Sfeir: "A Quantum Leap Reflecting Our Deep Will to Keep up with Modernity and Evolution"

Bank of Beirut - April 11, 2012 - Mr. Salim Sfeir, Chairman General Manager of Bank of Beirut launched the Bank's New Corporate Identity and logo during a press conference and luncheon held at the Four Seasons Hotel, in the presence of a large number of media representatives, Bank's Management and senior executives.

In his speech delivered for the occasion, Sfeir said: "We are glad to share with you the new image through which Bank of Beirut will show to the community, to its stakeholders and to its family members. It is a quantum leap that reflects our Bank's deep will to keep up with modernity and evolution through a double action plan encompassing both the external look and feel and the internal work infrastructure." 

Sfeir stressed that the new identity "mirrors our Bank's young spirit and continuous endeavors to modernize its facilities; Indeed, the evolution in the external look was coupled with an evolution in the internal infrastructure of the Bank as well: Bank of Beirut created the Cash Management and Transaction Banking Services Department, developing the latest innovative programs with the widest reach in Lebanon. It has also created a Training and Learning Center to provide the Bank's people with the highest standards of banking knowledge and quality customer service; it developed as well the Information Technology in the Bank linking it locally and internationally through an integrated technical network.

Concluding his speech, Sfeir announced the launch of Bank of Beirut's new-born company "Beirut Life" offering a full array of insurance services at the best conditions, and reiterated the Bank's commitment to always remain at the service of Lebanon and the Lebanese, wherever they are.

Commenting on the new identity and logo, Mr. Michael Allen, Chairman of Allen International, the strategic branding Consultancy to whom the creation of the new brand image was entrusted, addressed the audience through a recorded message. He highlighted the fruitful cooperation between both institutions with the aim of leading the Bank to a brighter future and a new promising era of banking excellence on both the local and the international levels. Then, he explained the rationale behind the new logo that reflects Bank of Beirut's values and vision.

In another video message, Mr. James Wakim, CEO of Beirut Hellenic Bank, Bank of Beirut's subsidiary in Australia stressed that it is the only Lebanese Bank on the continent. Considering Beirut Hellenic Bank as a bridge between Australia and Lebanon, Wakim highlighted the many services it offers to the Lebanese community through its 15 branches in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, mentioning that the new branding has been implemented in all of them.      

Mr. Paul Boulos, Head of Marketing & Communications at Bank of Beirut, explained the Bank's strategy to launch and sustain the Bank's new image as a dynamic, young, passionate and proactive Bank, highlighting the media campaign recently initiated to raise awareness on the Bank's new Identity. 

Finally, Messrs. Pierre Talhami, General Manager of Beirut Life, Gaby Andari head of the Information Technology and Bassam Lteif, Transaction Banking Manager elaborated further on the Bank's quantum leap to modernization.

The press conference was followed by a luncheon in celebration of the launch of Bank of Beirut New Corporate Identity.

About Bank of Beirut s.a.l.
Incorporated in 1963 in Beirut, Lebanon, Bank of Beirut s.a.l. offers a full range of banking services through an extensive network of 60 branches in Lebanon, and a network of foreign entities: a branch in Limassol - Cyprus, 3 branches in Muscat and Sohar- Sultanate of Oman, a branch in Frankfurt - Germany, a wholly owned subsidiary in London - United Kingdom (Bank of Beirut (UK) Ltd), a subsidiary in Australia (Beirut Hellenic Bank) with a network of fifteen (15) branches located in Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide, and three Representative Offices located in Dubai - UAE, Lagos - Nigeria and Bagdad - Iraq. In addition, Bank of Beirut operates a wholly-owned Financial Institution (BoB Finance s.a.l.), an insurance brokerage firm (Beirut Brokers s.a.r.l.), an Insurance company (Beirut Life s.a.l.) and an independent investment bank, (Bank of Beirut Invest s.a.l.).

Since 1997, the Bank embarked on an aggressive expansion plan, aiming at enhancing its market position. This was achieved through a number of transactions ranging from private placements and issuance of Preferred Shares, to entering into strategic alliances with regional Arab banking institutions, and acquiring other banking competitors, namely Transorient Bank s.a.l. in late 1998, and Beirut Riyad Bank s.a.l. in June 2002, and 92.5% of the shares of Laiki Bank (Australia) Ltd. in 2011. 

© Press Release 2012