply and demand after a period of mounting pressure on foreign-currency liquidity.The move helped close the gap between the official and parallel exchange rates, improve foreign-currency availability, and restore greater stability to the foreign-exchange market. This, in turn, gave monetary policy greater scope to focus on price stability rather than directing a significant share of its tools towards managing currency-market distortions.The impact of the foreign-exchange adjustment, alongside tighter monetary policy, gradually fed through to inflation. After peaking at 41 per cent in June 2023, core inflation moved onto a sustained downward path, easing to 14.7 per cent in July 2026 despite renewed price pressures from domestic and external developments.One of the key strengths of monetary management during the period was the use of multiple policy tools rather than relying on interest rates alone. The response to inflation also included measures to address foreign-exchange market imbalances, manage liquidity, and improve foreign-currency availability. Together, these measures proved more effective in bringing inflation onto a more controlled path than any single intervention in isolation.At the same time, the improvement in the foreign-exchange market began to feed through to Egypt’s external position and the banking sector. Net international reserves rose to USD 56.29 billion at end-July 2026, their highest level on record, from USD 33.14 billion at end-August 2022, an increase of USD 23.15 billion, or 69.9 per cent.The improvement extended beyond official reserves to the banking sector’s foreign-currency position. Net foreign assets of the banking sector moved from net foreign liabilities of about USD 20.3 billion in August 2022 to a net foreign asset surplus of USD 28 billion at end-June 2026.This shift is one of the clearest indicators of how the nature of Egypt’s foreign-currency challenge changed. The improvement was no longer confined to higher reserves at the central bank; banks themselves also strengthened their external positions, enhancing their capacity to meet customers’ foreign-currency needs and absorb external shocks.As inflation eased, the foreign exchange market improved, and the balance of risks changed, monetary policy gradually began to move from tightening towards easing. This transition was not separate from the previous phase but rather a direct consequence of the improvement in the conditions monetary policy had sought to establish during the tightening cycle.In 2025, the CBE began a broad monetary-easing cycle, cutting policy rates by a cumulative 725 basis points across several meetings. The shift marked a clear transition from containing inflation and market imbalances towards reducing financing costs and creating greater room for credit, investment, and economic activity.Easing continued into 2026, with the CBE cutting policy rates by a further 100 basis points at its February meeting. However, the path of monetary easing remained conditional rather than predetermined, particularly as external risks moved back to the forefront of the economic outlook.The outbreak of the US-Israeli war with Iran brought new risks related to energy prices, supply chains, and global inflation, forcing monetary policymakers to reassess the pace of easing. The CBE therefore kept interest rates unchanged at three consecutive Monetary Policy Committee meetings held on 2 April, 21 May, and 9 July 2026.The conflict had already affected the global economic environment through heightened energy risks and renewed inflationary pressure, strengthening the case for a more cautious monetary stance.The path of interest rates over the four-year period should, therefore, be seen not simply as a sequence of increases and cuts but as a reflection of how the role of monetary policy evolved with changing economic conditions. It began with broad-based tightening to contain inflation and address foreign-exchange market imbalances, continued with restrictive policy alongside a reset of the currency market, shifted towards easing as conditions improved, and later paused as external risks re-emerged.These shifts were also reflected across Egypt’s banking sector, where business volumes expanded significantly alongside stronger financial soundness indicators.Total assets of banks operating in Egypt rose to EGP 26.89 trillion at end-March 2026 from EGP 10.51 trillion at end-August 2022, an increase of EGP 16.38 trillion, or 155.8 per cent.Customer deposits increased to EGP 16.88 trillion at end-March 2026 from EGP 7.63 trillion at end-August 2022, an increase of EGP 9.25 trillion, or 121.2 per cent.At the same time, customer loans jumped to EGP 11.39 trillion at end-March 2026 from EGP 3.64 trillion at end-August 2022, an increase of EGP 7.75 trillion, or 212.6 per cent, reflecting the banking sector’s expanded capacity to provide financing to economic activity.Banks’ capital rose to EGP 739.13 billion at end-March 2026 from EGP 277.91 billion at end-August 2022, an increase of about 166 per cent that strengthened the sector’s capital base and its capacity to support business expansion and absorb potential risks.More importantly, the substantial expansion in bank balance sheets was not accompanied by a deterioration in asset quality. The non-performing loan ratio fell to 1.9 per cent at end-March 2026 from 3.3 per cent at end-June 2022, reaching its lowest level on record.This is where the significance of the sector’s growth becomes clearer. The expansion in assets, deposits, credit and capital was accompanied by stronger financial-soundness indicators and improved asset quality, indicating that the banking sector not only grew in scale but also strengthened its resilience and capacity to sustain further growth.The expansion also extended to access to formal financial services, alongside faster digital transformation. Egypt’s financial inclusion rate rose to 79 per cent at end-June 2026 from 60.5 per cent at end-June 2022.The number of citizens with active accounts enabling financial transactions reached about 56.4 million out of 71.4 million people aged 15 and above. These accounts include bank and postal accounts, mobile wallets and prepaid cards.Women’s financial inclusion rate also rose to 72.5 per cent at end-June 2026 from 54.1 per cent in 2022, reflecting broader participation in formal financial services and greater access to a wider range of financial products.This progress formed part of the broader transformation of Egypt’s financial system. The expansion of the customer base and wider adoption of digital channels strengthened the formal sector’s ability to reach more segments of society while increasing the use of financial services and electronic payments.The period also brought international recognition for Hassan Abdalla, with The Banker naming him Central Banker of the Yearfor Africa in 2025, while Global Finance ranked him among the top central bank governors in the Middle East and Africa in 2024.Such recognition carries greater weight given the conditions under which the CBE operated. The four-year period was far from one of conventional monetary stability: it began with an inflation and foreign-currency crisis, followed by a reset of the foreign-exchange market and extensive monetary tightening, then an improvement in key indicators and a shift towards easing, before the US-Israeli war with Iran introduced fresh risks and prompted a return to greater policy caution.Viewed as a whole, the main strength of Abdalla’s tenure lies not in higher reserves, lower inflation or banking-sector growth in isolation, but in the CBE’s ability to adjust its policy tools and priorities as the nature of each shock changed.In the first phase, the priority was to contain inflation and address foreign-exchange market imbalances, putting monetary tightening and a reset of the currency market at the centre of the response. As these measures helped improve market conditions, ease inflationary pressures and strengthen the external position, the policy focus shifted towards lower interest rates and greater support for economic activity. When the external environment deteriorated again with the US-Israeli war with Iran, the easing cycle was not allowed to continue automatically, and the CBE returned to a more cautious stance.This is why the four-year period is better assessed through the effectiveness of monetary-policy management than through the direction of any single indicator. Effective policy does not mean keeping interest rates on one path or delivering an uninterrupted decline in inflation regardless of external conditions. It means identifying the prevailing risk, deploying the appropriate tool at the right time and changing course when conditions shift.The same approach was reflected in the banking sector, where assets, deposits, credit and capital expanded alongside improved asset quality. Access to formal financial services also widened markedly, supported by higher financial inclusion and greater use of digital channels.Abdalla’s renewed mandate comes as the CBE enters a new phase: from containing acute inflation and foreign-exchange imbalances to consolidating the gains of recent years, navigating external risks and sustaining disinflation while preserving stability in the currency market.The next challenge will be whether that stability can create greater room for economic growth. This will require keeping inflation on a downward trajectory, reinforcing confidence in the foreign-exchange market and maintaining banking-sector resilience, while supporting financing for productive sectors and investment. Monetary policy will therefore be judged not only by its ability to manage shocks but also by whether it can anchor a stable environment capable of supporting sustainable growth.CBE,Hassan Abdalla,mandate,the central bank,governor of the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE)https://en.firstbankeg.com/13289https://en.firstbankeg.com/13289First BankThe Big Numbers Race: Riyad Bank, KFH compete for a spot among MENA’s top 10Amid intensifying competition among the largest banks in the Middle East, a new chapter in the Race for the BThu, 20 Aug 2026 15:57:17 +02002026-08-20T15:57:17+02:00Amid intensifying competition among the Middle East’s largest banks, a new chapter in the Big Numbers Race focuses on Riyad Bank and Kuwait Finance House (KFH) as they compete for a place among the top 10 banks in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).According to June 2026 data, Riyad Bank ranks tenth among MENA banks by total assets, while KFH ranks eleventh, reflecting