Middle East Bank

What Middle East Bank does

Middle East Bank (بانک خاورمیانه / Bank Khavar Miyaneh) is a privately held Iranian commercial bank founded in 2012 and headquartered in Tehran at No. 2, 5th St., Ahmad Qasir (Bucharest) Ave. It provides a full spectrum of corporate, SME, retail, and multinational banking services, including Sharia-compliant Islamic finance facilities (Mudarabah, Musharakah, Murabaha, Ijara), syndicated loans, letters of credit, guarantees, and documentary collections. The bank also operates a Munich branch serving correspondent banking and international corporate clients, and reports loan disbursement activity such as 1,481 billion Rials in marriage loans during Q1 2025 (Iranian calendar 1405).

The bank's core technology stack centers on a multi-channel digital banking platform: internet banking, mobile banking apps (Android/iOS distributed via APK and PWA), telephone banking (Ashna), and dedicated digital channels Bsun and Bankino. Security is handled via MEB OTP, a one-time password system available via SMS and a dedicated mobile app with 120-second validity. An Open Banking API platform exposes account, payment, IBAN conversion, and cheque management services to third parties, and a unified credit management system (Samin) supports internal credit portfolio management. The bank is also a participant in Iran's national Sayad electronic cheque system.

Middle East Bank generates revenue primarily through interest income on loans and Islamic finance facilities (regulated by the Central Bank of Iran, with deposit rates ranging from 5% short-term to 22.5% for 3-year deposits), supplemented by fee-based services (wire transfers, LCs, guarantees, FX), and income from five wholly-owned subsidiaries: MEB Brokerage (offering Ofogh and Ofogh Roshan mutual funds), MEB Life Insurance, MEB Currency Exchange, Middle East Sun Leasing Co., and DSA data processing. Distribution is hybrid — branch network plus digital channels — and the bank publishes annual reports, quarterly economic analysis (Aftab-e-Middle East magazine, 41st issue), and a formal CSR charter covering education, healthcare, and environment since 2018.

Name

Middle East Bank

Legal name

Bank Khavar Miyaneh (Middle East Bank)

Website

https://middleeastbank.ir

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Middle East Bank is a privately held Iranian commercial bank offering corporate, SME, retail, and multinational banking services via branches, digital channels, and a Munich branch, supported by five financial services subsidiaries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Retail and Corporate Banking

NAICS

Commercial Banking (52211), Commercial Banking (522110)

SIC

National Commercial Banks (6021), State Commercial Banks (6022)

akta.pro primary industry

Islamic SME & Commercial Banking (FSABAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Islamic Corporate Banking (FSABAGAC), Islamic Retail Banking (FSABAGAA), Islamic Investment Banking & Capital Markets Services (FSABAGAG), Islamic Transaction Banking (Cash Management & Treasury Services) (FSABAGAF)

Keywords

• Retail banking services
• Corporate banking services
• Islamic finance products
• Digital banking platforms
• Investment fund management

Headquarters

HQ city

Tehran

HQ country

Iran

HQ region

Middle East

Offices2 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: The primary revenue source for the bank comes from interest income on loans and financing facilities extended to corporate and retail customers. The bank offers various Islamic finance contracts including Mudarabah, Musharakah, Murabaha, Ijara, and others.
2. Deposit Interest Rates: Bank pays interest to depositors on time deposits and savings accounts. Current rates: Short-term 5%, 3-month special 12%, 6-month special 17%, 1-year 20.5%, 2-year 21.5%, 3-year 22.5%.
3. Fee-based Services: Revenue from various banking services including wire transfers, letters of credit, guarantees, documentary collections, foreign exchange services, and account maintenance fees.
4. Brokerage Services: Revenue from securities brokerage operations through MEB Brokerage subsidiary.
5. Insurance Services: Revenue from life insurance products through MEB Life Insurance subsidiary.
6. Leasing Services: Revenue from leasing operations through Middle East Sun Leasing Co.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Middle East Bank is an Iranian private bank providing comprehensive corporate, retail, and SME banking services under Islamic finance principles. The bank offers deposit accounts (current, short-term, and long-term investment deposits), various financing facilities (short-term, long-term, syndicated, and foreign currency loans), letters of credit, guarantees, mutual funds, and life insurance. It distributes these services through physical branches, digital banking channels (internet, mobile, telephone banking), and open banking APIs, supported by wholly-owned subsidiaries in brokerage, insurance, currency exchange, leasing, and data processing.

Product overview

Middle East Bank operates as a comprehensive banking institution in Iran offering a multi-channel digital banking platform alongside traditional banking services. The core digital banking ecosystem includes Internet Banking, Mobile Banking, Telephone Banking, Bsun, and Bankino digital services, supported by security features like OTP Dynamic Password. The bank provides Open Banking capabilities for third-party integrations. Traditional offerings span deposit accounts (current, short-term, and long-term investment deposits), mutual funds (Ofogh fixed-income and Ofogh Roshan equity funds), and diverse financial facilities including short-term financing, long-term financing, syndicated loans, and foreign currency services. The bank also maintains subsidiaries in life insurance, brokerage, currency exchange, leasing, and data processing, and offers ancillary services including electronic cheque management, fraud prevention, and customer support through the Ashna contact center.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ashna (آشنا): Customer Relations Center of Middle East Bank providing phone-based customer support services.
• Bsun (بی‌سان)
• Bankino (بانکینو)
• MEB OTP
• Ofogh Mutual Fund
• Ofogh Roshan Mutual Fund

