As the milestones go, being at the forefront of the banking sector of a country for 50 years, and stimulating economic growth and defending customer innovation is something to celebrate.
“From our first days to become the main bank of Egypt in the private sector and the preferred financial partner for more than 500 of the largest companies in the country, the CIB course was marked by important achievements and a commitment to build a brighter and more inclusive financial future,” explained Ezz Al-Arab.
Driving
CIB’s evolution has forged an enviable heritage. After having started as Chase National Bank in September 1975 and accumulated deposits, loans and foreign investments for a little more than a decade, the divestment of Chase Manhattan in 1987 stimulated rapid growth in net value, profitability and its network of branches.
Innovation quickly followed. CIB quickly adopted pioneering opportunities that involved new technological progress. On the back of the early adoption of technology, CIB has become the first Egyptian bank to connect to Swift. In addition, since CIB adopted the digital revolution in the middle at the end of the 1990s, he established new references to offer advanced banking solutions. This included the launch of online banking services in 2004, then mobile banking services and the CIB Smart portfolio in 2016, as well as the development of the first banking chatbot based on artificial intelligence in Egypt in 2019, and to become the first national private bank to provide Apple Pay. Above all, CIB was the first bank in the region to establish a data analysis service. All these developments are transformed, not only for CIB, but for customers, customers and communities of the bank.
“These initiatives have strengthened our significant market position and strengthened our commitment to serve our customers with advanced solutions”
Hisham Ezz al-ArabCEO, CIB
Innovation and objective
He is also proud of CIB’s unshakable dedication to have a positive impact.
This is obvious in its sustainable financial achievements, directed by an autonomous department since 2012. The last success, at the beginning of 2025, would close the largest program of non -sovereign Susic Sukuk in Africa – and a first of its kind on the Egyptian market. In 2021, CIB issued a green obligation of 100 million USD, the first financing of green bonds in the private sector. In addition, the CIB is the first Egyptian bank to have been classified on the FTSE4Good sustainability index.
The inclusiveness is also at the top of the bank’s agenda. This was observed with the launch of the CIB Foundation in 2010, where 1% of the profits are dedicated to the health of children, reaching more than 7 million patients. .
At the same time, the bank focuses on promoting innovation in education in Egypt, which it does thanks to a partnership with the main university establishments to improve alignment programs on market demands and global trends. In February 2025, CIB organized the first sustainable financing ceremony for finance for SMEs, a course designed to provide students with the skills necessary to succeed in the current environment. Aimed at filling the gap between the sexes in the Egyptian technological sector, this year, the bank directed the 5thth Tour of its “Women in Tech” program, offering women practical experience in digital banking and information technology.
