As the Lebanese economy becomes more liberal regarding credit cards that comply with their beliefs, credit cards are registering a sudden increase in the economy. According to the 2007 data, credit card usage grew by 33% in Lebanon. By the end of September 2007, the country had 1,386,468 consumers.
The main players to benefit from this increase were the Al-Mawarid, Banque Misr Liban, American Express and Bank of Beirut. Here is a brief list of their offerings:
· Al-Mawarid bank: This bank offers more than 8 types of credit cards that cater to students as well as international travelers. Their Jump card is an attractive and hasslefree offering for students, and does not require co-signors. The bank also offers zero annual fee cards for people who want to maintain cards for emergency usage and not pay extra fees for carrying them forward year after year.
· Banque Misr Liban: BML credit cards suit different needs and eligibilities. BML promises instant approval once all the requirements are met. The interest rate is 1.5% per month on the unpaid balance and the minimum payment is only 5% of the total balance.
· American Express: With value adding services such as free travel accident insurance, global assistance, free card replacement services and host of other rewards, American Express credit cards offer a lot more than the traditional credit cards. In Lebanon, they are available in three variants with a minimum annual fee of $55.
· Bank of Beirut: These credit cards offer a credit limit of $5,000 and charge an interest rate of 1.75% on the unpaid balance each month. The Visa Gold card comes with an annual fee of $125 and is available to Lebanese citizens over 21 years of age.
Furthermore, credit cards in Lebanon are available with minimum documentation and entail very short approval time.