The number of branches of Saudi banks increased by 72 in 2013, Argaam data

Saudi banks opened 72 new branches in 2013, pushing to 1,768 the total number of bank branches operating across the kingdom, according to data compiled by Argaam.

Al-Rahi bank, the biggest listed bank by market capitalization, has the highest number of branches, or 479. It opened 12 branches last year.

Bank alBilad had 14 new branches, al-Jazeera 11, while alinma Bank and the Arab National Bank added 5 branches each.                                 

Banque Saudi Fransi, however, closed down 3 branches last year, according to Argaam data based on reports by the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency or SAMA, the kingdom’s central bank.

.

The National Commercial Bank started 23 new branches, bringing the total number of branches to 322. 

Banks operating in Saudi Arabia include 11 listed Saudi banks and the National Commercial Bank.                                 

Foreign banks with branches in Saudi Arabia include Emirates National Dubai Bank, France’s BNP Paribas, the National Bank of Kuwait, Germany’s Deutsche Bank, Muscat Bank, the National Bank of Bahrain, J.P.Morgan Chase Bank, National Bank of Pakistan and State of India Bank.

The Saudi capital, Riyadh, has the biggest number of bank branches; 535. Makkah region has 394 and the Eastern Province has 331 branches. There are 111 branches in Asir and 110 in al-Qassim, while the Northern region has 13 branches.

Average assets of each branch rose to SAR 1.07 billion in 2013 from SAR 1.02 billion the previous year. Average deposits increased to SAR 793 million a branch, while loans advanced to SAR 636 million.