Exclusive, "Akhbar al-Yawm" agency

The decrease is noticeable compared to 2019

The figures issued by the Bank of Lebanon indicated that the number of bank branches in Lebanon reached 839 at the end of March 2023, which represents a decrease of 14 branches, or by 1.6% from 853 branches at the end of the year 2022, a decrease of 82 branches, or by 9% from 921 branches at the end of March 2022, a decrease of 219 branches (-20.7%) from 1,058 branches at the end of March 2021, and a decrease of 309 branches (-27%) from 1,148 branches at the end of March 2020, and a decrease of 339 branches (-28.8%) from 1,178 branches at the end of March 2019. These figures were reported in the weekly economic report of the Byblos Bank Group (Lebanon This Week).

The total number of branches of Lebanese commercial banks in Lebanon and abroad reached 818 branches at the end of March 2023, compared to 832 branches at the end of 2022, 900 branches at the end of March 2022, 1,037 branches at the end of March 2021, 1,127 branches at the end of March 2020, and 1,157 branches at the end of March 2019. Moreover, the number of branches of medium and long-term banks operating in Lebanon reached 21 branches at the end of March 2023, without any change from the end of March 2022. In parallel, the number of branches of Lebanese commercial banks abroad reached 49 at the end of March 2023, compared to 52 branches at the end of March 2022, 72 branches at the end of March 2021, 73 branches at the end of March 2020, and 77, 73 branches at the end of March 2019.

The distribution of branches of commercial banks indicates that the number of branches of these banks in Lebanon reached 769 at the end of March 2023, a decrease of 13 branches from 782 branches at the end of 2022, and 79 branches from 848 branches at the end of March 2022. There were 401 commercial bank branches in Beirut and its suburbs, accounting for 52% of the total branches in Lebanon at the end of March 2023, followed by Mount Lebanon with 156 branches (20.3%), the north with 81 branches (10.5%), the south with 80 branches (10.4%), and the Bekaa with 51 branches (6.6%). 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 March 2023. In addition, the number of electronic branches providing banking services through interactive and automated devices reached 10 at the end of March 2023.

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 March 2023, without any change from the end of March 2022.

In parallel, 40 financial institutions had 69 branches in Lebanon at the end of March 2023, unchanged from the end of March 2022.