The set-up of a joint Syrian-Bahraini Bank (SBB) is moving forward, following a meeting for that purpose held in Manama, Bahrain on November 28 between a Syrian delegation lead by Rateb al-Shallah, head of the Federation of Syrian Chambers of Commerce,...

The Syrian Arab Bank, the Syrian affiliate of the Arab Bank is expected to launch a subscription offer early next year for the capital share that has not been subscribed yet, after its statutes were approved by the Prime Minister.

Lebanon's UFA Assurances has been granted a license to start operations in Damascus' Free Trade Zone, becoming the first private insurance company in 40 years to be allowed to carry operations in Syria.

Doureid Dergham, Director-General of the Commercial Bank of Syria (CBS), has denied that his bank holds any account for former members of the deposed Iraqi regime.

Not one month goes by without the announcement by a new Arab bank that it has been licensed to operate in Syria.

The Jordanian bank is returning to Syria, 40 years after its Syrian branch was nationalised. Interest in the banking sector is growing and a specific law for Islamic banking is being prepared.

Western Union, the money transfer services company, has stopped dealing with the Commercial Bank of Syria, due to its fear that it could face sanctions should its contract with CBS be considered in breach of the decision of the US Treasury to ban US fi...

An Insurance Supervision Commission has been set-up following a presidential decree in that sense (legislative decree N°68) issued on 26 September.

The Lebanese bank is following its domestic rivals and entering the Syrian market. Contrarily to BEMO and BLOM it will not partner with any other financial institution.

Western Union (WU), the world-wide money transfer services company, is expanding its network in Syria.

In a meeting with the press in Doha, Qatar, Said Abdullah Al Misnad, CEO of Qatar National Bank, said that his bank's bid to enter the Syrian market, in partnership with Bank of Beirut and Emirates Bank International, "was through" and that a...

The Commercial Bank of Syria has awarded to Morocco's S2M a contract to issue Visa cards.

Société Générale's (SocGen) bid to enter the Syrian market has been suspended, with the US imposed sanctions on Syria rumoured to be the main reason behind that move.

Bank of Beirut (BoB), Emirates Bank International (EBI) and Qatar National Bank (QNB) are joining forces to set-up a joint bank in Syria early 2005.

The International Bank for Trade and Finance has finally started operations after its inauguration ceremony held on June 6.