The environment in which Lebanon's banks have been operating has been challenging, meaning that despite their steady growth a backdrop of uncertainty is influencing policy. And they are also having to contend with a public backlash regarding profits from a central bank swap offer, writes Edward Russell-Walling.

The long-awaited election of a new president in Lebanon has been welcomed both at home and abroad. However, the political process in the country is still moving at a snail's pace, and issues such as the influx of Syrian refugees and an eye-watering debt-to-GDP ratio continue to loom large, as Edward Russell-Walling reports.

Long-serving governor Riad Salamé is coming to the end of his fourth term at the helm of the Banque du Liban, Lebanon's central bank. Speculation is rife about whether he will be replaced but, as he tells Edward Russell-Walling, the decision is out of his hands.

Proximity to war-torn Syria is piling on the pressure for Lebanon, which faces plummeting tourist numbers and an influx of refugees. Yet the country's GDP continues to show modest growth, and offshore oil reserves wait to be tapped if the political will can be found. 

The long-serving central bank governor of Lebanon, Riad Salamé, is a popular figure throughout the country, where he is widely seen as a steady hand amid an environment of political uncertainty. He talks to Edward Russell-Walling about his role in managing the Lebanese economy.

Lebanon's banks have for the past few years served as the pillars of the country's otherwise shaky economy. While they remain healthy, profits are being squeezed and lenders are anxiously awaiting a return to political and economic stability in the country.

Banks across the Arab world continue to perform well despite the turbulent political environment, according to The Banker’s Top 100 Arab banks ranking. 

The civil war in bordering Syria and a stagnant political scene have caused Lebanon's economy to grow at a slow pace in recent years. While factors such as the low oil price give some cause for optimism, the prevailing feeling of uncertainty in the country means few see it realising its full potential any time soon.

The countries of north Africa have been proving attractive for lenders from the Gulf region for decades, but in recent years this activity has picked up, with Egypt a particularly popular destination. Tom Stevenson looks at the reasons why Gulf banks are heading west. 

Operating in a relatively small domestic market often beset by social and political upheaval has led Lebanese banks to look overseas as a way of expanding, something from which they are now reaping the dividends.