Talk:BLC Bank

History

BLC Bank s.a.l. was incorporated on the 12th of May, 1950 in Beirut, as one of the pioneer banking institutions in Lebanon. Currently the Bank operates a network of 43 branches. BLC Bank subsidiaries include BLC Private and BLC Services.

To consolidate the Bank's investment banking activities, BLC Finance S.A.L. was established in 1998. Main activities include fund management, proprietary trading, floor brokerage and margin lending.

In June 2002, Banque du Liban (The Central Bank of Lebanon) acquired 95% of BLC Bank's shareholding, providing its full support and commitment to the success of the Bank. A seasoned senior management team was entrusted with the reorganization and restructuring of the Bank.

To manage its portfolio of insurance activities, BLC Bank created a fully-owned subsidiary, BLC Services S.A.L. in 2004.

In December 2005, the Qatar Supreme Council for Economic Affairs and Investment acquired the Central Bank of Lebanon's shares in BLC Bank.

In August 2007, BLC Bank s.a.l. was acquired by Fransabank s.a.l. and in April 2008, Mr. Maurice Sehnaoui was appointed Chairman of the Board and General Manager after becoming one of the main shareholders. Reflecting Senior Management's vision of achieving strong growth in all major financial indicators, BLC Bank quickly became an Alpha Group Bank.

In 2010, BLC Bank acquired USB Bank PLC – Cyprus.

BLC Bank Head Office building in Adlieh was awarded the 2011 Bronze Certificate by Lebanon Green Building Council and becomes the first Green operational building in Lebanon. The same year, BLC Bank got awarded: from IFC “the Global Trade Finance Award” for its 2010 outstanding performance, from CPI Financial “the Fastest Growing Bank in Lebanon” and from Lebanon Opportunities “the Best Commitment to Small and Medium Enterprises”. In 2011, BLC Bank also established BLC Invest.

In 2012, BLC Bank launched the We Initiative program, becoming the first and only bank in the MENA region to join the Global Banking Alliance for Women (GBA) and to commit to the UN Women Empowerment Principles, as well as the first edition of the Brilliant Lebanese Awards, rewarding Lebanese entrepreneurs. BLC bank also expanded its network to reach 40 branches in Lebanon along with its Representative Office in Abu Dhabi. BLC Bank received from the New Economy magazine the "Women’s Empowerment Leadership Award”, from Arabia CSR Awards 2012 “the Corporate – NGO Collaboration category” award and from Commerzbank “the Commerzbank STP Award”. By the end of 2012 BLC Bank co-arranged the largest asset backed securitization in Lebanon co-arranged with Bemo Securitization for Solidere (a 185 million dollar securitization transaction).

In 2015 BLC Bank received: from the Banker Middle East – CPI Financial, the “Best Female Empowerment” and “ Best Business Transformation” award and from the American Chamber of Commerce, the “ Best Bank supporting women owned and women led businesses in 2015” In 2016 BLC Bank received the Global Banking Alliance for Women’s (GBA) Leadership Award during the Alliance’s 15th annual summit which took place in Washington, along with the “Excellence for social and economic development and women empowerment” award from the World Union of Arab Bankers during the Arab Banks Awards and Commendations of Excellence 2017.

BLC Bank received the 2017 GBA for Women Lifetime Achievement Award for being a women’s market champion and empowering the female economy at the 2018 GBA Summit held in London, as well as a trophy from Oracle for being the first to implement the SuperCluster M8 in Lebanon, being the world’s fastest engineered system while having the most advanced security features.

In 2018, Mr. Nadim Kassar was appointed Chairman of the Board and General Manager after becoming one of the main shareholders of BLC Bank. BLC Bank was also honored by the World Union of Arab Bankers on “Excellence in Diversified Banking Services & Products”, along with a trophy from Oracle (TAG) for being the first to implement the SuperCluster M8 in Lebanon at the “Developing Your Future-Proof Infrastructure". BLC Bank reached new heights with innovation and technology, and a trophy at GBA Summit in Jordan. This award was granted to BLC Bank for having gathered and reported extraordinarily high-quality sex-disaggregated data to the Global Banking Alliance for Women to better build out the business case for financial services providers strategically serve the Women’s Market. In January 2019, the bank disposed its Cypriot subsidiary USB Bank PLC.

