Bank of Beirut
Bank of Beirut is a bank in Beirut, Lebanon. Bank of Beirut was founded in 1963 as Realty Business Bank S.A.L. and in 1970, changed its name to the current name. In 1993, a group of bankers and businessmen headed by Salim Sfeir, the current chairman and CEO, acquired the five-branch bank, which ranked 35 out of the 71 banks operating that year, and in 1997, Bank of Beirut was listed on the Beirut Stock Exchange.
Expansion
In 1997, a strategic alliance was formed with Emirates NBD; later in 2001 Bank of Beirut opened a representative office in Dubai to serve expatriates in the GCC. In 2002, a branch was opened in Limassol, Cyprus regulated by the Central Bank of Cyprus , followed by the opening of a representative office in Lagos, Nigeria in 2004 and in Accra. 3 branches opened in Oman, Sohar in 2008, Ghobra in 2012, and The Wave in 2014.In 2002, Bank of Beirut Ltd, a fully owned subsidiary, was established, which opened a branch in Frankfurt, Germany in 2009.
Branded as Beirut Hellenic Bank, after buying Laiki Bank Australia from Cyprus Popular Bank in the 2011. Bank of Beirut Australia now trades under the name Bank of Sydney. Bank of Sydney operates branches NSW, Victoria and South Australia, with branches in Bankstown, Chatswood, Maroubra, Marrickville, Sydney CBD, Melbourne CBD, Oakleigh and Mile End.