Empowering people with life-enhancing monetary knowledge is so important to Byblos Bank that we established a Financial Literacy Program so they can take charge of their financial futures. The initiative is designed to familiarize members of the public with basic economic and financial terms and concepts which are central to their daily lives. We do this to help individuals, but also because we know that the healthiest economies are inclusive ones: greater financial awareness leads to more significant participation by a broader cross-section of society, and therefore to heightened potential for growth and development.  

“Fakker Maliyan” (or “Think Financially”)

“Fakker Maliyan” demystifies basic topics and concepts, from how banking and other financial products work to what you need to know to get the most out of a bank. This daily program aired between December 2017 and April 2019 on LBCI, one of Lebanon’s leading television stations, gives you vital knowledge that is also available on the Bank’s Youtube channel so you can manage your finances in a way that serves your best interests and the common good. It is broadcast immediately after the channel’s evening and late-night news bulletins.

“Nes W Finance” (or “People and Finance”)

“Nes W Finance”, the first print media initiative of its kind in Lebanon, offers insight and analysis into key aspects of personal finance, from budgeting and investment products to broader economic issues. This initiative consists of a weekly feature published by Al Akhbar newspaper, one of Lebanon’s most widely read dailies. After an initial run from November 2015 to May 2016, “Nes w Finance” returned to the pages of Al-Akhbar in 2017, 2018, and 2019.

MONEYSMART Boot Camps

Byblos Bank also is taking its message of Financial Literacy directly to Lebanese youth by conducting a series of MONEYSMART Boot Camps for participants aged 20-25 from all parts of Lebanon. By providing and interpreting information about the fundamentals of a healthy money cycle – from earning and spending to saving, borrowing, and investing – we want to help them make better-informed decisions on how to manage their finances and plan their futures.

Designed by Eventa, these camps feature specialized experts to help young people understand the long-term impacts of the choices they make today. In addition, our own Financial Literacy Ambassadors, chosen among Byblos Bank employees aged 25-30, actively contribute to the success of the Boot Camps by helping with the implementation and providing peer-to-peer support for participants. The Ambassador Program is a product of Byblos Bank’s belief in the importance of Financial Literacy and its commitment to continuing engagement with the cause by leveraging its highly qualified human resources. 

More than 1,000 youths took part in the MONEYSMART Boot Camps held in Beirut, Saida, Zahleh, Tyre, Tripoli, Koura, Zouk Mosbeh and Deir El Qamar during 2017, 2018 and 2019. Participants received approximately 300 instruction hours that changed the way they perceive money and put them on the right track to healthier financial lives.

In 2020, Byblos Bank will be holding a series of Boot Camps targeting hundreds of new participants and covering almost all regions. Most of these Boot Camps will be held in universities across Lebanon during the months of June, September and October. Details of registration will be released soon.