Close Menu
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Saturday, June 21, 2025
    961
    Instagram Facebook LinkedIn TikTok
    • Breaking News
    • Guides
    • Food & Drink
    • Listicles
    • Join the Team
    • Whatsapp
      • 961
      • 961 News
    • AUB Outdoors ☀️
    Advertise with Us Get the App
    961
    Home»News»Lebanon News
    Salim Sfeir | EPA
    2 Mins Read

    Salim Sfeir Claims That Bankers Lost More Than Lebanese Depositors (Video)

    By Karine KeuchkerianMay 19, 2022
    Facebook WhatsApp Copy Link

    A video of the chairman of the Association of Banks in Lebanon, Salim Sfeir, saying that Lebanese bankers lost more than depositors, surged the internet, triggering a wave of anger from the people.

    سليم صفير يقول: المصرفيون خسروا أكثر من المودعين ! pic.twitter.com/h26g3Xeqv2

    — Mounir Younés/ منير يونس (@Mouniryouniss) May 18, 2022

    In the video, he is heard saying: “To all the depositors who are scared of losing their life savings., just like it is theirs, it is also our life savings… Each body in the banking sector lost more than any other depositor, we lost many times over.”

    The statement fueled the people with anger, notably among the Lebanese Twitter users deeming it absurd and hypocritical since the people are the ones who lost the most.

    Twitter user Khodr Hammoud retorted, “This is ridiculous! Someone tell him about management and accountability! It was their job to take care of our money and they lost it! So excuse us if we’re not very saddened by your losses and we wish you more losses for the rest of your days.”

    A Lebanese by the name of Nada Kanaan Boulos responded by uploading an image alleged to be of Salim Sfeir’s net worth, commenting that with such net worth “it’s best to stay quiet”:

    When this is your net worth it’s best to stay quiet especially when elderly people have been robbed of their retirement money and assets
    People like him should be exiled and their assets possessed to pay back our money
    The audacity of these people is disturbing pic.twitter.com/B963jEPa0R

    — Nada Kanaan ام جورج (@Nada9Kanaan) May 19, 2022

    “Salim Sfeir, president of the Association of Banks who stole people’s money, is crying over his savings and the lifetime of the banks and bankers. They came out here the last victims,” commented Twitter user Lina Zhaim.

    It is not new in Lebanon that those responsible for a mess or misgovernance claim to be victims or even the main victims, issuing misleading speeches or statements to incite people’s sympathy.

    And some, not a few, believe them. But, in this case, the pain and frustration of the people have been unbearable, experiencing the lockdown of their savings by the banks since late 2019 while the value of the local currency, hence their savings, crumpled.

    This crisis did not only affect depositors. It has also affected the Lebanese private university students, who are now protesting against the dollarization of their tuition fees, fearing losing their only chance for a better future.

    Many Lebanese expats have also been impacted, whether students relying on their parents in Lebanon to provide for their education and stay abroad or those who were relying on their savings to pay their rents in their host countries.

    Economic Crisis Lebanon
    Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email

    For You

    whish pay lebanon 961

    You Can Now Use Whish Pay At Shopify Stores

    lebanon cybergames 2025 hacking 961

    Lebanon Just Won A Global Hacking Competition

    lebanon jounieh cyprus by ferry 961

    You’ll Soon Be Able To Travel Between Lebanon & Cyprus By Ferry

    visa whish money partnership

    Visa and Whish Money Just Partnered To Push Digital Payments in Lebanon and Abroad

    uae travel ban lebanon 961

    UAE Is Officially Removing The Travel Ban On Lebanon

    Lebanese talking-stage

    15 Things Your Lebanese Talking-Stage Will Tell You, And What It Actually Means

    Low-Cost Lebanese Airline 961

    We Might Finally Be Getting A Low-Cost Lebanese Airline – Here’s What We Know

    lebanon jounieh cyprus by ferry 961

    You’ll Soon Be Able To Travel Between Lebanon & Cyprus By Ferry

    June 8, 2025
    whish pay lebanon 961

    You Can Now Use Whish Pay At Shopify Stores

    June 13, 2025
    Michel Hayek

    Michel Hayek 2025: Predictions For The World

    December 31, 2024

    20 Celebrities You Probably Didn’t Know Had Lebanese Roots

    April 22, 2019
    Michel Hayek

    Michel Hayek 2025: Predictions For Lebanon

    December 31, 2024
    lebanon cybergames 2025 hacking 961

    Lebanon Just Won A Global Hacking Competition

    June 10, 2025
    Michel Hayek

    Michel Hayek 2025: Predictions For The Middle East

    December 31, 2024
    lebanese beer brands almaza beirut beer 961

    Lebanese Beer Brands Are Publicly Throwing Shade, And It’s Getting Frothy

    June 7, 2025

    Lebanon’s Shawarma Is Going Viral in The Philippines

    April 21, 2019
    961 Logo
    Facebook WhatsApp TikTok Instagram

    Popular Topics

    • Guides
    • Eat & Drink
    • Listicles
    • Lebanon News
    • Diaspora
    • Explained

    961

    • About
    • WhatsApp Channel
    • News WhatsApp Channel
    • Corrections Policy
    • Ownership & Funding

    Services

    • Advertise
    • Careers
    • App Waitlist
    • Contact Us
    • Newsletter
    961™ | All Rights Reserved ©2025
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Okay