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 continually developed to square with the different economic and political stages 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 2015/2016, NBE managed to achieve outstanding performance indicators. Total financial position in June 2016 recorded EGP 703.3 bn., growing 35% yoy. Accordingly, NBE's total assets accounted for 24.7% of the total banking system assets.
Total deposits reached EGP 558.6 bn., with a growth rate of 25% yoy, accounting for 26.4% of the total banking system deposits. Such leap was driven by the introduction of a diversified package of deposits in local and foreign currencies at competitively lucrative rates that are tailored to the needs of the different segments of the Egyptian society.
Net cumulative balance of NBE's saving certificates, the largest household saving scheme in Egypt, recorded EGP 139.8 bn. as at the end of June 2016 with a growth rate of 28.4% yoy.
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 38.1 bn. as at the end of June 2016, growing 21.5% yoy. Furthermore, a number of 33 new branches were opened, to reach a total of 325 branches as at the end of June 2016.
NBE had also assumed an active role in funding key strategic economic sectors including oil, energy, electricity, gas, telecommunications, air transportation, tourism and contracting. Total large corporate loan portfolio surged 61% to reach EGP 164 bn. as at June 2016.
In line with NBE's support to the national economy by promoting small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), the total SME loan portfolio grew 51% yoy to reach EGP 24.2 bn., of which EGP 2.7 bn. was extended, in the framework of Central Bank of Egypt (CBE)’s Initiative to Support Small and Very Small Enterprises, to 4,734 customers in FY 2015/2016. 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 800 MM.
In recognition of its remarkable efforts in this area, NBE was granted the award of the Best SME Bank in North Africa by Banker Africa which is published by CPI Financial.
Total loans have thus risen 49% to reach about EGP 231.3 bn. accounting for 24.7% of total banking system loans. NBE, hence, commands 34% of the banking market growth. Accordingly, net loans reached EGP 221 bn., growing 51% yoy.
All such efforts resulted in achieving profit (before taxes) of EGP 19.5 bn., increasing 88% yoy. Net profit rose 145% to record EGP 12.5 bn.
With an eye to consolidating its capital base, NBE succeeded in increasing its equity to EGP 38.6 bn. as at the end of June 2016, growing 37% yoy. NBE’s paid-up capital also amounted to EGP 15 bn. as at the end of June 2016.
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. Average T-bills and bonds balance accounted for EGP 162.7 bn. as at the end of June 2016, with a growth rate of 39.4%.
In light of the above, NBE was ranked the top bank in the Egyptian and African market and No. 3 in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region in the area of loan syndication in the first half of 2016 by Bloomberg.
Furthermore, NBE was awarded Best Retail Bank by the Asian Banker and the Best Bank in Egypt for 2016 by the World Union of Arab Bankers.
According to The Banker Magazine in its issue of July 2016, NBE came ahead of all Egyptian banks ranking 222 globally as per the list of top 1000 world banks in terms of total assets.
Developing its services and products to provide customers with distinctive services, NBE increased the number of ATMs and improved their deployment nationwide to reach 2,733 with a growth rate of 27% yoy. The POS network expanded by concluding agreements with the largest and most important merchants in Egypt to amount to 17,411 machines, up by 29% yoy.
NBE continued to boost its role in social responsibility by making donations in the amount of EGP 494 MM. in FY 2015/2016 mainly directed to health care, education, combating poverty and slums development. Accordingly, NBE’s donations increased by EGP 244 MM. yoy, totaling EGP 1.2 bn. over the last few years.
To strengthen and boost stock investments and securities market, NBE has a distinct number of mutual funds that support the Egyptian capital market and deliver services to a distinguished segment of customers. 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 improving the work environment and fostering employee satisfaction. NBE further courts highly-qualified candidates and, at the same time, develops the management and leadership skills of its staff to create future leaders.
NBE has an extensive network of 384 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 correspondent network around the globe (Europe – USA – Australia – Canada- the Far East – Africa – the Arabian Gulf).
NBE is always keen to render 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.