the close competition between the two banks, with the ranking determined by relatively narrow numerical differences.According to the banks’ consolidated financial statements, Riyad Bank’s total assets stood at USD 142.03 billion at the end of June 2026, compared to USD 137.11 billion for KFH at the same period.In terms of deposits, Riyad Bank’s customer deposits reached USD 92.69 billion at the end of June 2026, compared to USD 70.13 billion for KFH.Regarding the loan portfolio, Riyad Bank’s net loans stood at USD 100.51 billion at the end of June 2026, compared to USD 74 billion for KFHouse.Riyad Bank’s lead is not attributable solely to the current difference in size, but also extends to the pace of growth achieved over the past three years, specifically from the end of 2022 through June 2026.Riyad Bank recorded cumulative asset growth of 48.4 per cent, compared to 13.4 per cent for KFH over the same period.This strong performance enabled Riyad Bank to overtake KFiH over the three-year comparison period. However, the competitive landscape between the two banks has not remained stable recently, with the two alternating positions in the rankings. Riyad Bank moved ahead at the end of September 2025, before KFH regained the lead at the end of the same year. Riyad Bank then reclaimed the lead at the end of March 2026 and maintained it through June 2026.The gap between the two banks reached approximately USD 4.92 billion at the end of June 2026 in favor of Riyad Bank, reflecting the relatively close asset sizes of the two banks and the intensifying competition for leading regional positions.On the deposits front, Riyad Bank recorded cumulative growth of approximately 45.1 per cent over the past three years, compared to a 4.6 per cent decline for Kuwait Finance House during the same period.This strong performance enabled Riyad Bank to overtake KFH and widen the gap between the two banks to USD 22.57 billion at the end of June 2026.In terms of loans, Riyad Bank also maintained its lead in cumulative growth over the same period, with net loans increasing by approximately 55.8 per cent over the past three years, compared to 20.1 per cent for KFH.This helped widen the gap between the two banks to USD 26.51 billion at the end of June 2026, compared to USD 2.91 billion at the end of 2022.On the profitability front, Riyad Bank reported net profit of USD 1.40 billion during H1 2026, with a return on average assets (ROAA) of 2 per cent and a return on average equity (ROAE) of 13.50 per cent during the same period.Meanwhile, KFH reported net profit of USD 1.41 billion during H1 2026, with ROAA of 2.04 per cent and ROAE of 12.74 per cent. This reflects a relatively mixed performance in profitability indicators, with KFH posting a higher return on assets, while Riyad Bank recorded a higher return on equity.Regarding capital, Riyad Bank’s paid-up capital stood at USD 10.65 billion at the end of June 2026, compared to USD 6.42 billion for KFH at the same period.The competition between Riyad Bank and KFH therefore remains open to further shifts, despite Riyad Bank’s clear advantage. The relatively narrow gap in total assets keeps the two banks’ positions among the largest banks in the MENA subject to further changes in the coming periods.Overall, Riyad Bank appears to have the stronger position in the race for tenth place, supported by a clear advantage in the growth rates of assets, deposits, and loans.However, the close asset sizes of the two banks keep the competition open and make Riyad Bank’s ability to sustain its current growth momentum a decisive factor in consolidating its position among the top 10, while Kuwait Finance House continues to challenge it for the spot.assets,Riyad Bank,MENA,KFH,the Big Numbers Race,top 10https://en.firstbankeg.com/13288https://en.firstbankeg.com/13288Yasmine elsayedEmirates NBD takes second place among MENA’s largest banks by loansEmirates NBD reshaped the competitive landscape among the Middle East and North Africas MENA largest banks in Thu, 20 Aug 2026 15:51:29 +02002026-08-20T15:51:29+02:00Translated and edited by Aya ElsayedEmirates NBD reshaped the competitive landscape among the Middle East and North Africa’s (MENA) largest banks in 2026, rising to second place in First Bank’s ranking of the top 10 banks by loans at end-June, supported by the fastest growth in net loans among its closest competitors during H1 2026.According to FirstBank’s latest analysis, Emirates NBD climbed two places from fourth at end-2025 to second at end-June 2026, overtaking Saudi National Bank and Al Rajhi Bank. The move reflects a shift in the credit hierarchy among the region’s largest banks during the first half of the year.Based on consolidated financial statements, Emirates NBD’s net loans rose 17.9 per cent to USD 203.22 billion at end-June 2026 from USD 172.31 billion at end-2025, an increase of more than USD 30.9 billion.Saudi National Bank (SNB), by contrast, recorded more moderate growth, with net loans rising 1.2 per cent to USD 196.84 billion at end-June 2026 from USD 194.44 billion at end-2025, an increase of USD 2.40 billion.Al Rajhi Bank also posted growth of 1.1 per cent in H1 2026, with its loan portfolio rising to USD 202.84 billion at end-June from USD 200.69 billion at end-2025, an increase of USD 2.14 billion.The shift in rankings was driven less by differences in portfolio size than by the divergence in growth rates during H1 2026. NBD added more than USD 30.9 billion to its loan portfolio, compared with increases of just USD 2.40 billion at SNB and USD 2.14 billion at Al Rajhi Bank, enabling the UAE lender to overtake both and move into second place.Despite the advance, the competitive positions of the three banks remain fluid given the narrow gaps between them. NBD is only about USD 380 million ahead of Al Rajhi Bank, while its lead over SNB stands at about USD 6.4 billion — a relatively small gap compared with loan portfolios exceeding USD 190 billion at each bank.This suggests that the ranking could shift again if their rates of credit growth diverge in the coming periods.The H1 2026 results also show that maintaining a leading position increasingly depends not only on the accumulated size of loan portfolios, but on sustaining credit growth and generating new loans at a faster pace than the market and competitors.With the gaps between the region’s largest banks remaining narrow, the key question is whether NBD can sustain its credit momentum and consolidate its second-place position, or whether intensifying competition among the leading players will reshape the ranking again in the coming periods.Growth,Loans,Emirates NBD,MENA,second placehttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13287https://en.firstbankeg.com/13287Shaimaa NasserCorporates drive over two-thirds of Al Baraka Bank Egypt’s credit expansionAl Baraka Bank Egypts corporate segment added more than EGP 42.6 billion to its loan portfolio over five yearsThu, 20 Aug 2026 13:50:15 +02002026-08-20T13:50:15+02:00Translated and edited by Aya ElsayedAl Baraka Bank Egypt’s corporate segment added more than EGP 42.6 billion to its loan portfolio over five years, accounting for 70.6 per cent of the bank’s total increase in lending. The significance of this growth lies not only in the segment maintaining its weight within the bank’s business, but also in becoming one of the main drivers of credit expansion over the period.Corporate loans rose 207.3 per cent to EGP 63.18 billion at end-June 2026 from EGP 20.56 billion at end-2020, while total loans reached EGP 83.13 billion. Syndicated loans grew at an even faster pace of 346.9 per cent, while the increase in corporate loans was equivalent to about 56 per cent of the growth in the bank’s assets.These indicators show that the strength of the corporate segment lies not only in the growth of its portfolio, but also in its substantial contribution to overall lending growth, alongside changes in the portfolio mix and its broader impact on the bank’s asset base.<h3 data-id="DvpUDM">Corporates drives credit expansion</h3>Al Baraka Bank Egypt’s total loans rose to EGP 83.13 billion at end-June 2026 from EGP 22.74 billion at end-2020, an increase of EGP 60.39 billion. Corporate loans alone added EGP 42.63 billion over the period, accounting for 70.6 per cent of the total increase in lending.The significance of this share is that it measures the corporate segment’s contribution to new growth rather than simply its size.Corporate loans accounted for the largest share of the additional credit business generated by the bank over the period, making the corporate segment a central driver of the overall expansion in the loan portfolio.The composition of the corporate portfolio also reveals an important shift in its growth drivers. Direct loans rose 178.2 per cent to EGP 47.25 billion in June 2026 from EGP 16.98 billion at end-2020, an increase of EGP 30.26 billion.Syndicated loans, meanwhile, jumped 346.9 per cent to EGP 15.94 billion from EGP 3.57 billion over the analysis period, an increase of EGP 12.37 billion, significantly outpacing the growth in direct loans.This divergence lifted the share of syndicated loans within the corporate portfolio to about 25.2 per cent in June 2026 from around 17.3 per cent at end-2020, meaning it accounted for roughly a quarter of the portfolio compared with less than one-fifth previously.The shift indicates that growth in the corporate business was not driven solely by higher direct loans. Syndicated loans expanded at a much faster pace, becoming a more significant component of the portfolio over time and reflecting both a broader corporate business and a changing lending mix.<h3 data-id="Vh3ys1">Corporate loans account for more than half of asset growth</h3>Growth in the corporate segment also coincided with an expansion in the bank’s asset base, which rose 100.7 per cent to EGP 151.60 billion at end-June 2026 from EGP 75.53 billion at end-2020, an increase of EGP 76.07 billion.Over the same period, corporate loans increased by about EGP 42.63 billion, equivalent to 56 per cent of the overall increase in the bank’s assets. This highlights the scale of corporate lending growth relative to the expansion in the asset base, positioning the segment as one of the main contributors to the bank’s balance-sheet growth.This does not imply that corporate lending alone drove asset growth. Rather, the ratio shows the scale of the portfolio’s expansion relative to the broader increase in the bank’s asset base, underscoring its importance within the balance sheet.