Basic information about
banksBanque Extérieure d'Algérie (BEA) is a state-owned commercial bank that plays a central role in the Algerian financial system. As a state-owned bank, it is known for its robust operations and support for the country's economic development, focusing on international trade, foreign exchange business, and retail banking services. BEA is not only one of the largest banks in Algeria, but also has a significant presence in the region, driving digital transformation and financial inclusion.
Full name and background
: Banque Extérieure d'Algérie (Arabic: بنك الجزائر الخارجي)
was founded: October 1, 1967 (established by Ordonnance N°67-204
). Headquarters Location: 11 Boulevard Colonel Amirouche, Bir Mourad Rais, Alger 16001,
AlgeriaShareholder Background: BEA is a 100% state-owned bank, wholly owned by the Algerian government and not listed on the stock exchange. Its capital is valued at Algerian dinars (US$1.7 billion, 2023 figures) and was upgraded from 150 billion dinars in 2019 through a capital increase to support international expansion and domestic business development.
Scope of
ServicesBEA covers regional markets, mainly in Algeria, with branches in France (BEA International), Mauritania and Senegal, focusing on international trade and cross-border financial services. As of 2022, BEA has 106 offline outlets (including 2 bureaux de change) and 11 regional management centers in Algeria, covering major cities across the country, such as Algiers, Oran and Constantine. ATMs are widely distributed, with hundreds of ATMs (the exact number is not disclosed) that support cash deposits and withdrawals, but ATM coverage in rural areas is more limited than in urban areas. BEA's network of outlets and ATMs is one of the best in the Algerian banking industry, facilitating the day-to-day operations of its customers.
Regulatory & Compliance
Regulator: BEA is under the direct supervision of the Banque d'Algérie and complies with the Monetary and Credit Act of 2003 and related regulations.
Deposit insurance: BEA participates in Algeria's Deposit Guarantee Fund (Fonds de Garantie des Dépôts Bancaires) and pays a fee to protect customer deposits, according to Instruction n°01-2024 (January 18, 2024), the exact amount of insurance is not disclosed, but it usually covers standard deposit accounts.
Compliance Record: BEA implements a rigorous transaction filtering system in the areas of Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter-Terrorism Financing (CFT), in compliance with the Internal Control Regulations 2011.
Financial health
capital adequacy ratioBEA's capital adequacy ratio far exceeds the minimum requirement of the Bank of Algeria (10 billion dinars according to Règlement N°24-02), and its capital of 230 billion dinars indicates its strong resilience, which is around 12%-15% of Basel III standards (exact data not disclosed).
Non-performing loan ratio: The overall non-performing loan ratio of the Algerian banking sector is about 4% (based on IMF data), and BEA, as a state-owned bank, is expected to have a non-performing loan ratio lower than the industry average of about 2%-3% through strict risk management (precise data not publicly available).
Liquidity Coverage Ratio: BEA's liquidity coverage ratio (LCR) is not disclosed, but it holds a large number of government bonds and highly liquid assets, which meets the liquidity requirements of the Bank of Algeria and is expected to be above 100%, sufficient for a 30-day stress scenario.
Deposit & Loan Products
deposit class:
Demand Deposits: Interest-free and low-interest current accounts are available, with interest rates of about 0%-0.5%, which are suitable for daily money management.
Fixed deposits: terms from 3 months to 5 years, the interest rate is set by the Bank of Algeria and is about 1%-3% (depending on the amount and duration). For example, the interest rate on a 3-month fixed deposit of 100,000 dinars is about 1.5%.
Featured products: Islamic deposit accounts (Shariah-compliant, no fixed interest, profit-sharing-based) and large certificates of deposit (minimum 100,000 dinars, interest rate slightly higher than fixed deposits, about 2.5%-3.5%).
Loans:
Mortgages: Mourabaha real estate financing (Islamic finance model) with an annualized cost rate of about 5%-7% and a term of up to 20 years, with proof of income and collateral.
Car loan: The annualized cost rate of auto financing is about 6%-8%, the term is 3-5 years, and a down payment of 20%-30% is required.
Personal Line of Credit: The amount of unsecured loans is small (up to 500,000 dinars), the interest rate is about 8%-10%, the approval is strict, and the income needs to be stable.
Flexible repayment: Some loans allow for early repayment or adjustment of repayment schedule, subject to an additional fee (about 1% of the loan balance).
