The facade of the Banque de l'Habitat in Beirut. (Photo provided by the institution to L'Orient Today in June 2025)
The CEO of the Housing Bank, Antoine Habib, welcomed the Lebanese government's recent "vote of confidence," after the Cabinet last week approved the increase of the bank’s capital from 100 billion to 150 billion Lebanese pounds.
He considered this decision "a significant initiative that revives hope among the youth," by "making it easier to acquire or renovate a home at a time when commercial bank loans are widely lacking." According to him, this measure aims "to meet the needs of as many low- or middle-income Lebanese as possible, as well as people with disabilities."
Habib also expressed his thanks to President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, Finance Minister Yassine Jaber, and Social Affairs Minister Haneen Sayed, "who helped facilitate the adoption of this decree at a time when the housing sector needs support more than ever to ensure the sustainability of loans."
At the end of August, the Banque du Liban (BDL) released 300 billion pounds to the Housing Bank for renovation loans. According to its CEO, the bank saw a "rush" last June after the ceiling for subsidized housing loans was raised from $50,000 to $100,000.
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