<h3 data-id="QEgJlb">Corporate loans more than triple as quality remains strong</h3>The strength of the corporate segment was not limited to portfolio growth. Loan quality also improved alongside the expansion, with the corporate loan quality indicator rising to 94.86 per cent at end-June 2026 from 93.35 per cent at end-2020, an increase of 1.51 percentage points.This provides a more balanced view of the segment’s performance. Its strength lies not only in adding more than EGP 42 billion to the portfolio, but also in achieving that growth alongside an improvement in the quality indicator, suggesting that the expansion over the past five years was accompanied by stronger portfolio quality rather than being purely quantitative.<h3 data-id="bZgovW">Corporate growth extends beyond credit expansion</h3>The indicators therefore show that the corporate segment was the main driver of Al Baraka Bank Egypt’s credit expansion over the past five years. It added more than EGP 42 billion to total loans and accounted for 70.6 per cent of the overall increase, while syndicated loans grew 346.9 per cent, increasing its weight within the corporate portfolio.At the same time, the expansion was not accompanied by a deterioration in loan quality. The corporate loan quality indicator rose to 94.86 per cent at end-June 2026 from 93.35 per cent at end-2020, an increase of 1.51 percentage points, reflecting strong growth alongside an improvement in portfolio quality.The development of Al Baraka Bank Egypt’s corporate segment over the past five years has therefore been characterised by a combination of business expansion and improved portfolio quality.Corporate financing grew by more than 200 per cent and accounted for more than two-thirds of the increase in total loans, while the quality indicator also improved, reinforcing the corporate segment’s position as one of the bank’s main drivers of credit growth over the period.Al Baraka Bank Egypt,loan portfolio,credit expansion,corporatehttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13285https://en.firstbankeg.com/13285First BankFirst Index: Corporates fuel 93% of ABC’s credit growth in Q1 2026Arab Banking Corporations Bank ABC financial statements for the period ended 31 March 2026 showed that customeThu, 20 Aug 2026 13:24:12 +02002026-08-20T13:24:12+02:00Arab Banking Corporation’s (Bank ABC) financial statements for the period ended 31 March 2026 showed that customer loans rose 8 per cent in Q1 2026 to EGP 42.39 billion from EGP 39.26 billion at end-2025, an increase of EGP 3.13 billion.The strong increase in total loans was driven by a EGP 2.92 billion rise in corporate loans, the largest component of the bank’s lending portfolio, which accounted for about 93 per cent of the increase in customer loans during Q1 2026.Corporate loans increased by 8.7 per cent during the first three months of 2026, reaching EGP 36.55 billion at the end of March 2026, compared to EGP 33.63 billion at the end of 2025.This growth increased the share of corporate loans in the bank’s total loan portfolio to 86.2 per cent at the end of March 2026, compared to 85.7 per cent at the end of 2025.Meanwhile, the share of retail loans in the bank’s total customer loans declined marginally to 13.8 per cent at the end of March, compared to 14.3 per cent at the end of 2025.The retail loan portfolio stood at approximately EGP 5.84 billion at the end of March 2026, compared to EGP 5.63 billion at the end of 2025, representing growth of 3.7 per cent during Q1 2026.In terms of the bank’s financial performance during Q1 2026, its asset portfolio increased by 7.4 per cent to approximately EGP 96.83 billion at the end of March, compared to EGP 90.17 billion at the end of 2025.The bank’s financial investments portfolio also increased by approximately 4.7 per cent during the first quarter of the year, reaching EGP 27.49 billion at the end of March 2026, compared to EGP 26.26 billion at the end of 2025.Customer deposits surged by 8.5 per cent during the first quarter of the year, reaching EGP 79.92 billion at the end of March 2026, compared to EGP 73.64 billion at the end of 2025, an increase of EGP 6.28 billion.financial statement,customer loans,Bank ABChttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13284https://en.firstbankeg.com/13284Tarek Fayed drives United Bank to lead EGX-listed banks in deposits, loansThu, 20 Aug 2026 12:59:04 +02002026-08-20T12:59:04+02:00The United Bank emerged as one of the strongest performers among EGX-listed banks in H1 2026 under the leadership of Tarek Fayed, who took over as chief executive officer and managing director on 1 September 2025.The bank topped FirstBank’s rankings for growth in customer deposits, total loans and corporate deposits, while ranking second in asset and corporate loan growth.The United Bank topped FirstBank’s ranking of the fastest-growing listed banks by customer deposits after its portfolio rose 20.8 per cent in H1 2026 to about EGP 91.58 billion at end-June from EGP 75.82 billion at end-2025, an increase of about EGP 15.76 billion.Corporate deposits were the main driver of this expansion in the bank’s funding base, rising 46.4 per cent to about EGP 41.12 billion at end-June 2026 from EGP 28.09 billion at end-2025, an increase of about EGP 13.03 billion.The increase in corporate deposits accounted for about 82.6 per cent of the total growth in customer deposits during H1 2026, highlighting the significant contribution of the corporate segment to the expansion of the bank’s deposit base.The strong performance extended to lending, with the United Bank topping the ranking of the fastest-growing listed banks by total loans. Its portfolio rose 29.6 per cent to about EGP 49.63 billion at end-June 2026 from EGP 38.28 billion at end-2025, an increase of about EGP 11.35 billion.In corporate loans, he United Bank ranked second among the fastest-growing listed banks, after its portfolio rose 34 per cent to about EGP 38.66 billion at end-June 2026 from EGP 28.85 billion at end-2025, an increase of about EGP 9.81 billion.This increase accounted for about 86.4 per cent of the total growth in the bank’s loan portfolio, indicating that the corporate segment was the main driver of credit expansion during H1 2026.The simultaneous growth in corporate deposits and lending points to a clear expansion in the bank’s corporate business. Growth was not limited to attracting new funding from corporates, but was accompanied by a marked increase in lending to the segment, strengthening its contribution to the bank’s overall growth during the first half of the year.The expansion in both funding and lending was also reflected in asset growth. The United Bank ranked second among the fastest-growing listed banks by assets, with total assets rising 17.29 per cent in H1 2026 to about EGP 117 billion at end-June from EGP 99.75 billion at end-2025, an increase of about EGP 17.25 billion.The performance reflects the efforts of Tarek Fayed, ceo and managing director of the United Bank, and his team to continue expanding the bank’s business, with a clear focus on the corporate segment and strengthening its contribution to deposit and lending growth.EGX,deposits,Growth,Loans,Listed Banks,corporate loans,Tarek Fayed,The United Bankhttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13280https://en.firstbankeg.com/13280First Advice: Faisal Islamic Bank loses second place after ceding top spot to ADIB EgyptFor decades, Faisal Islamic Bank of Egypt was more than a Sharia-compliant banking institution. It was the mosWed, 19 Aug 2026 16:02:53 +02002026-08-19T17:00:00+02:00For decades, Faisal Islamic Bank of Egypt was more than a Sharia-compliant banking institution. It was the most prominent name in Egypt’s Islamic banking industry, benefiting from its first-mover advantage and accumulated expertise as the country’s first fully fledged Islamic bank.Since opening its doors to the public in 1979, following nearly five years of consultations over the establishment of Egypt’s first Islamic bank, Faisal Islamic Bank has built a distinctive banking model that attracted a broad segment of customers seeking Sharia-compliant products and services. It also helped bring new customer segments into the banking sector that had previously avoided conventional banks.The bank’s influence extended beyond its own growth. The success of its model encouraged Islamic banking groups to enter the Egyptian market, while several conventional banks launched Islamic banking branches. Over time, this transformed the sector from a market with a limited number of players into a broader and more diversified industry competing for customers, deposits, financing and Sharia-compliant investments.For decades, Faisal Islamic Bank maintained its leading position, supported by its first-mover advantage, long experience in Islamic banking and an established customer base.That equation, however, has begun to change more visibly in recent years as the market has evolved, competition has intensified and new players have emerged with greater capacity to expand, invest in technology and develop products.The most significant turning point came in September 2024, when Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank – Egypt (ADIB Egypt) overtook Faisal Islamic Bank to lead Egypt’s Islamic banking market for the first time, before further consolidating its position in subsequent periods.The competitive landscape shifted further as Banque Misr’s “Kenana” Islamic banking branches caught up with Faisal Islamic Bank in second place. At end-June 2026, the two recorded the same business volume, sharing the runner-up position among Islamic banking service providers in Egypt.FirstBank had previously highlighted the narrowing gap between Faisal Islamic Bank and Banque Misr’s “Kenana” Islamic banking branches in a report published on 8 June, when the difference had fallen to about EGP 2 billion.June 2026 data illustrate the extent of the shift. ADIB Egypt led the Islamic banking market with business volume of about EGP 412 billion, accounting for 29.5 per cent of the industry total. Faisal Islamic Bank and Banque Misr’s Islamic banking branches followed in second place, each with business volume of about EGP 281 billion and a 21 per cent market share.The significance of these figures extends beyond the rankings themselves. Growth rates during the first half of 2026 point to a widening difference in expansion momentum. ADIB Egypt's business volume grew 18.7 per cent, compared with 11.5 per cent for Banque Misr’s Islamic banking branches and 8.9 per cent for Faisal Islamic Bank.This suggests that Faisal Islamic Bank’s challenge is no longer limited to the loss of market leadership. The greater concern is the slower pace of growth relative to its key competitors, particularly as the number of institutions operating in Islamic finance continues to expand and their ability to attract new customer segments increases.