List of common fees
account management feeThe monthly fee for a regular current account is about 100-200 dinars (about 0.7-1.5 USD), and the annual fee for a high-end account (such as a business account) is about 5,000 dinars.
Transfer fee:
Domestic transfer: free of charge via online banking or ATM, 50-100 dinars per over-the-counter transfer.
Cross-border transfers: 0.5%-1% of the amount, minimum 2,000 dinars (about 15 USD).
Overdraft fee: Overdraft accounts earn interest on a daily basis at an interest rate of about 12%-15% with no fixed penalty.
ATM interbank withdrawal fee: 100-150 dinars per transaction, free of charge at BEA's own ATM.
Hidden Fee Warning: Some accounts require a minimum balance (around 5,000 dinars), below which a penalty of 50 dinars/month may be charged. Cross-border transactions may involve undisclosed foreign exchange conversion fees, which are recommended to be confirmed in advance.
Digital service experience
APP and online banking:
BEA Mobile: Rated around 3.5/5 on Google Play and App Store (based on user feedback), features include account inquiry, transfers, bill payments, and foreign exchange transactions. Users report a friendly interface, but the update frequency is low and there are occasional lags.
Online banking: It provides similar functions, suitable for corporate customers, supports batch transfer and trade finance management, and has high security (two-factor authentication required).
Core functions: support face recognition login (some devices), real-time transfer (instant arrival in China), bill management (utility bill payment) and basic investment tools (such as deposit product inquiry).
Technological innovation:
AI customer service: Provide basic chatbots to deal with common problems (such as balance inquiries), but complex problems need to be transferred to humans.
Robo-advisors: None, investment services are mainly provided over the counter or through dedicated managers.
Open banking API: Publicly supported, digital services are traditional.
Comments: BEA's digital platform is practical but not cutting-edge, suitable for basic needs, and technological innovation needs to be improved.
Customer Service Quality
service channel:
Phone support: A 24/7 hotline (+213 661 68 19 09) is available, with a response time of about 1-2 minutes.
Online chat: Online banking and APP provide real-time chat, and the working time is fast (5-10 minutes).
Social Media: Respond to customer inquiries via Twitter (@BEAAlgeria), usually 1-2 hours to reply.
Complaint handling: Complaints can be submitted through the official website, telephone or outlets, with an average resolution time of about 3-7 days, and user satisfaction is medium (about 70%).
Multi-language support: Available in Arabic, French, and English, suitable for cross-border customers, but other languages (e.g. Chinese) require translation assistance.
Security measures
security of funds:
Deposit Insurance: Protecting customer deposits through the Deposit Guarantee Fund, an undisclosed amount of coverage expected to be more than 100,000 dinars.
Anti-fraud technology: Adopt real-time transaction monitoring and anomaly detection systems to reduce the risk of card fraud and fraud.
Data security:
certification: ISO 27001 certification is not disclosed, but encryption protocols (such as TLS 1.3) are used to protect online banking and app data.
Data breaches: There are no recent public data breaches, and the security is relatively reliable.
Evaluation: BEA's financial and data security measures are in line with industry standards, and the state-owned background enhances customer trust.
Featured Services & Differentiation
market segments:
Student Account: A youth account with no administration fee and a low-limit credit card for students aged 18-25.
Exclusive to the elderly: Launched a high-yield pension savings account with an interest rate of 0.5% higher than ordinary time deposits.
Green Finance: Support ESG project financing, such as renewable energy loans, with preferential interest rates of about 1%.
High-net-worth services: Provide private banking services, with an entry threshold of about 50 million dinars (about 370,000 US dollars), including customized wealth management, cross-border investment and dedicated managers.
Highlights: BEA's Islamic finance and green finance products are unique and appealing to specific customer segments.
Market Position & Accolades
Industry ranking: BEA is one of the largest commercial banks in Algeria and one of the largest banks in Africa in terms of assets (Jeune Afrique In 2008, it was ranked first in North Africa and sixth in Africa).
Awards:
- "
Innovative Bank Award" in 2011 for the launch of Algeria's first self-service banking service.
In 2023, it was nominated for "Best Regional Bank" for digital transformation and international business expansion (specific award is not disclosed).
Status: BEA has a dominant position in the Algerian banking sector, with a strong market competitiveness thanks to its state-owned background and extensive network.
