BBAC Bank

What BBAC Bank does

BBAC Bank (Bank of Beirut and the Arab Countries, S.A.L.) is a privately held, full-service commercial bank headquartered in Beirut, Lebanon, founded in 1956 by Toufic Assaf, Nashaat Sheikhelard, and Jamal Shehaiber. The bank operates 32 branches — 29 in Lebanon and 3 in Iraq (Erbil, Baghdad, Sulaymaniyah) — supported by 74 ATMs, mobile and online banking platforms, and a 24/7 customer care center reachable via a dedicated short code (1296). It serves individual retail customers, corporate and SME clients, public sector employees, and import/export businesses, with a correspondent bank network spanning 12+ currencies and major institutions including BNY Mellon, Deutsche Bank, JPMorgan, and Standard Chartered. Following the 1996 death of founder Toufic Assaf, his son Ghassan Assaf assumed the Chairman and General Manager role, and the bank remains under family stewardship with no disclosed public listing or external institutional equity ownership.

The bank's product portfolio spans personal banking (car loans, public- and private-sector personal loans, term deposits, fresh money accounts, debit and credit cards including Platinum, Euro, Lira, and Titanium variants, and bundled insurance products), business and corporate banking (corporate loans, trade finance with letters of credit, standby LCs, guarantees, and documentary collections, business online banking, salary domiciliation, and bill collection), and treasury and private banking services (foreign exchange spot/forwards/NDF, FX swaps, treasury bills and bonds, money market instruments, and stock market access). Its technology backbone consists of an integrated Misys BankFusion Equation and Opics Plus core banking platform (implemented 2010) and an IBM business intelligence and risk management solution (implemented 2007) — both firsts among Lebanese banks at the time of deployment. The bank holds an 80% stake in Capital Insurance and Reinsurance Co. (acquired 2001), distributing home, life, auto, personal accident, and foreign domestic helper insurance.

BBAC generates revenue primarily through net interest income on its loan portfolio (car loans, personal loans denominated in LBP and USD, corporate loans), fee-based services (money transfers, letters of credit, guarantees, safe deposit boxes, utility bill domiciliation, ATM services), insurance commission income from Capital Insurance, and treasury/investment activities. Distribution is hybrid: traditional branch-based relationship banking augmented by digital self-service (online banking, mobile apps on iOS/Android, SMS alerts) and a corporate website. The bank holds certifications including GDPR and Lebanese Law 81/2018 compliance, FATCA FFI registration (GIIN 3NB1BF.99999.SL.422), PCI-DSS-aligned payment security, and AML/CFT compliance with screening against OFAC, EU, UN, and HMT sanctions lists.

Name

BBAC Bank

Legal name

BBAC S.A.L.

Website

https://bbacbank.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

BBAC Bank is a privately held, full-service Lebanese commercial bank founded in 1956, operating 32 branches in Lebanon and Iraq. It serves retail, corporate, and trade-finance customers through branch, digital, and correspondent channels, and owns an 80% insurance subsidiary.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Retail and Commercial Banking

NAICS

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

SIC

State Commercial Banks (6022), Personal Credit Institutions (6141)

akta.pro primary industry

Mass-Market Consumer Deposit Banking (Checking/Savings) (FSABAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Retail Lending (Personal Loans, Auto, Credit Lines) (FSABAAAB), Branch & In-Person Banking (Teller/ATM Networks) (FSABAAAE)

Keywords

• Retail banking services
• Corporate banking
• Trade finance services
• Consumer lending products
• Treasury services

Headquarters

HQ city

Beirut

HQ country

Lebanon

HQ region

Middle East

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Interest Income: BBAC generates revenue through interest income on loans including car loans, personal loans (public and private sector), and corporate loans. The bank offers various credit facilities with interest rates varying according to amount and term.
2. Fee-based Services: Revenue from various banking services including money transfers, wire transfers, ATM services, safe deposit boxes, utility bill domiciliation, and business services such as letters of credit, guarantees, and documentary collections.
3. Preferred Shares Issuance: Capital raised through issuance of preferred shares - 50 million USD in 2006 and 80 million USD in 2012, demonstrating the bank's ability to access capital markets.
4. Insurance Distribution: Partnership with Capital Insurance and Reinsurance Co. to offer insurance products including home, life, car, personal accidents, and domestic helper insurance, generating commission revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

BBAC Bank provides a full range of banking and financial solutions to individuals and businesses, including personal loans (car, public sector, private sector), deposit accounts (term deposits, fresh money accounts), credit and debit cards (Platinum, Classic, Euro, Lira, Titanium), insurance products, corporate banking facilities, trade finance services (letters of credit, guarantees), and treasury/investment services. The bank distributes these offerings through 32 branches (29 domestic in Lebanon and 3 in Iraq), 74 ATMs, and digital channels including online and mobile banking.

