Executive sat down for an exclusive interview with Charles P.S. Hall, CEO of HSBC Lebanon, to discuss the current prosperity of the Lebanese banking sector, the regional sector’s performance in 2008 and prospects for 2009. E Looking back at 2008, how did the Lebanese banking sector perform? The Lebanese banking sector has actually been very resilient. I think the central bank can take a huge amount of comfort from that. The most drastic accounts are what has happened recently, with the global credit market drying up and the fact that Lebanese banks have been very prudent in managing to escape the worst of it. As you know, they benefit substantially from inflows of money. I think there is the perception that the Lebanese banking system has weathered the storm and is therefore continuing to attract deposits, which have been flowing in. I understand in many cases that some of the
