NBE is the oldest commercial bank in Egypt. It was established on June 25, 1898 with a capital of £ 1 million. Throughout its long history, NBE's functions and roles have continuously developed to square with the economic and political developments in Egypt. During the 1950s, NBE assumed the central bank's duties. After its nationalization in the 1960s, it acted as a pure commercial bank besides carrying out the functions of the central bank in the areas where the latter had no branches. Moreover, since mid-1960s, NBE has been in charge of issuing and managing saving certificates on behalf of the government.
During the FY 2016/2017, NBE managed to achieve outstanding performance indicators. Total financial position recorded EGP 1,365 bn. as at June 2017, growing 94% yoy. Accordingly, NBE's total assets accounted for 31% of the total banking sector assets.
Total deposits reached EGP 862 bn., with a growth rate of 54% yoy, accounting for 28.5% of the total banking sector deposits. Such leap was driven by the introduction of a diversified package of savings in local and foreign currencies at competitively lucrative rates. NBE commanded 33% of the banking market growth.
NBE has further provided a set of distinguished finance schemes that meet the needs of key economic sectors. The total retail loan portfolio reached EGP 40 bn. as at the end of June 2017, with an increase of EGP 2 bn. yoy.
NBE has also assumed a vital role in funding key strategic economic sectors including oil, energy, electricity, gas, telecommunications, air transportation, tourism and contracting. Total large corporate loan portfolio surged 93% to reach EGP 325 bn. as at the end of June 2017.
In line with NBE's support to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), the total SME loan portfolio accounted for EGP 36.4 bn. (including direct facilities of EGP 32.1 bn., with a growth rate of 33% yoy). The portfolio included EGP 10 bn., extended in the framework of CBE’s Small and Micro Enterprises Initiative to 11,000 customers.
Moreover, NBE also expanded the finance of housing units for low- and middle-income earners under the CBE’s initiative, hence total loans extended to this segment amounted to EGP 893.8 MM.
Total loans thus rose 73% to reach about EGP 401 bn., accounting for 28.2% of total banking sector loans. Accordingly, net loans reached EGP 377 bn., growing 71% yoy.
All such efforts resulted in achieving profit (before taxes) of EGP 22.5 bn., with an increase of 15% yoy. Net profit rose 8% to record EGP 13.4 bn.
NBE succeeded in increasing its shareholders' equity to EGP 86 bn. as at the end of June 2017, growing 122% yoy. NBE’s paid-up capital also amounted to EGP 28.7 bn. as at the end of June 2017, with a growth rate of 91%.
In line with its role in supporting state policies on an ongoing basis, NBE provided direct funding for the Treasury by purchasing T-bills and government bonds, whose balance accounted for EGP 260.8 bn. as at the end of June 2017.
In light of the above, NBE was ranked by Bloomberg as the top bank in the Egyptian and African market and the second in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region in terms of loan syndication in Q1 of 2017.
Furthermore, NBE was awarded Best Retail Bank by "The Asian Banker" as well as the Strongest Bank in Egypt and Africa, based on AB500 Index which measures the strength of financial position and performance indicators of commercial banks in promising emerging markets for 2017.
This is in addition to the Best Bank in Egypt Award for 2017 by the World Union of Arab Bankers.
According to The Banker magazine in its issue of July 2017, NBE came ahead of all Egyptian banks ranking the 203rd globally as per the list of top 1000 world banks in terms of total assets.
Furthermore, NBE obtained the PCI DSS certification for the fourth year in a row.
Developing its services and products to provide customers with distinctive services, NBE increased the number of ATMs and optimized their deployment nationwide to reach 3,823 with a growth rate of 39.9% yoy. The POS network expanded by concluding agreements with the largest and most prestigious merchants in Egypt to amount to 15,898 machines.
NBE continued to enhance its role in social responsibility by making donations in the amount of EGP 973 MM. in FY 2016/2017 focused mainly on health care, education, combating poverty and slums development, with an increase of EGP 479 MM. yoy. Accordingly, donations made by NBE amounted to EGP 2.2 bn. over the last few years.
To boost mutual-fund investments and stock market, NBE has a distinct number of mutual funds that support the Egyptian capital market and serve a top-notch customer segment. NBE offers investment services by expanding the central depositary and trading services.
Realizing the significant role played by human resources in the implementation and achievement of strategic initiatives, NBE assigns great importance to human capital management with an eye to courting highly-qualified candidates and, at the same time, developing management and leadership skills of its staff to create future leaders.
NBE is armed with an extensive network of 413 branches, offices and banking units nationwide. To this may be added NBE's effective international presence through the National Bank of Egypt (UK) Limited, National Bank of Egypt Khartoum (Sudan), New York and Shanghai branches (in USA and China), and representative offices in Johannesburg (South Africa), Dubai (UAE) and Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), plus NBE (DIFC) Limited for financial advice. This is in addition to a vast network of correspondent banks around the world (Europe – USA – Australia – Canada – the Far East – Africa – the Arabian Gulf).
NBE is always keen on rendering up-to-date banking services and products that are perfectly developed for its esteemed customers so that the Bank can maintain their precious confidence and continue its leadership in the local banking market.