SABB is Saudi Arabia's fourth largest commercial bank in terms of 2008's total revenues and total assets. The bank provides conventional and Islamic commercial banking services.

Its history dates back to 1950 when it was established as the British Bank of Iran and the Middle East with branches in Jeddah and Al Khobar. The bank was renamed as the British Bank of the Middle East (BBME) and in 1959 was acquired by The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBCHSBC), which kept its well-established name unchanged. Later in the mid 1970's, Saudi Arabia underwent a nationalization program that required foreign banks to sell majority shares (60% or above) from their domestic operations to Saudi nationals. Complying with this nationalization, 60% of BBME's shares were acquired by Saudi nationals while the HSBCHSBC retained the remaining 40% of the bank's equity. The BBME was renamed as the Saudi British Bank and finally became known as SABB in 2007.

SABB offers services in commercial banking, investment banking, private banking, brokerage, and Islamic banking (through Amanah Islamic banking division). By the end of 2008, SABB operated through a network of 85 branches, with a team of 3,232 employees.

In 2005, SABB extended its reach to insurance by establishing SABB Takaful CompanySABB Takaful Company, which offers life and non-life Islamic insurance (Takaful) services. SABB Takaful was established as a joint venture equally owned by SABB, and subsidiaries of the HSBCHSBC Group. SABB Takaful's IPO would offer 35% of the companies shares on the Saudi Stock Exchange (TadawulTadawul).