Product overview

BBAC Bank operates as a full-service commercial bank offering a comprehensive range of banking and financial solutions to individuals and businesses through an extensive network of 32 branches (29 domestic and 3 in Iraq) and 74 ATMs. The bank's product portfolio spans personal banking (loans, deposit accounts, credit/debit cards, insurance products), business banking (corporate banking, trade finance, online banking services), and treasury/investment services (private banking, treasury services, market rates). Digital banking channels include mobile and online banking platforms. The bank maintains strategic partnerships with Visa (exclusive card provider) and offers cards on the MasterCard network. Key technology infrastructure includes IBM business intelligence systems and Misys BankFusion core banking platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Car Loan Loan product for purchasing new or used cars with repayment terms up to 3 years, loan amounts up to 30,000 USD, and minimum down payments of 40% for new cars or 50% for used cars (up to 4 years old), offered to individual customers with minimum monthly income of 1,500 USD.
• Public Sector Personal Loan Cash loan for public sector employees with salary domiciliation at BBAC, offering up to 100 million LBP with repayment periods up to 2 years, minimum monthly income of 25 million LBP, available to borrowers aged 21-58 at maturity.
• Private Sector Personal Loan Cash loan for private sector employees with loan amounts up to 5 times salary, repayment periods up to 3 years, USD-denominated, with minimum monthly income of 800 USD and minimum 2 years work experience.
• Term Deposit Account Savings account with fixed interest rates where capital is locked for a specified term, available in Lebanese Pounds and US Dollars with terms ranging from one month to over one year, automatically renewable after maturity.
• Fresh Money Account Current account for fresh foreign currency funds deposited in cash or received by international wire transfer, available in USD, Euro and major currencies with immediate access to funds.
• Platinum Debit Card Premium debit card offering higher spending power, ATM cash and cheque deposits, purchase protection up to 20,000 USD per year, and extended warranty coverage.
• Classic Debit Card Basic debit card providing 24/7 account access with purchases, cash withdrawals, ATM deposits, and contactless payWave payment capability.
• Platinum Credit Card Premium credit card with travel insurance, access to over 25 airport VIP lounges, purchase protection up to 5,000 USD per year, and flexible payment options.
• Euro Card Credit card designed for European transactions where purchases and cash withdrawals in Euro are charged in the same currency, avoiding conversion charges, with travel insurance and airport lounge access included.
• Lira Card Credit card supporting the Lebanese Lira with rewards points for local purchases, unlimited airport VIP lounge access, and travel insurance coverage.
• Titanium Card Credit card for online and point-of-sale purchases from local merchants with flexible payment options starting from 30 USD monthly installments.
• Home Insurance Insurance coverage for homes and contents against fire, lightning, explosion, vehicle/aircraft collisions, with optional earthquake and storm coverage, distributed to individual customers.
• Term Life Insurance Worldwide life insurance covering natural or accidental death (excluding war and terrorism) with contract periods of 1-5 years renewable, distributed to individual customers.
• Private Car Insurance Third-party liability insurance covering bodily injuries up to 750 million LBP and material damage up to 1 million USD, with 24-hour road assistance, offered to individual vehicle owners.
• Personal Accidents Insurance Worldwide insurance providing 100% coverage for accidental death or permanent total disability and 50% for loss of hand, foot, or eye, targeted at individual customers.
• Foreign Domestic Helpers Insurance Insurance covering domestic helpers for life (12 million LBP), personal accidents (15 million LBP), and medical expenses up to 35 million LBP per year.
• Mobile Banking Mobile application for managing accounts on-the-go, enabling money transfers, loan applications, credit card management, fixed deposits, and branch/ATM locator services, available to personal banking customers.
• Personal Online Banking Internet banking platform providing 24/7 real-time account access for transfers, bill payments, card management, IBAN calculators, and currency exchange rates, available free of charge to individual customers.
• Money Transfer Domestic and international money transfer services via SWIFT through correspondent banks in various currencies (AED, AUD, CAD, EUR, GBP, JOD, KWD, QAR, SAR, USD).
• Corporate Banking Business banking services for corporate clients including short and long-term loan facilities, lines of credit, term loans, commercial loans, and customized financing solutions.
• Trade Finance International and domestic trade services including Letters of Credit, Standby Letters of Credit, Letters of Guarantee, Documentary and Clean Collections, and Trade Bill Discounting, offered to import/export businesses.
• Business Online Banking