<h2 data-id="d9zRXg">What happened to Faisal Islamic Bank?</h2>Faisal Islamic Bank’s changing market position cannot be attributed to a single factor. Rather, it appears to reflect a combination of challenges associated with the evolution of banking competition, particularly the pace of digital transformation, product development, talent acquisition and the growing number of competitors.Digital transformation has become one of the main forces reshaping banking competition. In Egypt, technology is increasingly influencing customers’ choice of bank rather than serving merely as an additional channel through which services are delivered.Customers no longer look only for products that comply with Islamic Sharia principles. They also increasingly value speed, remote access, efficient mobile applications and digital platforms, ease of use and seamless integration across banking channels.Against this backdrop, Faisal Islamic Bank appears not to have advanced at the same pace as some competitors in developing its digital infrastructure and electronic services. This may have constrained its ability to keep up with changing customer expectations, particularly among younger customers for whom technology has become a core measure of banking quality rather than an added feature.The importance of technology extends well beyond service delivery. It is also central to expanding the customer base, reducing service costs, improving the user experience, analysing customer behaviour and developing products more closely aligned with customer needs.Falling behind in digital transformation can therefore affect not only service quality, but also a bank’s ability to attract customers, improve operational efficiency, develop products and sustain competitive growth over the longer term.Product development has become equally important as the Islamic banking market has broadened and its customer base has become more diverse.Competition is no longer based simply on offering Sharia-compliant products. It increasingly depends on a bank’s ability to introduce innovative products quickly and offer greater flexibility in meeting the financing, savings and investment needs of individuals and businesses.Limited product launches or slow development of existing offerings may therefore restrict Faisal Islamic Bank’s ability to attract new customer segments and capitalise on opportunities created by market growth and changing customer needs.The competitive environment increasingly requires Islamic banks to move beyond traditional product structures through more flexible financing solutions, integrated digital services, new savings and investment products, and specialised offerings aimed at specific customer segments.As a result, the ability to innovate and update products quickly has become as important as historical experience or the size of an established customer base in determining competitive position.The capacity to transform and innovate is also closely linked to talent. As banking becomes more technology-driven, demand has increased for professionals capable of leading digital transformation, developing products, improving customer experience, and building more flexible business models.Competition between banks is therefore no longer limited to attracting customers. It increasingly extends to attracting and retaining the talent needed to understand market demand and convert it into scalable products and services.A number of competing banks have strengthened their capabilities in recent years by recruiting younger professionals and experienced specialists, helping them move more quickly across technology, product development, marketing, and customer experience.By contrast, difficulty in attracting or retaining specialised talent can weaken a bank’s capacity to innovate and slow the execution of development plans, particularly in areas that have become important drivers of banking growth.The changing structure of the market has also reshaped the competitive landscape. Faisal Islamic Bank is no longer operating in an industry dominated by a small number of players, as it did during the early decades of its history. It now competes in a much broader market, with a growing number of institutions offering Sharia-compliant products and services.The market now includes about 47 financial institutions offering Sharia-compliant products. These comprise 15 banks, including four fully fledged Islamic banks, ADIB Egypt, Faisal Islamic Bank, Kuwait Finance House – Egypt (KFH), and Al Baraka Bank, alongside 12 financing companies, 10 takaful insurers, 10 sukuk companies, and around 27 Islamic investment funds.Competition is therefore no longer confined to specialised Islamic banks. It also comes from Islamic banking branches operated by conventional banks and from non-bank financial institutions, widening the range of options available to customers and intensifying competition for Sharia-compliant financing, deposits and investments.In this environment, first-mover advantage alone is no longer enough to protect Faisal Islamic Bank’s market position. Leadership has become increasingly dependent on a bank’s ability to adapt, develop products quickly, invest in technology, attract talent and improve the customer experience.The challenge facing Faisal Islamic Bank, therefore, goes beyond losing the top position to ADIB Egypt or tying with Kenana for second place. It reflects a broader shift in Egypt’s Islamic banking market, where competitive advantage is moving away from historical precedence and accumulated experience alone towards the ability to grow faster, innovate and respond effectively to changing market conditions and customer preferences.For Faisal Bank, the next phase will depend on whether it can accelerate growth and regain competitive momentum, using its long-standing experience and large customer base as a platform for a new stage of development in a market where leadership increasingly depends on the ability to evolve faster than competitors.Faisal Islamic Bank,ADIB Egypt,ADIB,Islamic banking,ISlamic Bankhttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13279https://en.firstbankeg.com/13279Kerolous MarzoukADCB balances rapid loan growth with lower NPL ratioCredit expansion should not be measured solely by the growth in a banks loan portfolio, but rather by its abiWed, 19 Aug 2026 15:14:07 +02002026-08-19T17:00:00+02:00Credit expansion should not be measured solely by the growth in a bank’s loan portfolio, but rather by its ability to maintain asset quality and enhance profitability, ensuring that the increase in financing becomes a source of sustainable growth rather than creating additional pressure on portfolio quality or financial indicators.Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank Egypt (ADCB Egypt) has clearly demonstrated this balance since entering the Egyptian market in 2020. Its customer loan portfolio has grown by about 376 per cent  to reach EGP 82.69 billion as of June 2026, compared to EGP 17.39 billion at the end of 2020, representing an increase of EGP 65.31 billion.Corporate financing has been the main driver of this growth, surging by about 507 per cent over the past six years to EGP 68.34 billion as of June 2026, compared to EGP 11.26 billion at the end of 2020. This represents an increase of EGP 57.09 billion, accounting for around 87 per cent of the bank’s total increase in its loan portfolio.At the same time, the retail loan portfolio has continued to grow, albeit at a relatively slower pace, rising by about 134 per cent to EGP 14.35 billion as of June 2026, compared to EGP 6.13 billion at the end of 2020, an increase of EGP 8.22 billion.The positive performance has not been limited to credit expansion, but has also been accompanied by a clear improvement in portfolio quality. The non-performing loan (NPL) ratio fell to 4.20 per cent as of June 2026, compared to 5.65 per cent at the end of 2020, reflecting the bank’s ability to achieve credit growth without compromising its risk management standards.This improvement was driven primarily by the decline in the NPL ratio of the corporate loan portfolio, which fell to 4.61 per cent as of June 2026, compared to 7.7 per cent at the end of 2020.The impact of this credit expansion has extended beyond portfolio growth and improved asset quality, also significantly boosting the bank’s profitability.The bank has recorded a remarkable surge in net profit over the past five years, growing by 1,067 per cent to EGP 5.73 billion in 2025, compared to EGP 491 million in 2020.This performance has also been reflected in the bank’s profitability indicators. Return on average assets (ROAA) rose to 3.72 per cent in 2025, compared to 1.54 per cent in 2020, while return on average equity (ROAE) increased to 35.35 per cent, compared to 17.46 per cent. This reflects the bank’s ability to generate higher returns on its assets and shareholders’ funds alongside the expansion of its lending activity.Results for the first half of 2026 indicate that this positive trajectory is continuing, with ROAA reaching approximately 2.32 per cent, while ROAE stood at 21.69 per cent.ADCB’s performance since entering the Egyptian market demonstrates that its credit growth has not only expanded the scale of its business and improved asset quality, but has also contributed to enhancing its operational efficiency and strengthening its ability to generate profitability.https://en.firstbankeg.com/13278https://en.firstbankeg.com/13278Kuwaiti banks hold nine spots in FirstBank’s Arab top 100Nine Kuwaiti banks featured in FirstBanks ranking of the 100 largest Arab banks at end-March 2026, with combiWed, 19 Aug 2026 14:06:46 +02002026-08-19T14:06:46+02:00Nine Kuwaiti banks featured in FirstBank’s ranking of the 100 largest Arab banks at end-March 2026, with combined assets of about USD 459.87 billion, accounting for around 9 per cent of the total assets of banks included in the ranking.Kuwaiti banks showed relatively limited movement in the ranking during Q1 2026. Three banks retained their positions, five moved by one place either up or down, while one bank recorded the largest shift, falling three places.National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) remained eighth among Arab banks, with assets rising by 1.4 per cent quarter-on-quarter to USD 150.17 billion at end-March 2026, from USD 148.14 billion at end-2025.Kuwait's Boubyan Bank also retained its position at 35th, as assets increased by 1.8 per cent to USD 33.74 billion from USD 33.13 billion over the same period.Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait (ABK) remained 45th, with assets rising by 5.5 per cent during Q1 2026 to USD 23.74 billion at end-March, from USD 22.49 billion at end-2025.Five other Kuwaiti banks moved by one place in the ranking during the quarter.Kuwait Finance House (KFH) fell to 10th at end-March 2026 from ninth at end-2025, despite a 2.2 per cent increase in assets to USD 141.87 billion from USD 138.88 billion.Burgan Bank moved up to 38th from 39th after its assets rose by 5.1 per cent during Q1 2026 to USD 31.05 billion, from USD 29.55 billion at end-2025.Gulf Bank advanced to 41st from 42nd, with assets rising by 4.7 per cent quarter-on-quarter to USD 26.18 billion from USD 25.01 billion.Warba Bank climbed to 47th from 48th as assets increased by 2 per cent to USD 19.97 billion from USD 19.58 billion.Commercial Bank of Kuwait moved up to 53rd from 54th after its assets rose by 4.9 per cent during Q1 2026 to USD 18.27 billion from USD 17.42 billion.Kuwait International Bank (KIB) recorded the largest decline among the Kuwaiti banks in the ranking, falling three places to 63rd at end-March 2026 from 60th at end-2025.The decline came as the bank’s assets fell by about 1.2 per cent during Q1 2026 to USD 14.89 billion, from USD 15.07 billion at end-2025.assets,Arab banks,Kuwaiti banks,FirstBank’s,Arabhttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13277https://en.firstbankeg.com/13277Shaimaa NasserPaolo Vivona reshapes ALEXBANK’s growth model over nearly two yearsProfit rose more than 50 per cent as assets expanded 27.2 per cent.ALEXBANK has seen a shift in its growth modWed, 19 Aug 2026 13:00:32 +02002026-08-19T13:00:32+02:00<div data-id="unAI5t">Profit rose more than 50 per cent as assets expanded 27.2 per cent.ALEXBANK has seen a shift in its growth model since Paolo Vivona took the helm in October 2024, with profit rising by more than 50 per cent and assets expanding by about 27 per cent, alongside strong retail deposit growth, faster lending and higher fee and commission income.The more important question is whether ALEXBANK simply expanded or whether the way it deploys its resources and generates profit also changed.The shift is evident in the balance sheet. Total assets rose 27.2 per cent to EGP 273.03 billion at end-June 2026 from EGP 214.57 billion at end-2024, an increase of EGP 58.46 billion.Deposits grew at a similar pace, rising 26.7 per cent to EGP 212.93 billion from EGP 168.04 billion over the same period, providing the funding base for the bank’s balance-sheet expansion.Equity grew more slowly, rising 18.8 per cent to EGP 32.91 billion from EGP 27.71 billion, an increase of EGP 5.20 billion. This accounted for about 8.9 per cent of the increase in assets, indicating that balance-sheet expansion was driven primarily by growth in the bank’s funding base rather than a comparable increase in equity.More significant was the change in the deposit mix. Retail deposits jumped 46.6 per cent to EGP 170.07 billion from EGP 115.97 billion, adding EGP 54.10 billion. Corporate deposits moved in the opposite direction, falling by EGP 9.20 billion to EGP 42.86 billion from EGP 52.06 billion.The net EGP 44.90 billion increase in deposits therefore masks a larger shift in funding. Growth in retail deposits more than offset the decline in institutional deposits, lifting their share of total deposits to 79.9 per cent from about 69 per cent. Retail banking consequently became the main source of new funding behind ALEXBANK’s expansion.<h2 data-id="SvoP5W">Lending drives expansion</h2>The stronger funding base supported faster lending growth. Customer lending rose 35.9 per cent to EGP 92.69 billion at end-June 2026 from EGP 68.20 billion at end-2024, an increase of EGP 24.49 billion. The loans-to-assets ratio consequently increased to about 34.0 per cent from 31.8 per cent.Lending also outpaced both asset and deposit growth, increasing its weight within the balance sheet and indicating a greater allocation of resources to interest-earning assets.The composition of lending growth, however, shows that ALEXBANK did not shift towards a purely retail-led model. Retail lending rose 28.5 per cent to EGP 41.49 billion from EGP 32.30 billion, an increase of EGP 9.19 billion. Corporate lending grew 25.4 per cent to EGP 51.20 billion from EGP 40.82 billion, adding about EGP 10.38 billion.This created a clear divergence between the bank’s funding and lending mix. Retail deposits increased by EGP 54.10 billion, while retail lending rose by EGP 9.19 billion. Corporate lending, meanwhile, increased by about EGP 10.38 billion despite a EGP 9.20 billion decline in institutional deposits.The shift was therefore not towards a purely retail banking model, but towards a broader retail funding base while maintaining a diversified lending portfolio.The balance-sheet changes also fed through to the income statement. Net interest income rose 29.4 per cent to EGP 11.49 billion in H1 2026 from EGP 8.88 billion in H1 2024, an increase of EGP 2.61 billion, remaining the bank’s largest income driver.Net fee and commission income grew much faster, rising 94.6 per cent to EGP 1.715 billion from EGP 881.4 million over the same period, an increase of EGP 834 million. While net interest income remained the larger contributor in absolute terms, the faster growth in fees and commissions broadened the bank’s sources of income beyond those directly linked to the interest margin.In absolute terms, net interest income added EGP 2.610 billion to income, compared with EGP 834 million from fees and commissions. Net profit increased by EGP 2.561 billion to EGP 7.646 billion at end-June 2026 from EGP 5.085 billion at end-June 2024.The expansion in the bank’s main income streams therefore did not translate fully into net profit, as other items absorbed part of the improvement. Profit growth nevertheless remained stronger than the pace of balance-sheet expansion.<h2 data-id="ri5VLv">Returns improve alongside profit growth</h2>Net profit grew 34.8 per cent in FY2025, reflecting continued earnings growth alongside faster lending and a broader income base.Efficiency indicators also improved. Return on average assets rose to 6 per cent in 2025 from 5.4 per cent in 2024, while return on equity increased to 43.3 per cent from 43 per cent.These levels helped ALEXBANK rank third among banks operating in Egypt in FirstBank’s ranking of the best-performing banks by return on average assets and return on average equity at end-2025.The performance continued into the first quarter of 2026, when ALEXBANK recorded a 2.9 per cent return on average assets and a 21.9 per cent return on equity.While the quarterly ratios are not directly comparable with full-year measures, they provide an early indication that ALEXBANK continued to generate strong returns on its asset and equity bases in 2026.Over nearly two years, Vivona’s impact has extended beyond balance-sheet expansion. Retail deposits became the main source of new funding, lending grew faster than both assets and deposits, and the bank maintained a diversified lending mix while broadening its income base through faster growth in fees and commissions.</div>AlexBank,Growth,profit,bank,Paolo Vivonahttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13275https://en.firstbankeg.com/13275MENA’s top 100 banks hold steady amid limited top-20 reshufflingThe 100 largest banks in the Middle East and North Africa by assets at end-March 2026 remained broadly stable Tue, 18 Aug 2026 17:32:27 +02002026-08-18T17:32:27+02:00The 100 largest banks in the Middle East and North Africa by assets at end-March 2026 remained broadly stable at the top, according to First Bank’s ranking, with only minor movements within the top 20 as one bank entered the group and another dropped out.Nine banks retained their positions from the 2025 ranking, while 10 moved up or down by one place. The limited changes reflect relatively narrow differences in asset size among several of the region’s largest banks.<h3 data-id="XWNP40">Nine banks hold their ground in top 20</h3>First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) remained the region’s largest bank by assets, holding first place with USD 405.78 billion at end-March 2026, up about 6 per cent from USD 382.23 billion at end-2025.QNB Group retained second place, with total assets rising 2 per cent during Q1 to USD 386.91 billion, from USD 380.67 billion at end-2025.Alrajhi Bank remained fifth, with assets reaching USD 280.11 billion at end-March, compared with USD 278.15 billion at end-2025, an increase of 0.7 per cent.National Bank of Egypt (NBE) held eighth place, with total assets of about USD 173.51 billion at end-March 2026.National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) remained ninth, with assets of USD 150.17 billion, compared with USD 148.14 billion at end-2025, representing growth of 1.4 per cent over the period.Saudi Awwal Bank (SAB) retained 14th place, with assets rising 1.1 per cent to USD 122.50 billion, from USD 121.16 billion at end-2025.Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB) remained 15th, with assets increasing 0.9 per cent to USD 114.32 billion, from USD 113.25 billion at end-2025.Turkiye Halk Bankasi A.S. held 16th place, with assets of USD 104.77 billion at end-March 2026, compared with USD 104.68 billion at end-2025, representing marginal growth of 0.1 per cent.Mashreq remained 17th, as assets rose 2.9 per cent to USD 93.73 billion, from USD 91.11 billion at end-2025.<h3 data-id="3hiUpF">Ten banks reshuffle by one place</h3>Ten banks moved by a single position within the top 20, largely reflecting differences in asset growth during the first quarter.Emirates NBD climbed to third place from fourth at end-2025 as assets increased about 4 per cent to USD 331.24 billion, from USD 317.04 billion.The move pushed Saudi National Bank (SNB) down to fourth from third, as its assets grew by about 1 per cent to USD 327.34 billion, from USD 322.61 billion at end-2025.Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) moved up to sixth place from seventh after its assets increased 4.5 per cent to USD 220.20 billion, from USD 210.64 billion.By contrast, Ziraat Bankası slipped to seventh from sixth, with assets rising just 0.1 per cent to USD 216.84 billion, from USD 216.66 billion at end-2025.Riyad Bank moved up to 10th place from 11th as assets increased 3.3 per cent to USD 143.11 billion, from USD 138.50 billion.Kuwait Finance House (KFH) consequently slipped to 11th from 10th, as assets posted a 2.2 per cent increase to USD 141.87 billion, from USD 138.88 billion at end-2025.Türkiye İş Bankası advanced to 12th place from 13th after its assets grew 3.7 per cent to USD 130.09 billion, from USD 125.45 billion.VakıfBank moved down to 13th from 12th as assets declined 0.6 per cent quarter-on-quarter to USD 127.14 billion at end-March 2026, from USD 127.87 billion at end-2025.Alinma Bank climbed to 19th place from 20th, supported by 4.2 per cent asset growth quarter-on-quarter to USD 86.41 billion at end-March 2026, from USD 82.93 billion.Attijariwafa Bank Maroc slipped to 20th from 19th as assets declined 2.2 per cent during Q1 2026 to USD 85.31 billion at end-March 2026, from USD 87.23 billion at end-2025.<h3 data-id="xQ9AK9">BSF climbed four places to 18th </h3>Banque Saudi Fransi (BSF) recorded the strongest ranking gain among the 20 largest banks in the Middle East and North Africa, climbing four places to 18th at end-March 2026, from 22nd at end-2025.The advance came as BSF’s assets increased 5.1 per cent during the first quarter to USD 86.55 billion, from USD 82.38 billion at end-2025.Overall, the changes point to relative stability at the top of the MENA banking sector. Most of the region’s largest banks either retained their positions or moved by only one place, while BSF stood out with the only major ranking shift during the quarter.Banks,Lists,Middle east,largest banks,MENA,Banque Saudi Fransi,listhttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13271https://en.firstbankeg.com/13271Shaimaa NasserMouawia Essekkelli steers Attijariwafa Egypt through 3 years of corporate-led growthTranslated and edited by Aya ElsayedAssets rose 170% between end-2022 and end-March 2026, while corporate clieTue, 18 Aug 2026 15:42:02 +02002026-08-18T15:42:02+02:00Translated and edited by Aya ElsayedAssets rose 170% between end-2022 and end-March 2026, while corporate clients drove most of the expansion in deposits and lending.Attijariwafa Bank Egypt has significantly expanded its balance sheet since Mouawia Essekkelli took over as chief executive officer and managing director in December 2022, with growth increasingly concentrated in its corporate business.More than three years into his tenure, the change extends beyond the bank’s growing scale. Corporate clients have become a larger component of both deposits and lending, while profitability and returns have also strengthened over the period.Total assets rose 170 per cent to EGP 166.68 billion at end-March 2026, from EGP 61.71 billion at end-2022. The bank’s official Q1 2026 statement report total assets of EGP 166.68 billion.Customer deposits reached EGP 140.71 billion at end-March 2026, broadly matching the pace of the bank’s asset growth over the period.<h3 data-id="xWWAMm">Corporate deposits lead funding growth</h3>Deposit growth was concentrated in the corporate segment. Corporate deposits rose 199.9 per cent to EGP 91.57 billion at end-March 2026, from EGP 30.54 billion at end-2022, while retail deposits increased 123.6 per cent to EGP 49.14 billion, from EGP 21.97 billion.Corporate deposits added about EGP 61.04 billion over the period, compared with EGP 27.17 billion for retail deposits. The increase in corporate deposits was equivalent to about 58 per cent of the total increase in the bank’s assets over the same period.As a result, the corporate segment’s share of total customer deposits rose to about 65.1 per cent at end-March 2026, making it the largest component of the bank’s funding base.Retail deposits, nevertheless, more than doubled, showing that the bank expanded its retail deposit base alongside the stronger growth in corporate funding.<h3 data-id="04bLF9">Corporate lending accounts for most credit expansion</h3>The shift towards corporate business was also evident in lending.Loans and facilities to customers increased from EGP 32.18 billion at end-2022 to about EGP 72.17 billion at end-March 2026.Corporate loans accounted for about 81 per cent of the total at end-March, reaching approximately EGP 58.42 billion, while retail loans stood at EGP 13.74 billion.Corporate lending accounted for about 84 per cent of the increase in customer loans over the period, adding around EGP 33.45 billion.The figures show that corporate clients became the main driver of both deposit and lending growth, while the retail business continued to expand alongside them.<h3 data-id="0sfr7M">Expansion feeds through to profitability</h3>Loan portfolio quality remained high as the ratio increased to 99.4 per cent at end-March 2026 from 99 per cent at end-2022, indicating that lending growth was achieved while maintaining strong portfolio quality.The balance-sheet expansion was accompanied by a sharp rise in earnings, with net profit increasing 238.2 per cent to EGP 3.51 billion in 2025 from EGP 1.04 billion in 2022, a gain of about EGP 2.47 billion.Net interest income increased from EGP 2.62 billion in 2022 to EGP 6.85 billion in 2025, while net fee and commission income rose from EGP 491.6 million to about EGP 1.28 billion.The increase therefore extended across both core interest income and fee-based income rather than being concentrated in a single revenue line.<h3 data-id="uMTrrb">Returns improve alongside balance-sheet growth</h3>FirstBank calculations also show an improvement in profitability ratios over the period.Return on average assets (ROAA) increased from 1.92 per cent in 2022 to 2.51 per cent in 2025, while return on average equity (ROAE) rose from 17.13 per cent to 26.41 per cent.The improvement indicates that the bank generated higher returns from both its asset base and shareholders’ equity as the business expanded.Attijariwafa maintained its earnings momentum in Q1 2026, recording net profit of EGP 820.99 million, while ROAA stood at 2.04 per cent and ROAE at 23.43 per cent.Overall, Attijariwafa Bank Egypt’s growth under Essekkelli has extended beyond balance-sheet expansion. Corporate clients have become the main driver of deposit and lending growth, while the retail business has continued to expand.At the same time, net profit, net interest income and fee and commission income have all risen strongly, alongside improved returns on average assets and equity. The period has therefore reshaped the bank’s growth mix while strengthening its ability to convert a larger business base into higher earnings and returns.Attijariwafa Bank Egypt,Growth,corporates,Attijariwafa Egypt,Mouawia Essekkelli,bank,corporratehttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13270https://en.firstbankeg.com/13270Mahynar MohamedCIB leads major Arab banks by return on average assets in Q1 2026Translated and edited by Aya ElsayedCIB combined 18.6% profit growth with double-digit expansion across assetsTue, 18 Aug 2026 13:09:22 +02002026-08-18T13:09:22+02:00Translated and edited by Aya ElsayedCIB combined 18.6% profit growth with double-digit expansion across assets, lending, and deposits in H1 2026.Commercial International Bank – Egypt (CIB) ranked first among major Arab banks in FirstBank’s Q1 2026 analysis of return on average assets (ROAA), with a calculated ratio of 4.43 per cent and net profit equivalent to about USD 325 million.CIB maintained its profitability momentum in the second quarter, with FirstBank’s calculated ROAA rising to 4.96 per cent in H1 2026, alongside net profit equivalent to about USD 799 million.The performance shows that earnings continued to grow alongside the bank’s expanding asset base during the first half of the year.<h3 data-id="j2Axag">Balance sheet expansion remains broad-based</h3>CIB continued to expand across its main balance-sheet lines in H1 2026.FirstBank’s USD-converted data show total assets rising 13.7 per cent to USD 34.24 billion at end-June, from USD 30.11 billion at end-2025.Net loans and advances grew faster, increasing 15.5 per cent to USD 13.02 billion, from USD 11.27 billion at end-2025.Customer deposits rose 14.5 per cent over the same period to USD 26.54 billion, from USD 23.17 billion.<h3 data-id="v5BA8K">Profit growth supports returns</h3>Net profit rose 18.6 per cent to about USD 799 million in H1 2026, from USD 674 million a year earlier.The increase was supported by stronger core earnings, with net interest income rising 19.4 per cent to the equivalent of about USD 1.23 billion, from USD 1.03 billion in H1 2025.<h3 data-id="axuJJ6">Fee income strengthens earnings mix</h3>Net fee and commission income increased about 41 per cent to the equivalent of USD 117 million, from USD 83 million a year earlier.The stronger fee contribution broadened earnings growth beyond the bank’s core interest business.<h3 data-id="KHrXZS">Profitability keeps pace with expansion</h3>CIB’s leading position in FirstBank’s ranking reflects a combination of scale, growth, and efficiency.The bank expanded its assets, lending, and customer deposits while continuing to grow earnings, helping it sustain strong returns despite a larger balance sheet.That combination reinforces CIB’s position among the more profitable and efficient major Arab banks covered by FirstBank’s analysis.CIB,Return on average assets,profit,FirstBank’s ranking,Arab banks,ROAAhttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13268https://en.firstbankeg.com/13268Yasmine elsayedStrong net profit performance for Emirates NBD Egypt in H1 2026Net interest income rose 24% in H1 2026, while higher costs and credit-loss charges weighed on profit growth.EMon, 17 Aug 2026 16:38:28 +02002026-08-17T16:38:28+02:00<div data-id="bzhuxc">Translated and edited by Aya Elsayed</div><div data-id="bzhuxc">Net interest income rose 24% in H1 2026, while higher costs and credit-loss charges weighed on profit growth.</div>Emirates NBD Egypt reported net profit of EGP 3.31 billion in H1 2026, up 9.6 per cent year-on-year from EGP 3.02 billion, according to the bank’s statement.Although net profit rose in H1 2026, the increase was driven mainly by stronger core income streams, particularly net interest income, alongside gains in other income lines. Higher operating expenses and credit-loss charges, however, limited the impact of these gains on net profit.<h3 data-id="VegDCx">Net interest income drives core earnings</h3>Net interest income was the main earnings driver, rising 24 per cent to EGP 7.55 billion in H1 2026 from EGP 6.09 billion a year earlier.The increase reflected faster growth in Interest from loans and similar income than in the cost of deposits and similar expenses. Interest income and similar income rose 20.2 per cent to EGP 18.51 billion, from EGP 15.40 billion in H1 2025.Meanwhile, cost of deposits and similar expenses increased 17.7 per cent to EGP 10.96 billion, from EGP 9.31 billion.The roughly 2.5 percentage-point gap between their growth rates supported the increase in net interest income.