Commercial Bank of Syria

Stock performance

History

The Commercial Bank of Syria was formed in the 1960s from banks nationalized under the Baath government and has been the state's main commercial bank ever since. It was cut off from much of the international financial system by US and European sanctions over the past two decades.

Business model

The bank handles deposits, foreign-exchange operations, trade finance, and payments for state enterprises, the government, and individuals, through branches across the country.

Market position

The Commercial Bank of Syria is the country's largest bank, holding a large share of total banking assets.

Country impact

As the state's main bank, it is central to public finances and foreign trade, and the lifting of most US and EU sanctions on Syria in 2025 opened the prospect of reconnecting it and the wider banking system to international payments.