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

Integration5 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• VisacoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 January 2026BBAC signed agreement with Visa as its exclusive card provider, under which all cards issued by the bank will be exclusively Visa-branded. The partnership establishes a framework for BBAC's card business and supports plans to introduce new card offerings backed by Visa's global payment network. Customers will benefit from secure, reliable, and widely accepted card solutions locally and internationally.
• United Nations Development Program (UNDP)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2012BBAC joined hands with UNDP in September 2012 on the 'Live Lebanon' initiative to empower disadvantaged citizens achieve their goals regardless of sect or religion. Partners helped rural and under-served communities by implementing development projects covering health, economic development, youth, and environment.
• Misys (BankFusion)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2010BBAC became the first bank in Lebanon to acquire an integrated core banking solution of Misys BankFusion Equation and Opics Plus in 2010, with the aim of increasing revenues and enhancing operations. This initiative pushed BBAC to stay ahead of competition based on innovative technology.
• IBMcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2007BBAC contracted with IBM in 2007 to implement an integrated business intelligence solution designed to increase efficiency and profitability while reducing risk and providing higher value services to clients. BBAC became the first bank in Lebanon to adopt a full financial risk and management solution based on the latest technology and achieve compliance with Basel II.
• Capital Insurance and Reinsurance Co.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBBAC partnered with Capital Insurance and Reinsurance Co. to offer comprehensive insurance products including Home Insurance, Term Life Insurance, Private Car Insurance, Personal Accidents Insurance, and Foreign Domestic Helpers Insurance. BBAC reached 80% purchase agreement with Capital Insurance in 2001.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bank Audi: Largest Lebanese private bank by assets, offering retail deposits, personal and corporate loans, trade finance, and wealth management across Lebanon and a global footprint. Directly comparable to BBAC as a diversified Lebanese commercial bank serving both individuals and corporates, with regional reach.
• Byblos Bank: Major Lebanese private bank with full retail and corporate banking, trade finance, and treasury services. Comparable to BBAC as a peer Lebanese commercial bank with deposit-led funding and a similar customer segmentation across retail, SME, and corporate.
• BLOM Bank: One of Lebanon's largest private banks, providing retail, corporate, and private banking services with regional operations. Directly comparable to BBAC on product breadth, customer segmentation, and Lebanese deposit-funded model.
• Banque Libano-Française (BLF): Lebanese private bank offering retail, commercial, and trade finance services. Comparable to BBAC in scale, product mix, and orientation toward the Lebanese mass-affluent and SME segments.
• Crédit Libanais: Established Lebanese commercial bank with personal, corporate, and trade banking offerings. Comparable to BBAC as a mid-sized Lebanese deposit-taker focused on retail and business lending.
• Bank of Beirut: Lebanese commercial bank with strong retail and SME lending focus and digital channels. Comparable to BBAC in mass-market customer orientation, branch-led distribution, and personal/car loan offerings.
• BLC Bank (Banque Libano-Commerciale): Lebanese bank with retail, corporate, and trade finance services. Comparable to BBAC in operating model and target segments across Lebanon.

Broad incumbents

• Qatar National Bank (QNB): Largest Middle East bank with full retail, corporate, and treasury products and a global correspondent network that includes BBAC's QAR clearing. Comparable as a regional incumbent that sets competitive benchmarks for trade finance and correspondent services BBAC relies on.

Regional players

• Bank of Baghdad: One of Iraq's largest private banks with retail and corporate services. Comparable to BBAC's Iraqi franchise as a regional competitor active in the same retail and trade finance segments.
• Trade Bank of Iraq (TBI): Iraqi state-owned bank focused on trade finance and letters of credit. Comparable to BBAC Iraq specifically as a competitor in cross-border trade and correspondent banking in the Iraqi market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bbacbank
• YouTubeyoutube.com/bbacbank
• Facebookfacebook.com/bbacbank
• Instagraminstagram.com/bbacbank

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 BBAC Bank