<h3 data-id="OtAv7A">Fee income growth offset by higher expenses</h3>Fee-based income made only a limited contribution to earnings growth, as net fees and commissions income rose just 0.6 per cent to EGP 923.56 million from EGP 918.46 million in H1 2025.Fees and commissions income increased 14.1 per cent to EGP 1.41 billion, while fees and commissions expenses climbed 52.7 per cent to EGP 490.87 million, from EGP 321.54 million.The sharper rise in commission expenses absorbed much of the increase in fee income, leaving net fees and commissions income broadly flat, up just 0.6 per cent.<h3 data-id="Zml4r0">Trading and investment gains provide additional support</h3>Other income streams also strengthened during the period, with net trading income rising 85.3 per cent to EGP 544.81 million from EGP 293.99 million in H1 2025.Gains on financial investments increased 145.7 per cent to EGP 40.75 million, from EGP 16.59 million, while dividend income rose to EGP 2.08 million from EGP 714,000.<h3 data-id="tO4rI4">Credit-loss charges remain elevated despite improved asset quality</h3>The bank’s Impairment charges of credit losses rose 7.4 per cent to EGP 831.03 million in H1 2026, from EGP 773.46 million a year earlier.This came despite an improvement in credit quality, with the non-performing loan ratio falling to 3.40 per cent at end-June 2026 from 3.62 per cent at end-June 2025.The figures suggest that the improvement in the loan portfolio’s credit quality was not sufficient during the period to reduce the impact of credit losses on the income statement, with the bank continuing to record a relatively high credit-loss burden.The decline in the non-performing loan ratio nevertheless points to improved asset quality. A stronger impact on profitability would require a sustained reduction in the cost of risk and credit-loss charges.<h3 data-id="v6Lo4s">Rising operating costs weigh on profitability</h3>Operating expenses were another major source of pressure on profitability, absorbing part of the gains from income growth and limiting their full impact on net profit.Administrative expenses increased 21.1 per cent to around EGP 2 billion in H1 2026, from EGP 1.66 billion a year earlier.Other operating expenses more than doubled, rising 118.8 per cent to around EGP 1 billion, from EGP 500.75 million in H1 2025.Income tax expense rose 32.8 per cent to EGP 1.82 billion, from EGP 1.37 billion a year earlier.Overall, Emirates NBD Egypt’s H1 2026 results point to strong income generation, but rising costs and continued credit-loss charges limited the extent to which that strength translated into net profit.Looking ahead, the focus will be on extracting greater returns from existing growth rather than relying solely on business expansion. That will require tighter control of operating costs and credit risk while maintaining asset quality.The bank also has room to strengthen profitability by expanding non-interest income, particularly fees and commissions, with greater emphasis on higher-return, lower-cost products and services.A better balance between income growth, operating efficiency and risk management will be critical to turning stronger operating performance into more sustainable net profit growth.net profit,net interest income,profit,Interest income,Emirates National Bank of Dubai (NBD),incomehttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13265https://en.firstbankeg.com/13265QNB Egypt deposits triple to EGP 910bn under Mohamed BedeirCustomer deposits rose 207.3% over four and a half years, led by faster growth in corporate deposits.QNB EgyptMon, 17 Aug 2026 13:27:13 +02002026-08-17T13:27:13+02:00Customer deposits rose 207.3% over four and a half years, led by faster growth in corporate deposits.QNB Egypt’s customer deposit base more than tripled between end-2021 and end-June 2026, rising 207.3 per cent to EGP 910.37 billion from EGP 296.24 billion, according to FirstBank analysis of the bank’s statements.The deposit base increased by EGP 614.13 billion during Mohamed Bedeir’s tenure as chief executive officer since September 2021.<h3 data-id="0B05P1">Corporate deposits reshape the funding mix</h3>Corporate deposits were the main driver of growth, rising about 237 per cent to EGP 576.63 billion at end-June 2026, from EGP 171.11 billion at end-2021.Increasing by EGP 405.52 billion over the period, corporate deposits accounted for 63.34 per cent of total customer deposits at end-June 2026, up from 57.76 per cent at end-2021, a rise of 5.58 percentage points.Retail deposits rose 166.7 per cent to EGP 333.74 billion, from EGP 125.13 billion at end-2021, an increase of EGP 208.61 billion. They represented 36.66 per cent of total customer deposits at end-June 2026.Corporate deposits therefore expanded faster than retail deposits, increasing their weight in QNB Egypt’s customer deposit mix and remaining its largest deposit segment.<h3 data-id="zmRSeV">Earnings momentum continues in H1 2026</h3>QNB Egypt maintained earnings growth in the first half of 2026, with net profit rising 20.4 per cent year-on-year to EGP 17.79 billion, from EGP 14.77 billion in H1 2025.Net interest income increased 23.2 per cent to EGP 28.43 billion, compared with EGP 23.09 billion a year earlier.Net fee and commission income rose 4.4 per cent to EGP 3.41 billion, from EGP 3.26 billion in H1 2025.<h3 data-id="uppaRO">Assets cross EGP 1tn</h3>Total assets increased 16 per cent in the first half of 2026 to EGP 1.06 trillion at end-June, from EGP 915.56 billion at end-2025.Gross loans and credit facilities to customers rose 11.6 per cent over the same period to EGP 518.91 billion, from EGP 464.84 billion at end-2025.The figures show that QNB Egypt’s expansion extended beyond deposits, with growth across its balance sheet and core earnings indicators in the first half of 2026.corporate deposits,Customer Deposits,QNB Egypt,QNB Egypt deposits,Mohamed Badirhttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13239https://en.firstbankeg.com/13239QNB Regains Top Spot as MENA's Largest Bank A recent analysis by the First Bank Research Center showed that Qatar National Bank QNB regained its position Tue, 04 Aug 2026 04:00:30 +02002026-08-04T04:00:30+02:00A recent analysis by the «First Bank» Research Center showed that Qatar National Bank (QNB) regained its position as the largest bank in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) by total assets at the end of June 2026, after spending two consecutive quarters behind First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), which had overtaken it in September 2025.The shift underscores intensifying competition for regional banking leadership, with the top ranking becoming increasingly fluid as the asset bases of the region's two largest lenders continue to converge.According to the banks' consolidated financial statements, QNB's total assets rose to $394.72 bn at the end of June 2026 from $380.67 bn at the end of 2025, representing a 3.7% increase during the first half of the year.By comparison, FAB's assets edged up to $383.57 bn from $382.23 bn over the same period, posting growth of just 0.3%, The difference in growth momentum was enough to reverse the regional rankings.The turning point came during the second quarter of 2026, when the two banks moved in opposite directions. While QNB continued to expand its balance sheet, FAB's assets declined from their March level, allowing the Qatari lender to reclaim the top position within just three months.At the end of March 2026, FAB had strengthened its lead with total assets of $405.78 bn, standing $18.87 bn ahead of QNB, whose assets totaled $386.91 bn. By the end of June, however, QNB had erased that gap entirely and moved back into first place with a lead of $11.15 bn.A review of the past five years shows that QNB had maintained a comfortable lead over its nearest rival for much of the period. The asset gap stood at $31.36 bn at the end of both 2020 and 2021, narrowed to $24.41 bn in 2022 and $19.86 bn in 2023, before widening again to $25.78 bn at the end of 2024, reinforcing its long-standing regional dominance.That pattern changed in 2025, when FAB became the region's largest bank by assets for the first time, ending the year with a $1.56 bn lead before extending its advantage to $18.87 bn by the end of March 2026. However, QNB reversed the trend within one quarter, marking one of the fastest leadership changes ever recorded between the region's two largest banking groups. The latest figures suggest that the rivalry between QNB and FAB has entered a new phase. Regional leadership is no longer defined solely by the size of a bank's balance sheet but increasingly by its ability to deliver stronger and more sustainable growth than its closest competitor.As the gap between the two lenders continues to narrow, upcoming financial results are likely to play a decisive role in reshaping the ranking of the region's largest banks.QNB,First Bank,FABhttps://en.firstbankeg.com/13224https://en.firstbankeg.com/13224The Big Numbers Race: Will Emirates NBD’s Recent Acquisitions and Expansion Drive It to Claim the Runner-Up Position Among Banks in the Middle East and North Africa?Thu, 30 Jul 2026 14:56:02 +02002026-07-30T14:56:02+02:00Major acquisitions do not immediately reshape the rankings of regional banks upon announcement, but they can alter the direction of competition for years to come.In a banking sector where balance sheets exceed hundreds of billions of dollars, the more important question is no longer which banks occupy the top positions today, but rather which institutions possess the ability to reshape the competitive landscape at a faster pace.From this perspective, the recent moves by Emirates NBD Group raise a fundamental question: has the group already begun narrowing the gap with Qatar National Bank (QNB), the second-largest bank in the Middle East and North Africa?This question comes after the group successfully reshaped the regional banking rankings during the current year, having overtaken Saudi National Bank to claim third place in the Middle East and North Africa by the end of March 2026. Its total assets rose to $331.24 billion, compared to $317.04 billion at the end of 2025.Accordingly, the group’s challenge is no longer entering the top three banks in the region, but rather its ability to reduce the gap with the