BLC Bank

What BLC Bank does

BLC Bank S.A.L is a Lebanese commercial bank founded in 1950, headquartered in Beirut's Adlieh Square, and operating a network of 42 branches across Lebanon with a workforce of 501–1,000 employees. The bank offers a full suite of retail, business/SME, and private banking services including current and deposit accounts, credit/debit/prepaid/internet cards, trade finance instruments (Letters of Credit, Documentary Collection, Bank Guarantees), insurance products (life, accidental, education, retirement, critical illness), and wealth management. Distinctive positioning centers on women's economic empowerment (first-in-MENA WE Initiative launched in 2012 under UN Women Empowerment Principles commitment), SME development (SME Toolkit Lebanon in partnership with the IFC since 2013), and environmentally-focused lending (USD 53.3M disbursed in 2018 across solar, energy efficiency, and eco-tourism).

Electronic delivery channels include Personal and Business Internet Banking, Mobile Banking for iOS and Android, a 41+ location Smart ATM network with cardless withdrawal capability, POS terminals, and the proprietary BLC Pass authentication supplemented by SMS login alerts. The bank acquired a new eBank Platform in 2018 to advance its cyber client experience. Headquartered as a Société Anonyme Libanaise under BDL Authorization No. 11/44, BLC Bank operates as a subsidiary of Fransabank and complies with Basel accords, GDPR (679/2016), Lebanese Law 81/2018, and BDL Circular 146/2018.

Revenue is generated through five streams: interest income from lending and trade finance, transaction and service fees (ATM, POS, wire transfers, banker's drafts), card services (interchange and annual fees), trade finance commissions, and safe deposit box rentals. Distribution combines direct branch sales, dedicated SME relationship managers and portfolio specialists, private banking advisors, a self-serve digital banking stack, and an inside-sales call center (1510). The bank is a founding MENA member and 2015 Chair of the Global Banking Alliance for Women and was the first commercial Green Building in Lebanon under the Arz Bronze Certification.

Name

BLC Bank

Legal name

BLC Bank S.A.L

Website

https://blcbank.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1950

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

BLC Bank is a Beirut-headquartered Lebanese commercial bank founded in 1950, operating 42 branches nationwide. It serves retail, SME, and private banking customers with accounts, cards, trade finance, insurance, wealth management, and dedicated women's empowerment and eco-loan programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Retail Banking

NAICS

Depository Credit Intermediation (5221), Commercial Banking (522110)

SIC

State Commercial Banks (6022)

akta.pro primary industry

SME Business Lending (Term Loans, Lines of Credit, Overdrafts) (FSABABAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

SME Deposits & Business Accounts (Operating, Savings, CDs) (FSABABAC)

Keywords

• Retail banking services
• Commercial banking
• Trade finance
• SME lending
• Private banking

Headquarters

HQ city

Beirut

HQ country

Lebanon

HQ region

Middle East

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Interest Income: Interest earned on loans, credit facilities, and lending activities including trade finance (Letters of Credit, Documentary Collection, Bank Guarantees)
2. Transaction and Service Fees: Fees from ATM transactions, POS transactions, wire transfers, banker's drafts, account maintenance, and other banking services
3. Card Services: Revenue from credit cards, debit cards, prepaid cards, and internet cards including interchange fees and annual fees
4. Commission Income: Commission from trade finance operations, guarantees, and documentary credits
5. Safe Deposit Box Rental: Rental income from safe deposit boxes for customer asset security

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels13 records

Core offering

BLC Bank is a Lebanese commercial bank offering retail, business/SME, and private banking services through a network of 42 branches across Lebanon. Core products include current and deposit accounts, credit/debit/prepaid cards, trade finance instruments (Letters of Credit, Documentary Collection, Bank Guarantees), insurance products, digital banking channels, and wealth management services. The bank also runs dedicated SME support programs and the WE Initiative for women's economic empowerment.

Product overview

BLC Bank is a Lebanese commercial bank offering a comprehensive portfolio of retail, business, and private banking products and services through a network of 42 branches. The bank's offerings include personal current and deposit accounts, internet and mobile banking platforms, credit and debit cards, trade finance instruments (Letters of Credit, Documentary Collection, Bank Guarantees), insurance products, and wealth management services. The bank operates dedicated SME support programs (SME Toolkit Lebanon, We Initiative for women's empowerment, Brilliant Lebanese Awards) alongside traditional banking services. E-banking is delivered via Personal Internet Banking, Business Internet Banking, Mobile Banking, and BLC Pass authentication. The bank also provides specialized services including car registration payments, real estate location tools, and eco-friendly loan products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• WE Initiative: Women Empowerment Initiative - a comprehensive program dedicated to the economic empowerment of women in the Middle East, providing non-financial products and services such as trainings, educational workshops, networking events, and advisory services.
• SME Toolkit Lebanon
• Brilliant Lebanese Awards

Products and services

• Personal Current Accounts & C/A Fresh
• BDL Basic Circulars Accounts
• Fresh Accounts
• Fresh Time Deposit
• Credit Cards
• Debit Card
• Internet Card
• Prepaid Card
• Banker's Drafts
• Transfers
• Life Insurance
• Accidental Term Life Insurance
• Education Insurance
• Retirement Insurance
• Investment Insurance
• Critical Illness Insurance
• Safe Deposit Box
• Business Current Accounts
• Letters of Credit (LCs)
• Documentary Collection
• Bank Guarantees (LGs)
• Point of Sale (POS) Terminals
• Business Fresh Time Deposit
• Private Banking
• ATM Banking
• Personal Internet Banking
• Mobile Banking
• Business Internet Banking
• Green Products & Eco-Friendly Loans
• WE Initiative
• SME Toolkit Lebanon
• Brilliant Lebanese Awards
• Car Mécanique Payment
• Real Estate Locator

Quantifiable outcome

• $53,304,000 disbursed for eco-friendly loans in 2018
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, flagship and core.

• ArcencielminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Recycling partnership for plastic and cans. Through 2018, collected 111 Kgs of waste including Aluminum, Metal, Bottle Caps, Water Bottles and Nylon.
• FabricAIDminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Clothes donation initiative. FabricAID collects clothes, sorts and cleans items, then sets up pop-up second hand shops across Lebanon selling at affordable prices. In 2018, Amour Et Partage was the selected NGO beneficiary.
• Global Banking Alliance (GBA) for WomenflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012First MENA member of GBA, first in region on Governing Board, and elected Chair of Board since September 2015. Active in GBA mentorship program, GBA All-Stars Academy, and hosting study tours.
• UN Women / UN Global CompactflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012First financial institution from MENA to commit to UN Women Empowerment Principles. BLC Bank participates annually in Global UN WEPs Event to promote gender equality and share best practices.
• Jouzour LoubnancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental partnership for reforestation. BLC Bank has planted more than 12,600 trees across various regions of Lebanon with over 90% survival rate. Continuous support includes funding and organizing forestation days with volunteers.
• Waste StudiominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStartup investment through venture capitals in compliance with BDL 331. Waste Studio creates bags, accessories, and furniture from reused and recycled materials by designers focused on innovation and sustainability.
• Agrytech FUNDcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation hub partnership aimed at empowering entrepreneurship activities and innovation in agriculture and food sector. Part of comprehensive SME support strategy.
• Lebanon Mountain Trail AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental partnership for preserving Lebanese natural heritage. BLC Bank adopted Section 11 of the Lebanon Mountain Trail to raise awareness and support rural area development.
• UNDP (Global Compact Network Lebanon)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint anti-corruption workshop hosted at AUB discussing fight against corruption in Lebanon in context of UNDP's 'Anti-Corruption and Integrity in the Arab Countries' project.
• IFC (International Finance Corporation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaunched SME toolkit website from IFC exclusively in Lebanon in 2013. Participated in IFC Conference in Morocco to encourage women's active participation in economic growth.
• Lebanese Red CrosscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPre-Hospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) training program. More than 540 Lebanese Red Cross paramedics trained and dispatched. 60 graduates and 100 ISF graduates trained in 2018. Reached over 35 Red Cross Centers throughout Lebanon.
• Roads for LifeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership affiliated with World Health Organization, The G4 Alliance, and International Road Victims partnerships. Committed to reducing trauma victims' deaths and disabilities in Lebanon.
• Assame Birth & BeyondminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit specializing in rehabilitation of pediatric wards in governmental hospitals. 900 babies treated in 2018 for prematurity, pediatric surgeries, metabolic diseases, renal diseases, and congenital cardiac malfunction.
• Children Cancer Center Lebanon (CCCL)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit medical institution dedicated to treatment of pediatric cancer, affiliated with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.
• Lebanese League for Women in Business (LLWB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne-year strategic partnership covering LLWB's yearly activities including trainings and monthly Join & Grow networking events across Lebanon. Participated in 17 workshops and events in North, Bekaa, and South regions.
• Civil DefenseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmergency Response Plan training. Civil Defense trained 50 Head Office employees on fire safety measures. Bank contributed equipment including Laptop, LCD projector, and sound system to Civil Defense training department.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Credit Libanais: Mid-sized Lebanese commercial bank offering retail, SME, and corporate banking products with comparable distribution footprint in Beirut and major Lebanese cities.
• Bank Audi: Largest Lebanese private commercial bank with full retail, SME, corporate, and private banking offerings across Lebanon and selective MENA presence. Most directly comparable by country, regulatory regime, product mix, and SME/corporate focus.
• Byblos Bank: Major Lebanese commercial bank with comparable retail/SME/corporate banking model, similar branch network depth, and longstanding presence in Lebanon's SME and trade finance segments.
• Bank of Beirut (formerly BLOM Bank): One of Lebanon's top-tier private banks with retail, SME, corporate, and private banking. Closest direct peer in scale, customer segments, and digital banking maturity.
• Fransabank: Parent company of BLC Bank and one of Lebanon's largest private banking groups. Direct peer in product mix, SME strategy, and operating geography; relevant for understanding group-level scale and capital backing.
• Société Générale de Banque au Liban (SGBL): Lebanese commercial bank with full retail, SME, and corporate banking offering and a comparable branch-based distribution model.
• Fenicia Bank: Smaller Lebanese private bank targeting retail and SME segments with emphasis on relationship banking — comparable niche positioning to BLC's SME focus.

Broad incumbents

• Arab Bank: Largest pan-Arab bank with significant Lebanese operations and trade finance franchise. Comparable in trade finance and SME offerings but operates at much broader MENA/global scale.
• Attijariwafa Bank: Large Moroccan banking group with established SME banking franchise (similar 'Attijari Entreprises' ecosystem) across North and West Africa. Comparable SME-focused banking model and 360° advisory positioning.

Regional players

• Bank of Jordan: Mid-sized Middle Eastern commercial bank with retail, SME, and corporate banking. Comparable scale and product breadth but operates in Jordan rather than Lebanon, providing a regional benchmark.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/blcbank
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/BLCBank
• Facebookfacebook.com/blcbankofficialpage
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/1278236
• Instagraminstagram.com/BLCBank
• Pinterestpinterest.com/blcbank

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments3 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about BLC Bank