Banque Saudi Fransi is a commercial bank operating in the classic business segments: retail banking, corporate banking, treasury, and investment banking and brokerage services.
The Royal Decree established the joint-stock company in 1977. The bank officially began operations on September 5, 1989.
BSF is a branch of Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, part of the second-largest bank in France and the seventh-largest EU bank in terms of equity – the Crédit Agricole Group.
- In July 2019, the international rating agency Fitch Ratings affirmed the BSF long-term issuer default rating of “A” – a high ability to pay interest and debts with a stable outlook.
Fitch Ratings wrote about the very high probability of support for the BSF by the Saudi authorities, and also announced the importance of the bank as one of the largest corporate banks in the kingdom.
- In April 2019, according to the Saudi exchange TDWL, Banque Saudi Fransi shares witnessed three private transactions of SAR 31,64 million, SAR 9,35 million and SAR 1 million.
- It is also reported that a subsidiary of the State Investment Fund, Saudi Real Estate Refinance Co, has acquired a mortgage portfolio from Banque Saudi Fransi of 750 million rials. The purpose of the transaction is to increase liquidity in the Saudi Arabian housing finance market.
- For the first half of 2018, the Board of Directors of Banque Saudi Fransi paid dividends to shareholders as follows: by distributing
SAR 1,079.42 at SAR 0.90 after the deduction of mandatory payment, which amounted to 9% of the nominal value of shares.
- Moody’s rating agency writes that the work of Banque Saudi Fransi reflects the bank’s strong solvency, backed by its strong profitability and capital buffer, in addition to maintaining a very good financing profile, which is further supported by sufficient liquidity buffers. Also taken into account are the risks of declining asset quality in the context of slower economic growth and the dangers of deposits and concentration of borrowers.
Throughout its history, Banque Saudi Fransi has made efforts to ensure that the right to be called a modern and innovative bank in the region is assigned to it.
BSF puts the needs of customers, shareholders, and society in the first place on the personal agenda to remain first in the hearts and minds of people. The main rule of the bank is to think big, act quickly. This means that Banque Saudi Fransi makes long-term decisions, but makes them fast.
BSF strives to create long-term and personalized partnerships with all its clients, to gain loyalty through recognized banking knowledge, quality of service, as well as innovative and individual financial solutions.
Steady growth amid reduced net income
Over the years, BSF has shown a steady growth trend that has affirmed its financial strength and leadership in the Saudi Arabian market.
However, in the interim financial statements for the second quarter of 2019, it is indicated that the bank’s net profit decreased by 4.39% to 804 million riyals compared to 1,66 billion riyals in the second half of 2018. The bank said in a statement that the drop in profits is due to a decrease in reserves.
Meanwhile, in the first quarter of 2019, the bank showed a profit growth of 1.26%. The lender’s net profit rose to 1,13 billion riyals. The increase in net profit in the first quarter of 2019 is due to a decrease in operating expenses amid a decline in salaries and staff costs, as well as a reduction in rental and premises fees, the report said.
Also in 2019, total revenue increased by 8.28% to 1,86 billion riyals for the three months ending in June 2019.
For the first half of 2019, the bank’s profit fell by 9.04% to 1,72 billion riyals compared to 1,89 billion riyals in the first half of the year.
By the end of June, the bank’s assets decreased by 1.26% year on year to 186,5 billion riyals, and the total investment for the same period reached 33,6 billion riyals.
Although the consistent increase in interest rates in the United States helped regional lenders increased their interest income on loans in 2018, they are also under pressure due to lower oil prices and a slowdown in economic growth in the region, which is damaging to many of their clients.
Despite the more robust economic conditions in the region, some analysts are still optimistic about the performance of the banking sector in Saudi Arabia, including Tradeallcrypto analysts.