BLC Bank maintains strong ambitions of becoming a universal Bank and a Bank of reference in Lebanon, with the support of our shareholders, employees and associates who all adhere to our goals. — Preceding unsigned comment added by BlcbankWiki (talk • contribs) 07:02, 28 May 2020 (UTC)

References

Performance

Despite the continuous political disorder and the inadequate macroeconomic conditions, BLC Bank was able to achieve reasonable stability at the level of profitability and on the balance sheet level while minimizing its concentration risk and deposit’s volatility. With regard to profits, if we consider the previous tax law applied, net profits increased in 2018 by 11.4% compared to 2017. Nevertheless, due to the large impact of the new tax law of $11 M in additional dues, net profits closed at $ 41 m, 11% below the 2017 results. Otherwise, net commissions increased by +2% compared to December 2017. On the balance sheet side, during 2018, BLC Bank maintained its customers’ deposits base at $3.9 B, unchanged compared to 2017. Concentration risk was minimized though as customers’ deposits, below $1 M (considered the stable and sustainable deposit base), increased by 2.3% on a yearly basis. However, loans to customers slightly increased by 0.4%, despite a decrease in the market by 1.02% compared to 2017, noting that SME loans increased by 1%. Total assets increased by 0.6%, to reach USD 4.98 billion (excluding assets held for sale) as at 31.12.2018. Furthermore, BLC Bank’s net spread reached 1.81% as at December 2018, standing among the best in the sector. As far as liquidity is concerned and same as other Lebanese banks, liquidity was affected following the political crisis; yet, BLC Bank recovered back and its liquidity ratio reached 17.8% as at 31 December 2018, which is above the 10% required by the regulator. BLC Bank’s Capital Adequacy Ratio reached 19.25% compared to a regulatory requirement of 15% as at 31 December 2018 reflecting the solidity of its capital structure and a clear growth potential. In an unsteady financial landscape, with consumer behaviors and expectations shifting in ways challenging the banking sector, BLC Bank preserved its customer centric strategy, offering thus a broad array of financial and non-financial services. During this year, BLC Bank renewed its promise in supporting small and medium size enterprises and women. Empowering them led to sustain stable activities on both the retail and the corporate levels with its personal, car and business loans. Because BLC Bank goes beyond providing financial services to offering non-financial support, several plans were implemented falling under the Bank’s overall strategy. On one hand, road shows were conducted across Lebanese regions and conferences were organized. On the other hand, Business Power Sessions were arranged on a monthly basis, covering a wide scope of topics. Subsequently, BLC Bank pursued its volunteer mentorship programs for other GBA member banks, highlighting its role as an international reference for best practice and an advocate for the economic empowerment of women. This remarkable commitment was translated in the GBA Women’s Market Champion where BLC Bank received the 2018 Data Award for having reported extraordinarily high-quality sex-disaggregated data to GBA at the GBA Summit held in Jordan. It is worth mentioning as well that BLC Bank received a trophy from Oracle for being the first to implement the SuperCluster M8 in Lebanon, being the world’s fastest engineered system while having the most advanced security features. Conforming to the Bank’s belief in the primordial role Lebanese entrepreneurs play in our economy, BLC Bank celebrated entrepreneurs’ achievements through the Brilliant Lebanese Awards. BLC Bank placed entrepreneurs (both male and female) in the limelight by conducting the sixth edition of the Brilliant Lebanese Awards. The Business of the Year, Women Entrepreneur of the Year and People Choice Award were announced in a TV event broadcasted live delivering on its promise to honor and promote successful Lebanese entrepreneurs. — Preceding unsigned comment added by BlcbankWiki (talk • contribs) 07:05, 28 May 2020 (UTC)

Service

A dynamic spirit lies at the core of our entire financial network and carries a high degree of technological innovation throughout our infrastructure. BLC Bank is continuously innovating to provide its clientele with quality products and services through its four divisions: Retail, Corporate, Commercial and Private Banking.

Retail Banking

Recognizing the varying needs of different clients through the many stages of their lives, BLC Bank continuously strives to build a customer-focused strategy aimed at delivering a broad, innovative and well thought out range of products and services.

Creativity dominates all phases of the process of developing the Retail Banking products and services from the initial idea generation to the feasibility study, design, communication, and finally the sophisticated yet simple product offered to costumers.

Retail Banking continued to post impressive results boosted by a strong growth in all product lines aimed at developing a global relationship with our retail clients covering the whole spectrum of credit and non-credit products: Deposits, Salary Domiciliation, Housing Loans, Personal loans, Car loans and Cards.*   Corporate Banking

Seeking to understand and draw the adequate strategy for each of our clients, we have developed a proactive relationship management style offering tailor made solutions, helping clients reach their goals on one hand and securing the ability to repay the loans granted on the other hand.

Our focus is to offer clients comprehensive solutions addressing their needs, as well as those of their corporate shareholders, managers and employees. We cooperate with other departments within the Bank and with our branches network to reach all business sectors within the national economy.

