MEAB bank

What MEAB bank does

MEAB bank s.a.l is a privately held Lebanese commercial bank founded in 1991 in Beirut by entrepreneurs with prior business ventures in Africa. Operating under Banque du Liban Authorization No. 11/400, the bank provides retail, SME and commercial, private, and insurance brokerage services to over 15,000 customers. Its physical distribution comprises 7 branches across Lebanon (Beirut, Hadath, Dora, Tyr, Nabatieh, Chtoura-Jdita) and 2 in Iraq (Baghdad, Basra), supplemented by 14 ATMs and an e-banking platform. The product portfolio spans current and savings accounts, housing/car/education/personal loans, MasterCard and Visa credit and debit cards, working capital and trade finance, letters of credit, guarantees, Kafalat and BDL-subsidized loans, salary domiciliation, safe deposit boxes, and a broad insurance offering (19+ lines) delivered through affiliate Brokerage Insurance Services (BIS).

The bank generates revenue primarily through interest income on retail and SME lending, fee and commission income on deposit accounts, cards, trade finance, and foreign exchange, and ancillary transaction fees from insurance brokerage and the Ministry of Finance tax payment partnership. Distribution is sales-led and relationship-based, anchored by branch presence, dedicated private bankers for high-net-worth clients (overseen by Deputy GM Ayman Hodroj), and a correspondent banking network spanning UAE, Spain, UK, Turkey, and Italy. The technology stack is conventional: an e-banking platform, ATM network, EastNet SafeWatch for sanctions screening, and a 17-committee corporate governance framework covering credit, risk, AML, FATCA, IT security, and other functions. The bank was ranked 18th largest by deposits in Lebanon and second within the Beta group in 2018, has 184 employees, and has won multiple industry awards including World Finance Best Private Bank (2012), Best Retail Bank (2015), and Energy Ambassador of the Year (2019). A temporary hiring freeze has been announced in response to Lebanon's economic crisis.

Name

MEAB bank

Legal name

MEAB bank s.a.l

Website

https://meabank.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

MEAB bank s.a.l is a privately held Lebanese commercial bank founded in 1991, serving over 15,000 retail, SME, commercial, and high-net-worth customers through 7 branches in Lebanon, 2 in Iraq, 14 ATMs, and e-banking. It offers accounts, loans, cards, trade finance, and insurance via its affiliate BIS.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Retail Banking

NAICS

Commercial Banking (52211), Depository Credit Intermediation (5221)

SIC

State Commercial Banks (6022)

akta.pro primary industry

General SME & Middle-Market Commercial Banking (FSABABAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

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

Keywords

• Retail banking services
• Commercial banking
• Trade finance
• Private banking
• Insurance brokerage

Headquarters

HQ city

Beirut

HQ country

Lebanon

HQ region

Middle East

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Retail Banking Services: Interest income from housing loans, car loans, education loans, and personal loans. Fee income from current accounts, savings accounts, credit cards, and debit cards.
2. SME & Commercial Banking: Working capital financing, term lending, trade finance including letters of credit, guarantees, discounted bills, and bill collection. Revenue from interest spreads and transaction fees.
3. Insurance Services: Revenue from coordinated insurance services through affiliate Brokerage Insurance Services (BIS) including health, travel, car, marine, life, fire, motor, burglary, terrorism, public liability, money insurance, property all-risk, expatriate, fidelity guarantee, electronic equipment, contractor's all-risk, machinery breakdown, and worker compensation insurance.
4. Corporate Banking (Iraq Operations): Full banking services in Iraq including current accounts in Iraqi Dinar and foreign currencies, savings accounts, fixed deposit accounts, letters of credit for import/export, foreign and domestic transfers, guarantee letters, SME loans subsidized by Central Bank of Iraq, salary domiciliation, and e-banking services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

MEAB bank is a full-service Lebanese commercial bank delivering retail, SME & commercial, private banking, and insurance products to individuals and businesses. Core services include current and savings accounts, personal loans (housing, car, education), MasterCard and Visa credit/debit cards, working capital and trade finance (letters of credit, guarantees), subsidized loans via BDL and Kafalat programs, wealth management for HNW clients, and a broad insurance portfolio distributed through affiliate Brokerage Insurance Services (BIS). These are delivered through 7 Lebanese branches, 14 ATMs, 2 Iraqi branches, an e-banking platform, and a network of international correspondent banks.

