Bank Alfalah

History

Bank Alfalah Limited was launched on June 21, 1997 as a public limited company under the Companies Ordinance 1984. The bank commenced its operations on November 1, 1997. The bank introduced commercial banking and related services as defined in the Banking companies ordinance, 1962. Bank Alfalah is the 6th largest bank of Pakistan with 648 branches in Pakistan and abroad.

The roots of the bank go back to the Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI), which was closed down due to various allegations. The Pakistan operations of BCCI were taken over by State Bank of Pakistan and nationalized to safeguard the consumer interests, under a new identity of HCEB or 'Habib Credit and Exchange Bank'. In 1997, the bank was privatized and taken over by 'Abu Dhabi Group' of UAE, with a new identity of 'Bank Alfalah Limited'. The management of the bank had implemented strategies and policies so the bank would become a major player in the market. With a partnership with the Abu Dhabi Group the position of the bank became stronger which allowed the bank to invest more in technology to increase its range of products and services.

Bangladesh

On the 16th of May, 2005 Bank Alfalah formally took over the Bangladesh operations of Shamil Bank of Bahrain for US $17.88 million and renamed it to Bank Alfalah Bangladesh. This was the first branch of the bank outside Pakistan. Bank Alfalah is successfully operating in the country with continuous expansion of network.

Afghanistan

Bank Alfalah Limited started its operation at Afghanistan in 2005 and is providing Conventional Banking services in Kabul and Herat. Islamic Banking services are also provided in Kabul. Bank Alfalah Limited is the LARGEST FOREIGN BANK IN AFGHANISTAN with a balance sheet size of over USD 300 Million as of December 31, 2013.

Bahrain

Bank Alfalah Limited commenced its Bahrain Operations in 2007 with the establishment of a Wholesale Banking Unit (WBU Bahrain), operating in a major financial hub of the Middle East/GCC region. The WBU is housed in one of the country’s known structures, Bahrain Financial Harbor, in order to meet its customers’ needs.

Etymology

It is said that the bank was named after the sister 'Falah' of the Chairman of Abu Dhabi group...

Re-branding

The bank has entered re-branding as of February 2015 after 17 years of its birth. The official color has been changed from Deep Blue to Crimson Red and the logo has also been changed. The new logo has been named as well, Chevron. Meanwhile, the Vision & Mission statements have also been revised.

Bank Alfalah has gone for shift in brand appearance in Pakistan. New logo of Bank Alfalah was revealed on 28th of February 2015 in Karachi, Pakistan.

IFC Investment

The Bank Alfalah Limited (BAFL) has received an equity investment of Rs 6.66 billion from the International Finance Corporation (IFC). The IFC, earlier in 2014, had showed keenness to invest in the bank and in May the corporation successfully got a non-objection certificate from the State Bank to carry out the evaluation of BAFL before its plan of equity injection. Finally, in September the two sides signed an agreement on IFC’s proposed $67 million investment in Bank Alfalah by subscribing 15 percent equity investment in the bank to help it to increase access to finance in Pakistan. IFC has already a working relationship with BAFL and it helped the bank in development of “Alfalah SME toolkit”, a free of charge online portal aimed to help SMEs through implementation of business practices based on information, communication and technology.

Functions

Branch banking

Consumer banking

Electronic Banking

Corporate banking

Treasury & Investment

Branches

The bank is currently operating through 648 branches(as on December 30, 2014) including 480 Conventional, 157 Islamic Banking and 11 Overseas/International branches in Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Bahrain, with the registered office at B.A.Building, I.I.Chundrigar, Karachi. Some of the main branches are located in all of the major cities including: Chakwal, Hyderabad, Kasur, Lahore, Abbottabad, Islamabad, Gawadar, Peshawar, Faisalabad, Quetta, D.I.Khan, Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Sheikhupura, Sukkur, Sialkot, Multan, Murree, Jhelum, Attock District, Gujranwala, Mirpur Khas, Lodhran, D.G.Khan, Mian Channu, bahawalnagar, bahawalpur, Sahiwal, Khanewal, Swabi and Many Other Cities all over Pakistan...