Banque libano-française is a Lebanese bank holding number 10 on Banque du LibanList of Banks. It has a total of 62 branches and more than 187 ATMs, as at end of May 2020. It was established as a joint stock company in 1967. Its head office is located at the Beirut Liberty Plaza Building, Hamra District, Beirut, Lebanon. It is one of the leading banks in Lebanon and an important participant in the Lebanese economy. As at end of May 2020, BLF operates in Lebanon through a network of 62 branches and 187 ATMs. Abroad, BLF Group is present in France and Cyprus, in Switzerland, in the United Arab Emirates, in Nigeria, and in Iraq. It has 1,311 employees, including 1,238 persons employed in Lebanon. It is also available through several digital channels, namely the My BLF mobile apps. While it has historically been a commercial bank, the Bank has diversified its activities and currently provides banking services in five principal areas: commercial banking, investment banking, retail banking, private banking, treasury and capital markets and correspondent banking. BLF is also an active member of the .
History
Banque Libano-Française was created in 1930 as a branch of the French bank, Compagnie Algérienne.
In 1967, BLF became a bank established under the Lebanese law, with 70% French shareholding.
In 1970, Banque Indosuez acquired a 5% direct interest in the Bank capital.
In 1973, Banque Indosuez increased its stake to 20% through a partial acquisition of the shares of Compagnie Française de Crédit et de Banque, which became known as Parthena Investment.
In 1992, Banque Indosuez increased its shareholding in Banque Libano-Française to 51%.
In 2004, Crédit Agricole Group decided to reduce its exposure in Lebanon, in anticipation of the implementation of Basle II. Therefore, Calyon reduced its participation in the Bank to 9%.
In 2006, BLF finalized the acquisition of 78.3% of Banque SBA shares, established in France with a financial subsidiary in Geneva known as LF Finance SA and a branch in Cyprus.
In 2009, BLF obtained an official license from the UAE Central Bank to establish a Representative Office in Abu Dhabi.
In 2012, the Bank reinforced its operations in the MENA region by opening a Representative Office in Lagos, Nigeria and a branch in Baghdad, Iraq.
On September 1, 2014, Farid Raphaël, founder of Banque Libano-Française and its Chairman General Manager from 1979, passed away.