second-ranked institution.While expansion through acquisitions has long been a core pillar of Emirates NBD’s strategy, the current phase differs in terms of the size of transactions and their potential impact on the balance sheet.The group is no longer merely seeking geographic expansion, but is instead targeting the addition of large asset bases capable of delivering a significant boost to its business volume within a short timeframe.In this context, the group announced in October 2025 the signing of an agreement to acquire a majority stake in India’s RBL Bank for $2.75 billion, in one of the largest cross-border acquisitions in the history of the Indian banking sector.The deal was officially completed in late June after securing all regulatory approvals, making the group the owner of approximately 60% of the bank’s expanded capital.The importance of this transaction goes beyond its investment value, as it represents the largest foreign direct investment in India’s banking sector, the largest equity capital increase in the history of Indian banks, and the first successful foreign acquisition of a majority stake in an Indian bank.The deal is expected to add approximately $19.15 billion to Emirates NBD’s asset base, based on RBL Bank’s total assets as of March 2026.The group’s moves did not stop there. International media reports in recent days revealed that Emirates NBD has entered discussions to acquire HSBC’s operations in Turkey.Although no final agreement has been announced yet, completing the deal could add around $6.94 billion to the group’s asset base, based on HSBC Turkey’s total assets as of March 2026.These developments come as Emirates NBD continues to deliver strong organic growth, with total assets rising to $331.24 billion by the end of March 2026, compared to $317.04 billion at the end of 2025—an increase of $14.2 billion, representing a quarterly growth rate of 4.5%.For comparison purposes, and based on March 2026 data, assuming full consolidation of the acquired assets, the group’s total assets would rise to approximately $357.33 billion.However, assessing the impact of these transactions is incomplete without comparing them to the growth pace of its main competitor.QNB Group’s assets increased to $386.91 billion by the end of March 2026, compared to $380.67 billion at the end of 2025—an increase of only $6.24 billion, representing a growth rate of 1.6% over the same period.This comparison indicates that Emirates NBD achieved, in the first quarter alone, organic growth exceeding more than double the increase recorded by QNB—even before factoring in acquisitions. Furthermore, adding the expected assets from recent deals raises the group’s total asset growth to more than six times QNB’s growth since the beginning of the year.Despite this surge, it will not be sufficient to capture second place in the near term, as Emirates NBD’s assets would still remain approximately $29.6 billion below QNB’s, even after accounting for announced and potential deals.However, this outcome does not reflect the full picture.The gap between the two banks stood at around $55.7 billion before considering recent acquisitions, but declines to less than $30 billion afterward—meaning Emirates NBD has theoretically reduced the gap by nearly 47% through just two deals.From a strategic standpoint, this development may be more significant than the current ranking shift. Emirates NBD has already surpassed Saudi National Bank and moved into third place, indicating that its expansion strategy is no longer translating into asset growth alone, but is now reflected in its regional ranking.Accordingly, the key indicator to monitor going forward is no longer the absolute size of assets, but rather the rate at which the gap with QNB is narrowing.If Emirates NBD maintains its current organic growth momentum and continues executing similar acquisitions, while QNB sustains its recent growth pace, competition for the position of the second-largest bank in the Middle East and North Africa could become increasingly close in the coming years—and may ultimately enable Emirates NBD to claim that position.Therefore, the core message reflected by these recent developments is not that Emirates NBD is on the verge of overtaking QNB, but rather that it has first succeeded in redefining its position among the region’s largest banks by securing third place, before entering a new phase aimed at narrowing the gap with the second-ranked institution.These deals may not immediately propel the group to second place, but they place it on a trajectory that makes such competition far more realistic than it was just one year ago.Ultimately, the decisive factor in the coming period will be the group’s ability to sustain its expansion strategy in parallel with the growth pace of its competitors—determining whether competition for the second-largest banking position in the Middle East and North Africa remains a theoretical scenario or becomes a reality in the years ahead.https://en.firstbankeg.com/13223https://en.firstbankeg.com/13223Mahynar MohamedQNB Group Solidifies Its Lead Among Arab Banks in Customer Deposit and Loan PortfoliosThu, 30 Jul 2026 14:48:09 +02002026-07-30T14:48:09+02:00The latest «First Bank» rankings showed Qatar National Bank Group topping the lists of the largest Arab banks in terms of deposit and loan portfolio size by the end of March 2026.This came after its customer deposit portfolio reached about $267.2 billion, while its loan portfolio stood at about $282.04 billion by the end of last March.The Group continued to strengthen its customer deposit portfolio during the first half of 2026, reaching $267 billion by the end of last June, compared to $261.40 billion at the end of 2025, a growth rate of 2.15%.Alongside strengthening its credit portfolio, which rose by about 2.67% during the first half of the current year, recording $285.99 billion by the end of last June, compared to $278.54 billion at the end of 2025.Overall, the Group achieved strong performance during the first half of 2026, with its financial position rising by about 3.69%, recording assets of $394.72 billion by the end of last June, compared to $380.67 billion at the end of 2025.On the profitability front, net profit recorded about $2.43 billion during the first 6 months of 2026, compared to $2.35 billion during the corresponding period of 2025, a growth of 3.37%.Pre-tax profits saw growth of about 6.41%, reaching $3.16 billion during the first half of 2026, compared to $2.97 billion during the same period of 2025.Net interest income also rose by about 9.47%, recording $5.19 billion during the first 6 months of the current year, compared to $4.74 billion during the first half of 2025.In addition, net fee and commission income rose to about $788 million during the first half of 2026, compared to $668 million during the same period of 2025, a growth of 18%.https://en.firstbankeg.com/13221https://en.firstbankeg.com/13221«First» Index: Competition Intensifies for Third Place in MENA Financing… Gap Between «SNB» and «Emirates NBD» Falls to Its Lowest Level in 5 YearsThu, 30 Jul 2026 14:34:04 +02002026-07-30T14:34:04+02:00After years of a widening gap between Saudi National Bank (SNB), ranked third, and Emirates NBD Group, ranked fourth in terms of total loan portfolio, competition between the two has entered a new phase. The gap has narrowed to its lowest level in five years, placing the third position under increasing pressure for the first time in years.Monitoring conducted by «First Bank» on the evolution of loan portfolios among the largest banking groups in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) shows that this shift reflects a clear reversal in competitive dynamics. After the gap continued to widen until the end of 2023, it began to shrink in 2024 and has maintained this trend through the end of the first quarter of 2026.According to the consolidated financial statements of both groups, this gap has gone through two distinct phases over the past five years.In the first phase, spanning from the end of 2021 to the end of 2023, the gap expanded लगातार, rising from $17.55 billion at the end of 2021 to $31.66 billion at the end of 2022, before reaching its peak at $39.20 billion by the end of 2023—an increase of more than 123% over two years. This reflected SNB’s clear advantage in credit expansion during that period.The second phase, which began in 2024 and continues to date, witnessed a reversal in direction. The gap declined to $37.54 billion by the end of 2024, then to $22.14 billion by the end of 2025—a drop of nearly 41% in one year—before falling further to $10.69 billion by the end of March 2026, marking an additional decline of more than 51% in just three months.This represents the lowest level in five years, highlighting a clear shift in competitive dynamics between the two groups, as the distance between them continues to shrink at an accelerating pace.Performance in the first quarter of 2026 reveals the key drivers behind this shift. SNB continued to grow its loan portfolio, but at a modest pace, reaching $195.22 billion by the end of March 2026 compared to $194.44 billion at the end of 2025, reflecting a quarterly growth rate of only about 0.4%. This indicates a noticeable slowdown compared to the bank’s expansion rates in previous years.In contrast, Emirates NBD delivered a much stronger performance, with its loan portfolio rising to $184.53 billion by the end of March 2026, up from $172.31 billion at the end of 2025, achieving a growth rate of 7.1% during the first quarter—more than fifteen times the growth rate of its competitor. This significantly contributed to narrowing the gap between the two groups within just three months.These results suggest that the narrowing gap was not driven by a decline in SNB’s performance, which continued to post positive—albeit slower—growth. Rather, it was primarily the result of the strong momentum achieved by Emirates NBD in expanding its loan portfolio, supported by its diversified business base and broad regional and international presence, which enhanced its ability to close the gap in recent periods.Despite SNB maintaining its position as the third-largest bank in the MENA region by loan portfolio size as of the end of March 2026, and Emirates NBD remaining in fourth place, the gap between them is no longer as wide as it was two years ago. This makes the results of the coming quarters decisive in determining whether the UAE-based group will succeed in capturing third place, or whether SNB will regain its credit momentum and widen the gap again to defend its position.