Product overview

MEAB bank is a full-service Lebanese commercial bank founded in 1991, operating a multi-channel banking platform across Lebanon and Iraq. The product portfolio centers on four core pillars: Retail Banking (accounts, loans, credit/debit cards), SME & Commercial Banking (working capital, trade finance, subsidized loans), Insurance Services (via affiliate BIS), and Private Banking (for high net worth individuals). These services are delivered through a network of branches, ATMs, e-banking platforms, and correspondent banking relationships, with a strong emphasis on compliance with Lebanese and international regulatory standards.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Retail Banking Comprehensive retail banking covering current and savings accounts, housing loans, car loans, education loans, personal loans, salary domiciliation, wedding list accounts, safe deposit boxes, utility bill payment, tax payment services, and credit/debit cards (MasterCard and Visa), supported by an ATM network and e-banking. Targeted at individual retail consumers in Lebanon and Iraq.
• SME & Commercial Banking
• Private Banking
• Insurance Services
• Iraq Operations (MEAB Bank Iraq) Full banking services in Iraq for individuals and corporates, including current accounts in Iraqi Dinar and foreign currencies, savings, fixed deposits, letters of credit for import/export, foreign and domestic transfers, guarantee letters, SME loans subsidized by the Central Bank of Iraq, salary domiciliation, and e-banking, delivered through branches in Baghdad and Basra.
• E-Banking Services Online banking platform enabling customers in Lebanon and Iraq to view account balances and statements and manage accounts via a personal PIN through internet access.
• Credit and Debit Cards

Quantifiable outcome

• Named 18th largest bank by deposits in Lebanon and 2nd in Beta group
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Lebanese Ministry of FinancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 July 2019MEAB bank entered into an agreement with the Ministry of Finance to enable customers to pay taxes at bank branches. Customers can obtain username and e-pin codes from the Ministry's online system, access e-services to get payment references, and settle income taxes, VAT, and property taxes at MEAB bank branches.
• Université Saint-JosephcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEach year the bank partners with Université Saint-Joseph to provide two employees with a graduate education in banking studies. The bank also subsidizes graduate degrees for employees who make long-term commitments to working for MEAB bank.
• Brokerage Insurance Services (BIS)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMEAB bank coordinates with its affiliate BIS to offer customers a wide array of insurance policy solutions. BIS is an expert brokerage firm providing access to comprehensive insurance products including health, travel, car, marine, life, fire, motor, burglary, terrorism, public liability, money, property all-risk, expatriate, fidelity guarantee, electronic equipment, contractor's all-risk, machinery breakdown, and worker compensation insurance.
• Finance House Abu DhabiminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorrespondent banking relationship for transactions in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
• Banco de Sabadell SAminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorrespondent banking relationship for transactions in Barcelona, Spain.
• BOB UKminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorrespondent banking relationship for transactions in England, UK.
• Aktif Yatirim Bankasi A.SminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorrespondent banking relationship for transactions in Istanbul, Turkey.
• Turkiye Finans Katilim Bankasi A.SminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorrespondent banking relationship for transactions in Turkey.
• BMCE Bank International, SAUminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorrespondent banking relationship for transactions in Madrid, Spain.
• Banca UBAE SPAminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorrespondent banking relationship for transactions in Rome, Italy.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bank of Beirut: Bank of Beirut is a mid-tier Lebanese commercial bank offering retail, corporate, and private banking through a multi-branch network in Lebanon. It is highly comparable to MEAB in scale, product mix, and target customer segments (retail, SME, HNW).
• Fransabank: Fransabank is a privately held Lebanese commercial bank offering retail, SME, and corporate banking across Lebanon. Its size and product positioning closely mirror MEAB's mid-tier Beta group profile, with similar geographic concentration and customer focus.
• SGBL (Société Générale de Banque au Liban): SGBL is a mid-size Lebanese commercial bank affiliated with Société Générale group, providing retail, SME, and corporate banking products. Its product breadth, branch network structure, and customer segmentation are directly comparable to MEAB's offering.
• Crédit Libanais: Crédit Libanais is a mid-tier Lebanese commercial bank offering retail, commercial, and private banking. Its scale, branch footprint, and product mix closely parallel MEAB's position within the Lebanese banking ecosystem.
• BLC Bank: BLC Bank is a Lebanese commercial bank providing retail, SME, and corporate banking products through a multi-branch network. Its size and product offering sit in the same mid-tier segment as MEAB, making it a close direct comparable for SME lending and retail banking.
• IBL Bank: IBL Bank (formerly Intercontinental Bank of Lebanon) is a smaller Lebanese commercial bank offering retail and SME banking services. Its size tier and customer focus on retail/SME segments closely align with MEAB's positioning.
• BankMed: BankMed is a Lebanese universal bank providing retail, commercial, corporate, and private banking. Slightly larger than MEAB but highly comparable in product breadth, branch-based distribution model, and Lebanon-focused operations.

Broad incumbents

• Byblos Bank: Byblos Bank is one of Lebanon's larger commercial banks with a broader branch network and international presence. Comparable to MEAB in product mix (retail, SME, corporate, private banking) but operates at significantly greater scale.
• Bank Audi: Bank Audi is Lebanon's largest private-sector bank, with regional subsidiaries in Egypt, Turkey, and elsewhere. It offers retail, corporate, private, and investment banking — a superset of MEAB's offering — and serves as a benchmark for larger Lebanese banking peers.
• BLOM Bank: BLOM Bank is a major Lebanese commercial bank offering retail, corporate, and private banking with international subsidiaries. While its scale exceeds MEAB's, it shares the same Lebanese regulatory environment, customer base, and product categories.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BankMeab
• Facebookfacebook.com/meabbank
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/meabank

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 MEAB bank