In the first quarter of 2008, the five listed banks on the Beirut Stock Exchange (Bank Audi, BLOM Bank, Byblos Bank, Bank of Beirut and Bank BEMO) recorded a year-on-year average percentage change in aggregate profits of 24.1 percent. Notably, Bank of Beirut (BoB) witnessed a 50.5 percent increase in profits in the first quarter of 2008, reaching $13.53 million. From the first quarter of 2007 to that of 2008, the five banks’ average increase in total assets was 19.4 percent, illustrating healthy growth in each of the banks throughout the year. Bank Audi reported the highest climb in total assets in the first quarter of 2008, totaling $17.55 billion, a 27.3 percent increase from the first quarter of 2007. Customer loans amongst the listed banks increased, on average, 44 percent. Bank Audi and BLOM witnessed the most significant climbs in loans, with 60.8 and 50.7 percent respectively. Deposits enjoyed
