The Accounting Department includes the Expense Budget & Cost Control, Central Accounting, Core Banking and Daily Operations Divisions.
These Divisions are responsible for:
The Banking Department is composed of:
The functions of the Survey Division are :
The Information Division collects information about banks, financial institutions and related entities. The Central Office for Credit Risk provides operating banks and financial institutions upon their request and under strict confidentiality with information on total credit extended to a debtor without specifying the lending sources. The Central Office for Returned Cheques, provides operating banks, under strict confidentiality, with information on returned cheques and/or their issuers.
The Branches Department organizes and manages the relationships between BDL Headquarters and its branches and implements BDL policies throughout the country where the branches are located. Currently, there are 9 BDL branches spread over the Lebanese territory in Tripoli, Saida, Tyr, Nabatieh, Bekfaya, Jounieh , Aley, Zahle and Baalbeck.
The functions of the Cash Operations department are:
The functions of the Financial Operations Department are
On the other hand, this department reviews and follows up banking facilities granted to the Treasury, and carries out the decisions of BDL Management to purchase or sell Treasury bonds and intervenes in open market operations.
The main functions of the department vary from intervention in the local foreign exchange market, to the handling of foreign central banks, banks and international financial institutions deposits. It is also in charge of the investments abroad and the management of the foreign assets of BDL in the international markets. The department handles the issuance of documentary credits and collaborates with the different public sector institutions related to that service. The department also manages the international transfer of funds related to all clients allowed to open accounts with BDL, i.e. private and public sectors.
The Foreign Affairs Department is in charge of the strategic communication and the external relations of the Central Bank. On one hand, it designs communication plans in line with BDL’s strategic objectives, and disseminates relevant information about the BDL through numerous channels (pamphlets, website, workshops, conferences, media outlets etc.). On another hand, it develops studies on the relationship of the Bank with its various partners, both domestic and foreign, and proposes strategies to ensure compliance to the highest international standards. It also consults on various subjects and reports, as requested by HE the Governor.
The department also encompasses the Letter of Credits division that is responsible for opening and executing documentary credits, in coordination with the Foreign Exchange and International Operations department.
The Department of General Secretariat is responsible for the files of the BDL Central Council, the Higher Banking Commission, the Consultative Committee and the Disciplinary Board. The main functions of this Department are
In addition to that the department includes a media, public relations and publications unit. This Department comprises also a Security Division, which is responsible for all security issues at the BDL. The "Central Control Division" is newly established whose main function is to control all the operating alarm systems at Banque du Liban.
The main function of the Human Resources Department is to assist employees through their life cycle at the bank and even after retirement in order to bring out the best of their potential and thus contribute to the success and stability of the bank. Its functional purpose is to manage the bank's employees affairs, and to oversee the execution of local rules and regulations, primarily the laws of labor, NSSF and the internal employees' book of rules and regulation.
It consists of 6 divisions and one Unit:
The IT department is responsible for managing and maintaining the technology infrastructure and information systems that are essential for the bank's day-to-day operations. The department is tasked with ensuring that the bank's technology is up-to-date, secure, and able to support the needs of its employees and customers .
Roles include :
1. System Design and Development: This involves designing, developing, and implementing the software systems and applications that are used by the bank's employees and customers.
2. Infrastructure Management: This involves managing the bank's technology infrastructure, including servers, networks, and storage systems, to ensure that they are reliable, secure, and perform optimally
3. Data Management: This involves managing the bank's data, including customer and transaction data, and ensuring that it is accurate, secure, and compliant with relevant regulations
4. Cybersecurity: This involves protecting the bank's technology systems and data from cyber threats, such as hacking, phishing, and malware
5. Business Analysis: This involves working with other departments within the bank to identify and implement technology solutions that meet their specific needs.
The Inspection and Audit Department is responsible for internal audit and inspection procedures at the Banque du Liban and its branches, including records, operations, assets, and accounts. It suggests measures for the improvement of administration.
The department is composed of :
1) Organization of the Legal Affairs Department:
The Legal Affairs Department is organized, as per Decision No. 5225 dated 20/8/1993 and its amendments regarding the organization of BDL's departments, into the following three divisions:
In addition, the Legal Affairs Department includes the Secretariat and the Internal Archive units.
2) Functions of the Legal Affairs Department:
The Legal Affairs Department has numerous and diverse functions that relate to all of the activities and departments of the BDL. The Department handles and examines all the files submitted for compliance review by banking and financial entities. In addition to that, the Department undertakes the preparation of draft laws, regulatory texts, legal consultation, drafting and reviewing sales, purchase, lease, investment, insurance, and mortgage contracts, credit opening agreements, the approval of POAs and other documents relating to fund withdrawal from BDL. The Department also liaises daily with other BDL departments, staff, and third parties requesting legal opinions on various issues.
3) Sections of the Studies and Legal Consultation Division:
1) Organization of the Money Services Businesses Department
The Money Services Businesses Department is organized, as per Decision No. 11943 dated 04/02/2015, into the following two divisions:
Money dealers, Comptoirs, Specialized Credit Institutions and Leasing Companies Division
Money dealers Section
Comptoirs, Specialized Credit Institutions and Leasing Companies Section
Institutions Specialized in Electronic Transfers and studies Division
Institutions Specialized in Electronic Transfers Section
Studies Section
2) Functions of the Money Services Businesses Department
The Money Services Businesses Department handles and monitors all the files submitted by Money Dealers, Comptoirs, Specialized Credit Institutions, Leasing Companies and Institutions Specialized in Electronic Transfers.
Furthermore, the Money Services Businesses Department undertakes the preparation of several statistical reports concerning the shipment of bank notes and precious metals, cash electronic transfers and other related issues.
Finally, the Money Services Businesses Department assumes the preparation of draft laws and regulatory texts concerning the Department responsibilities.
The Department is composed of two divisions entrusted with the following tasks
The Organization Division:
The Development Division:
The Payment Systems Department, that replaced the Current Operations Department, is composed of three divisions: operations, oversight, and research and development. The main function of this department is to manage and oversee the National Payment System operated by the BDL which is made of the following components: Real Time Gross Settlement System (BDL-RTGS), Retail Payment System (BDL-CLEAR), and Government Payment System (BDL-GPS), as well as overseeing all other private payment systems in Lebanon, in accordance with the relevant regulations and international principles and standards. The BDL-RTGS is live successfully since July 9, 2012, while the Electronic Retail Payment System (BDL-CLEAR) is running successfully since November 2013. The third component of the National Payment System, BDL-PayGov, is in the final implementation stage. The payment systems department is, therefore, responsible for performing and overseeing all kinds of operations in the National Payment System, notably:
The Payment Systems Department is also responsible for the settlement of securities and other financial instruments that are traded at Beirut Stock Exchange and cleared by MIDCLEAR, the Custodian and Clearing Centre of Financial Instruments for Lebanon and the Middle East- which is also the central depositary for Lebanon.
Moreover, the Payment Systems Department at BDL conducts studies on payment systems, and prepares the relevant analytical and statistical reports. The Payment Systems Department also controls and manages all types of BDL customers' accounts, and operates the clearing house at BDL Headquarters, Beirut.
The Real Estate and Financial Assets Department is composed of two divisions:
The Services Department is composed of :
It supplies offices of the BDL and its branches with furniture and equipment, and handles all maintenance operations.
The functions of the Statistics and Economic Research Department are:
The department is composed of the Statistics Division and the Economic Research Division.
The functions of the Department of Training and Development are:
The BDL Library is under the management of this department.