Products and services

• Bsun (بی‌سان) Digital Banking Service A digital banking service providing remote banking capabilities to customers through a dedicated platform.
• Bankino (بانکینو) Mobile Banking Service A digital banking service offering online financial transactions and account management via mobile application.
• Internet Banking (اینترنت‌بانک) Online banking platform providing account management, fund transfers, and financial services for both individual and corporate customers.
• Mobile Bank (موبایل‌بانک) Mobile banking application for smartphones enabling customers to access banking services on the go, with apps available for both Android and iOS platforms.
• Telephone Bank (تلفن‌بانک) Telephone banking service allowing customers to conduct banking transactions and inquiries via phone.
• Time Deposit Account (سپرده سرمایه‌گذاری مدت‌دار) Long-term investment deposit account with competitive interest rates, available in 1, 2, and 3-year terms.
• Short-term Deposit Account (سپرده سرمایه‌گذاری کوتاه‌مدت) Short-term investment deposit account with flexible access and monthly interest payment based on minimum balance.
• Ofogh Mutual Fund (صندوق سرمایه‌گذاری افق) Fixed-income mutual fund managed by MEB Brokerage offering stable returns.
• Ofogh Roshan Mutual Fund (صندوق سرمایه‌گذاری افق روشن) Equity mutual fund managed by MEB Brokerage for growth-oriented investors.
• Financial Facilities (تسهیلات) Comprehensive range of financing options including short-term finance, long-term finance, syndicated loans, interest-free loans, and foreign currency facilities.
• Salecars Import Vehicle Platform Platform for importing and selling vehicles to customers.
• Open Banking Platform (بانکداری باز) Open banking platform providing APIs for third-party businesses and fintechs to integrate with the bank's systems for account access, payments, reconciliation, and personalized financial services.
• MEB Life Insurance Life insurance products offered through the bank's wholly-owned subsidiary.
• MEB Brokerage Securities brokerage services offered through the bank's wholly-owned subsidiary.
• MEB Currency Exchange Currency exchange and foreign exchange services offered through the bank's wholly-owned subsidiary.
• Middle East Sun Leasing Co. Leasing services for equipment, vehicles, and assets offered through the bank's wholly-owned subsidiary.

Quantifiable outcome

• 449 individuals received marriage loans totaling 1,481 billion Rials in Q1 2025
• +2 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

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• MEB Brokerage (شرکت کارگزاری بانک خاورمیانه)coreOthersFully owned subsidiary providing securities brokerage services, offering Ofogh Mutual Fund (fixed income) and Ofogh Roshan Mutual Fund (equity) investment products.
• MEB Life Insurance (شرکت بیمه زندگی خاورمیانه)coreOthersFully owned life insurance subsidiary offering insurance products to bank customers.
• MEB Currency Exchange (شرکت خدمات ارزی و صرافی خاورمیانه)coreOthersFully owned currency exchange and foreign exchange services subsidiary.
• Middle East Sun Leasing Co. (شرکت واسپاری آفتاب خاورمیانه)coreOthersFully owned leasing company providing leasing services for equipment, vehicles, and assets.
• Dadeh Pardazan Simaye Aftab Co. (DSA) (شرکت داده‌پردازان سیمای آفتاب)coreTechnology or IntegrationFully owned data processing and IT services subsidiary supporting the bank's technology infrastructure.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bank Pasargad: Major Iranian private bank with corporate, retail and investment-banking services including brokerage, mutual funds and electronic banking — directly comparable product mix to Middle East Bank.
• Karafarin Bank: Iranian private commercial bank offering full Islamic banking products to retail and corporate customers; directly comparable in scale, ownership structure and product breadth.
• Saman Bank: Iranian private commercial bank providing retail, corporate and digital banking services with subsidiary ecosystem in insurance and capital markets — comparable private-sector competitor.
• Eghtesad Novin Bank: Iranian private commercial bank focused on corporate and investment banking, with significant capital markets activity and syndicated lending — directly comparable to Middle East Bank's corporate segment.
• Parsian Bank: One of Iran's largest private commercial banks, offering full Islamic banking products across retail, corporate and SME segments — the closest like-for-like private-bank competitor to Middle East Bank in Iran.

Emerging players

• Al Baraka Banking Group: Bahrain-based Islamic banking group with multi-country presence; comparable through its Shariah-compliant retail and corporate banking model, though operating across different geographies.

Broad incumbents

• Bank Melli Iran: Iran's largest state-owned bank and dominant incumbent with extensive international branch network; relevant peer for benchmarking scale, but operates with state-backed advantages Middle East Bank lacks.
• Bank Mellat: One of Iran's largest state-owned commercial banks with full Islamic banking offerings and significant corporate-finance franchise — broader incumbent competing for the same customers.
• Bank Saderat Iran: Major Iranian state-owned commercial bank with an extensive international branch network; sets the incumbent benchmark for trade-finance and correspondent banking in Iran.
• Tejarat Bank: Iranian state-owned commercial bank focused on trade and retail banking; large state-owned incumbent with similar product portfolio but substantially larger branch and deposit base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MiddleEastbank

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Middle East Bank