British Bank of the Middle East definition of British Bank of the Middle East in the Free Online Encyclopedia.

British Bank of the Middle East

a British joint-stock bank founded as the Imperial Bank of Persia in 1889 under a concession granted by the shah of Iran for a period of 60 years.

Until 1930 the bank had the exclusive right to issue bank notes in Iran and functioned as a central bank. In 1935 its name was changed to the Imperial Bank of Iran. The bank’s concession expired in August 1949; since its operations had already expanded beyond the borders of Iran, the bank became the British Bank of Iran and the Middle East. It worked with the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company until 1952, when it was no longer allowed to operate in Iran. In July 1952 it was reorganized as the British Bank of the Middle East.

In January 1960 the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation acquired 99.5 percent of the bank’s shares, but the bank continued to function under its old name. In July 1973 the entire capital of the bank was transferred to the parent corporation. The British Bank of the Middle East, whose main headquarters is in London, has 66 branches (primarily in countries of the Middle East and North Africa) and two subsidiary banks. At the end of 1976 the bank had total assets of £1,571 million, capital and reserves of £42 million, current accounts and deposits of £1,413 million, and loans and discounted bills of £1,112 million.

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No references found			In 1967, a rumor spread in Beirut that the British Bank of the Middle East was going bankrupt, which later turned out to be false. Ayoon wa Azan: I hope the Arabs Participate,C* with Open Minds by Dar Al Hayat, International ed. (Beirut, Lebanon) Midland Bank, Marine Midland, British Bank of the Middle East, Wardley, Wayfoong Finance, and James Capel, among others. The bonding of HSBC: John Bond turned a local bank into a global ... by Shameen, Assif / Chief Executive (U.S.) It greatly expanded its Middle East operations with the takeover of British Bank of the Middle East, which became HSBC Bank Middle East. International banks target Middle East: increasing numbers of ... by Ford, Neil / The Middle East			Bristol board Bristol Channel Bristol County Bristol glaze Bristol, George Digby, 2d earl of Bristol, John Digby, 1st earl of Bristol, University of Bristow, Benjamin Helm Bristow, Joseph Britaev, Elbyzdyko Britaev, Elbyzdyko Tsopanovich Britain Britain, Battle Britain, Battle of Britannia britannia cell britannia metal Britannicus britholite British British absolute system of units British Airways British American Tobacco PLC British Antarctic Territory British antilewisite British Bank of the Middle East British Board of Agrement British Board of Agrément British Broadcasting Corporation British Broadcasting Corporation BBC British Cameroons British Columbia British Columbia Conservation Foundation British Columbia Day British Columbia Water, Land & Air Ministry British Columbia Wildlife Federation British Columbia, University British Columbia, University of British Commonwealth of Nations British East Africa British East India Company British Empire British engineering system of units British Expeditionary Force British gravitational system of units British Guiana British Honduras British imperial pound British Imperial System of weights and measures British India British Indian Ocean Territory			British Associations for Inventors British Astronomical Association British Astronomical Association Variable Star Section British Atmospheric Data Centre British Atomic Energy Authority British Atomic Energy Research Establishment British Au Pairs Agencies Association British Audience Research Bureau British Audio Journal British Australian and New Zealand Antarctic Research Expedition British Australian Rules Football League British Australian Wool Realisation Association British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association British Automatic Sprinkler Association British Automation and Robotics Association British Autombile Racing Club British Automobile Owners Association British Automobile Touring Association of Nova Scotia British Aviation Insurance Group British Bait Breeders Association British Bakeries Ltd British Ballet Organization British Balloon and Airship Club British Baltic Fishery Protection Service British Bank of the Middle East British Bankers Association British Bankers Association British Bankers Association British Bankers' Association British Banking Association British Barclays Private Equity British Baseball and Softball Association British Baseball Federation British Basketball League British Battery Manufacturers Association British Bavarian Warmblood Association British Beatles Fan Club British Beekeepers Association British Beer & Pub Association British Beer Company British Beet Research Organisation British Belgian Blue Cattle Society British Benefits Friendly Society British Berlin Airlift Association British Best All Rounder British Best Friend British Betting Office Association British Biker Cooperative British Biocell International British Biophysical Society British Biscuit Advisory Board