Furthermore, our team of professionals is dedicated to provide insightful advisory services to our clients assisting them in their business development activities.*

Commercial Banking

It is in our belief that Commercial Banking is at the heart of the Lebanese business model, BLC Bank has therefore committed itself to develop comprehensive business relationships with small and medium size businesses. Our team of specialists assists our clients in meeting their ongoing financial needs, supports them in their expansionary plans and provides sound financial advice thus creating long-term and mutually beneficial partnerships with our valued clientele.*

Private Banking

BLC Bank has implemented a Private Banking initiative intended to add value to its high net worth clientele. Experienced and highly qualified consultants work with individual customers to understand their needs and goals in asset management fields. We focus on satisfying our clients through superior service, discerning the type of performance required, risk tolerance, and income needs thus creating real value and viable long-term returns. *  

• N/B: In line with the market practices and in view of the current economic conditions, BLC Bank is temporarily suspending some credit related products.

Corporate Governance

Effective Corporate Governance is an essential component of BLC Bank’s corporate culture. The Bank is hence committed to adhere to the “best practices” in Corporate Governance in order to fulfill its responsibilities towards its shareholders, customers, and employees.

BLC Bank’s Corporate Governance framework, with the ensuing BYLAWS and Charters of the Board Standing Committees, together constitute the key elements of the structure by which the Bank is governed.  

The Corporate Governance Code is designated to reinforce the confidence of our stakeholders by optimizing the system by which the Bank is directed and controlled, the overall risk management practices, the reporting transparency and the quality of cooperation between shareholders, Board of Directors, and Management of the Bank.

BLC Bank is governed by the Board of Directors whose basic responsibility is to exercise reasonable business judgment, approve the Bank’s strategic objectives and corporate values and oversee their implementation through the assistance of four Board Committees with specific charters and missions. BLC Bank’s Management, on the other hand, is responsible for the daily operations guided by internal policies and the interest of the Bank and its stakeholders.

To ensure effectiveness in overseeing the Bank’s operations and to discharge certain statutory responsibilities, twelve standing committees were established where decision-making implementation is done in accordance with the strategy approved by the Board, taking into account the participants’ recommendations.

Among these standing committees are the Operational Risk Management committee, Credit and Financial Risk committee, IT Security committee, Asset Liability Management committee, and the Compliance committee.

Timely and accurate disclosures on all material matters regarding the Bank, including its financial situation and performance are made available on the Bank’s public website, annual reports, and reports to supervisors, or through other appropriate forms.

Our Corporate Governance framework is designed to promote integrity, transparency, loyalty, and provide our stakeholders with the values and incentives to give the best to their institution. — Preceding unsigned comment added by BlcbankWiki (talk • contribs) 07:13, 28 May 2020 (UTC)

Gender Equality

BLC Bank extended to Women and SMEs a comprehensive 360° Business Solution program, providing tools, resources and opportunities to improve businesses, expand capacities, and nurture growth.

As the first bank in the region committed to women’s’ economic empowerment, BLC Bank has developed internal and external programs to become the Bank and employer of choice for Lebanese women. We are also the first bank in the Middle East and North Africa region to join and contribute to the Global Banking Alliance for Women and to commit to the UN Women Empowerment Principles and SDG#5 that promotes gender equality . 

We are committed to SMEs since 2007 through our complete business solutions:

Get Financed: we provide a comprehensive and customized range of accounts, lending solutions and financial services to cater to each company specific needs.

Grow Your Expertise: Capacity building and learning opportunities through trainings, workshops, roadshows, mentoring and access to experts contributing to both professional and personal development.

Increase Your Exposure: Access to markets through networking events, conferences, a unique and innovative platform www.we-initiative.com  enabling women and SMEs to connect and evolve.

Get Connected: BLC Bank provides entrepreneurs with advisory services, guidance, respond to enquiries and technical assistance and puts them in touch with relevant external advisors.

The Brilliant Lebanese Awards: Launched in 2012, which are the first Business Awards in MENA to honor Lebanese entrepreneurs. The Brilliant Lebanese Awards has three categories, the Woman Entrepreneur of the Year, the Business of the Year and the Tech Innovation of the Year, selected by a professional impartial panel based on  criteria namely Creativity (30%), Performance & Financials (30%), Sustainability and Scalability (25%) and the Social Impact (15%). The Brilliant Lebanese Awards provides training; mentoring, networking opportunities and nationwide and global exposure across all media (TV, Digital, Press…) and the winners of each category receive a USD 30,000 cash prize. The finalists of the three categories combined will participate in an online competition whereby the public will be given the opportunity to elect the recipient of the People’s Choice Award. — Preceding unsigned comment added by BlcbankWiki (talk • contribs) 07:25, 28 May 2020 (UTC)

References

Corporate Social Responsibility

As a responsible corporate citizen, we have an obligation and opportunity to contribute to the world around us, through our products, our people, and by supporting sustainable development initiatives and non-profit organizations providing social welfare programs. It is all about creating a balance between economic prosperity and sound social and ethical values.

