Banque de l’Habitat — what it is and what it does
Banque de l’Habitat is the Lebanese bank whose mandate is housing: it grants subsidised loans for buying, building and restoring a home, aimed at people on low and middle incomes and people with special needs. It marked fifty years in 2026 and is chaired by Antoine A. Habib.
Its mandate
Banque de l’Habitat exists to put a home within reach of Lebanese households that commercial lending does not serve. It grants subsidised loans to buy, build or restore a home, aimed at people on low and middle incomes and at people with special needs — and, within the restoration and construction loans, it finances a solar power system or a wastewater treatment unit.
Key figures
| Age | Marked its golden jubilee — fifty years — in 2026. Reported by Safir Al Chamal, 11 June 2026 · Al Hadeel, 6 July 2026 |
|---|---|
| Capital | Raised from 100 billion to 150 billion Lebanese pounds, approved by the Council of Ministers at the end of 2025. Reported by Almarkazia, 29 December 2025 · Leb Economy, 8 January 2026 |
| Principal funder | The Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development, made up of 21 Arab states. Its fourth tranche of US$16,123,000 reached the bank in April 2026. Reported by Almarkazia, 8 April 2026 |
| Recognition | Winner of the Arab Banking Excellence and Achievement Award for 2024. Reported by Almarkazia, 21 November 2024 |
| Chairman and General Manager | Antoine A. Habib, in post since 2022. From Antoine Habib’s published career record on this site. |
Each figure above is dated and linked to the report it comes from. Lending terms change — confirm the current terms with Banque de l’Habitat before acting on them.
Last reviewed: 15 August 2026