The consolidated balance sheet of commercial banks operating in Lebanon reached $170.5 billion at the end of June 2014, an increase of 3.4 percent from the end of 2013 and about eight percent from a year earlier. Commercial banks’ assets were up to $171 billion by end of June 2014.

Private sector deposits were up to $140.3 billion by end of the first half, increasing by three percent from the end of 2013 and about seven percent from a year earlier.

Loans to the private sector totaled $50.1 billion, an increase of 5.7 percent from the end of 2013 and of 11.6 percent from a year earlier. Lending to the resident private sector grew by 7.4 percent from the end of last year to $44.6 billion, while loans to the non-resident private sector decreased by 6.6 percent over the same period and totaled 5.5 billion.

Claims to the public sector were up to $38 billion at the end of June, representing an increase of 0.8 percent from the end 2013 and an increase of about 16 percent from a year earlier.