Our ultimate mission remains in serving society by preserving our cultural heritage as well as our environment. We have engaged ourselves in a variety of activities to support the causes we advocate. These projects include forestation, local community social activities, ecological tourism, and preservation of the environment, educational grants, health care awareness programs and rural areas' development.

On the environmental chapter, as we are committed to make our premises and habits "greener", we have appointed the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to undertake a Green Building Audit of the BLC Bank premises. The purpose of this Audit is to identify ways of improving our performance in terms of controlling energy and water consumption from one end and minimizing the waste stream and use of virgin material resources from another end. 

As a result, our Green policy is being set to be communicated to all BLC Bank employees to further create the needed awareness. Meanwhile, various measures are being taken to control and reduce the use of paper and electricity as well as to recycle and re-use material throughout our network. Moreover, our Green purchase guideline will give preference to purchasing green indirect materials with less environmental impact, including office supplies necessary for business activities.

References

Board of Directors

MR. NADIM KASSAR - Chairman and General Manager MR. NABIL KASSAR - Vice Chairman MR. ADNAN KASSAR - Chairman and CEO of Fransabank Group MR. ADEL KASSAR - Deputy Chairman and CEO of Fransabank Group ME. WALID DAOUK - Board Member MR. MANSOUR BTEISH - Board Member MR. NAZEM EL KHOURY - Board Member MR. HENRI DE COURTIVRON - Board Member MR. SARKIS D. YOGHOURTDJIAN - Board Member MR. MOHAMAD ALI BEYHUM - Board Member

References

Management Team

Nadim KASSAR - Chairman and General Manager Nabil KASSAR - Vice-Chairman Bassam HASSAN - General Manager, CEO Joseph BADDOUR - Assistant General Manager Corporate Banking Group Georges BAZ - Assistant General Manager Credit Affairs Group Youssef EID - Assistant General Manager Retail Banking Group Hani DENAWI - Chief Financial Officer Jean CHAMOUN - Chief Audit Officer Rabih ABI AMMAR - Head of Credit Management Group Elie AZAR - Head of Marketing Group Naji ECHO - Head of Treasury & Financial Markets Group Souheil YOUNES - Head of Human Resources Group Carlos LEBBOS - Chief Risk officer Joe SAAB - Head of Compliance Group

References

Quality of Service

We put the customer at the heart of what we do: Listen to our customers’ needs, accept their complaints and act on their feedback in a timely and professional manner. Create and develop innovative and flexible solutions to meet our customers’ diversified and evolving needs. Promote a friendly and warm environment to our customers .

We deliver quality through our experienced & professional people: Provide our people with adequate trainings to continuously develop and improve their competencies in support of objectives and business strategy. Recognize and reward our people for remarkable achievements and performance. Operate with integrity, privacy and equality. Ensure efficiency and productiveness in our interactions as we recognize that customers’ time is valuable.

We manage and measure performance proactively: Measure success against customer expectations. Review the performance of our processes and continuously improve them through effective analysis prompt. Fulfill on our commitment to timely and quality service.

We deal with transparency: Communicate clearly and openly with customers to assist them in making appropriate and informed decisions. Keep our people informed and updated on goals and strategic objectives.

We are committed to our community: Seek to establish an eco-friendly working environment. Contribute to the well-being of our society. Provide equal opportunities to our people.

References

Shareholder Structure

Fransabank S.A.L.: 81.88% of BLC Bank Fransa Invest Bank S.A.L.: 6.25% of BLC Bank BLC Treasury Shares: 10% of BLC Bank Other: 1.87% of BLC Bank

BLC Bank owns: 98.99% of BLC Finance 90.67% of BLC Services

References

Branches and Network

HEAD QUARTERS - Adlieh Contact Center BLC Private - Tabaris BLC Services - Adlieh Representative Office - Abu Dhabi, UAE

BAABDA Region: Aley, Baabda, Chiah, Ghobeiry, Hadath, Hazmieh,Sin El Fil

BEIRUT I Region: Aisha Bakkar, Hamra, Mar Elias, Mazraa

BEIRUT 2 Region: Achrafieh, Bourj Hammoud, Dekwaneh, Dora, Furn El Chebbak, Mar Mikhael, Tabaris

BEKAA Region: Chtaura, Ferzol, Hermel, Zahle

MOUNT LEBANON Region: Antelias , Beit Chabab, Bickfaya, Jal El Dib, Jbeil, Jounieh, Mazraat Yachouh, New Jdeide, Zouk Mikhael, Zouk Mosbeh

NORTH Region: Batroun, Becharreh, Chekka, Kousba, Tripoli Mina, Tripoli Tell

SOUTH Region: Nabatieh, Saida, Sarafand, Tyr

References