Exclusive, “Akhbar al-Yawm” agency

Here is the percentage of decline and geographical distribution...

The figures issued by the Bank of Lebanon indicated that the number of bank branches in Lebanon reached 973 at the end of September 2022, which represents a decrease of 94 branches, or by 9.7% from 967 branches at the end of 2021, a decrease of 139 branches, or by 13.7% from 1,012 branches at the end of September 2021, and a decrease of 253 branches, or by 22.5% from 1,126 branches at the end of September 2020.

The total number of branches of Lebanese commercial banks in Lebanon and abroad reached 852 branches at the end of September 2022,compared to 946 branches at the end of 2021, 991 branches at the end of September 2021, and 1,105 branches at the end of September 2020. Moreover, the number of branches of medium and long-term banks operating in Lebanon reached 21 branches at the end of September 2022, without any change from the end of September 2021 and September 2020. In parallel, the number of branches of Lebanese commercial banks abroad reached 51 at the end of September 2022, compared to 53 branches at the end of 2021 and at the end of September 2021. These figures were reported in the weekly economic report of the Byblos Bank Group (Lebanon This Week).

The distribution of branches of commercial banks indicates that the number of branches of these banks in Lebanon reached 801 at the end of September 2022, a decrease of 92 branches from 893 branches at the end of 2021, 137 branches from 938 branches at the end of September 2021, and 231 branches from 1,032 branches at the end of September 2020. The branches of commercial banks in Beirut and its suburbs reached 418, accounted for 52.2% of the total branches in Lebanon at the end of September 2022, followed by Mount Lebanon with 164 branches (20.5%), the south with 83 branches (10.4%), the north with 82 branches (10.2%), and the Bekaa with 54 branches (6.7%). Moreover, the number of branches of nine foreign commercial banks operating in Lebanon reached 21, and the number of branches of four Islamic banks reached 12 branches at the end of September 2022. In addition, the number of electronic branches providing banking services through interactive and automated devices reached 12 branches at the end of September 2022. Moreover, the number of commercial banks operating in Lebanon reached 46, and the number of medium-and long-term banks reached 15 at the end of September 2022, without any change from the end of September 2021.