Bank of Khartoum
A major Sudanese commercial bank with roots dating to 1913 and a substantial Islamic-banking heritage.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Bank of Khartoum (BOK) is a Sudanese commercial bank whose institutional history traces back to the establishment of an Anglo-Egyptian Bank branch in Khartoum in 1913. It is described in the available reference material as Sudan’s largest bank and as the country’s commercial bank with the oldest continuous history. Over more than a century, the institution developed through successive foreign-bank branches, post-independence and post-nationalization reorganizations, mergers, government consolidation, privatization, and a later transformation into a predominantly Islamic-banking institution. The bank’s modern identity emerged from the former Barclays network in Sudan. Following the nationalization of Sudanese banks in 1970, Barclays’ extensive local branch network was transferred into state ownership and renamed several times before becoming Bank of Khartoum in 1975. The institution was later combined with other state-linked banks. In 1984, Omdurman Bank and Juba Commercial Bank were merged into Unity Bank, and in 1993 the government grouped Unity Bank, National Export Import Bank, and Bank of Khartoum into the Khartoum Bank Group. A major strategic turning point came in the early 2000s, when the Sudanese government prepared Bank of Khartoum for privatization. Dubai Islamic Bank acquired a 60 percent share in 2005, introducing a stronger Gulf and Islamic-finance orientation. In 2006, Dubai Islamic Bank, Islamic Development Bank, Sharjah Islamic Bank, and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank helped establish Emirates and Sudan Bank in Khartoum as a fully Islamic bank. Bank of Khartoum announced a merger with that institution in 2007, and the transaction took effect in 2008. The post-merger ownership described in the reference material included a reduced 28 percent stake for Dubai Islamic Bank, a 10 percent Sudanese government stake, and holdings for Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank and Sharjah Islamic Bank. Bank of Khartoum’s business scope includes retail banking, corporate and commercial banking, deposits, lending, trade finance, payments, and international financial services. Its Islamic-banking positioning is particularly important to its modern brand, although the available material does not provide a complete current product catalogue or detailed information about the legal structure of every offering. The bank has been associated with a network of more than 111 branches, according to the cited Wikipedia reference, making physical distribution a significant part of its Sudanese operating model. The institution has also operated against a difficult international and regional backdrop. The United States removed Bank of Khartoum from its sanctions blacklist in 2011, allowing it to seek the return of blocked assets and resume limited dealings with US financial institutions. In March 2014, however, several European and Saudi Arabian banks reportedly announced that they would stop transacting with Bank of Sudan, a development relevant to the broader Sudanese banking environment and to the bank’s international operating context. The bank’s former South Sudan presence also changed after South Sudan’s independence: the Bank of Khartoum Juba operation became Charter One Bank (South Sudan) after the Government of South Sudan required a sale of the shares in 2012. Current operational conditions, ownership, management, and branch availability require verification from up-to-date official or regulatory sources.
History
Bank of Khartoum’s history begins in 1913, when the Anglo-Egyptian Bank opened a branch in Khartoum. In 1925, Barclays Bank combined Anglo-Egyptian Bank with two other institutions to create Barclays Bank (Dominion, Colonial and Overseas), bringing the Khartoum operation into a wider imperial banking network. The postwar period brought additional foreign banking entrants to Sudan. Ottoman Bank opened a Khartoum branch in 1948. Bank Misr followed in 1953, Arab Bank in 1954, and the State Bank of Ethiopia, later known as Commercial Bank of Ethiopia, in 1958. These institutions created a network of foreign-owned or foreign-affiliated banking operations that was later reorganized by the Sudanese state. National and Grindlays Bank acquired Ottoman Bank in 1969, but the resulting operation was nationalized the following year. In 1970, the Sudanese government nationalized the country’s banks and placed them under the direction of the Bank of Sudan. Barclays’ Sudanese business, which had operated 24 branches, was first renamed State Bank of Foreign Trade and then Bank of Khartoum in 1975. Other nationalized operations also received new identities: Bank Misr’s six branches became People’s Cooperative Bank; Arab Bank’s branches were reorganized as Red Sea Bank or Red Sea Commercial Bank; the Ethiopian bank’s Khartoum operation became Juba Commercial Bank; and the former Ottoman operation became Omdurman Bank. In 1973, Red Sea Bank and People’s Cooperative Bank were merged into Omdurman Bank. Eleven years later, Omdurman Bank was combined with Juba Commercial Bank to form Unity Bank. In 1993, the government grouped Unity Bank, National Export Import Bank, and Bank of Khartoum into the Khartoum Bank Group. These changes reflected the state’s continuing efforts to consolidate and manage Sudan’s banking system. The next major phase began in 2002, when the government prepared Bank of Khartoum for privatization. Dubai Islamic Bank purchased a 60 percent share in 2005. This transaction connected the Sudanese institution more closely with Gulf banking capital and Islamic finance. In 2006, Islamic Development Bank, Dubai Islamic Bank, Sharjah Islamic Bank, and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank established Emirates and Sudan Bank in Khartoum as a fully Islamic bank. Bank of Khartoum announced a merger with Emirates and Sudan Bank in 2007, and the merger became effective in 2008. The ownership arrangement described after the merger reduced Dubai Islamic Bank’s holding to 28 percent, while the Sudanese government retained 10 percent and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank and Sharjah Islamic Bank also held stakes. The merger strengthened the Islamic-banking character of the combined institution and became a defining event in its modern development. Bank of Khartoum has been described as Sudan’s largest bank and as the country’s oldest continuously operating commercial bank, with more than 111 branches in the cited reference. Its activities span retail, corporate, commercial, trade, lending, deposits, payments, and international banking. The bank’s international position has been shaped by sanctions and correspondent-banking constraints. The United States removed it from its sanctions blacklist in 2011, while reports in 2014 said that several European and Saudi Arabian banks would cease transactions with Bank of Sudan. The bank also had a presence in South Sudan through Bank of Khartoum Juba, but that operation became Charter One Bank (South Sudan) after a government-required share sale in 2012. Further details about the bank’s current ownership, leadership, products, and operations should be checked against current official disclosures.
- 2012
Bank of Khartoum Juba becomes Charter One Bank
[1]The South Sudan operation changed ownership and became Charter One Bank (South Sudan).
- 2011
US sanctions listing is lifted
[1]The US Treasury’s sanctions office removed Bank of Khartoum from its blacklist, permitting limited renewed dealings with US financial institutions.
- 2008
Merger with Emirates and Sudan Bank takes effect
[1]The merger announced in 2007 was completed, reshaping Bank of Khartoum’s ownership and Islamic-finance profile.
- 2006
Emirates and Sudan Bank is established
[1]Islamic Development Bank, Dubai Islamic Bank, Sharjah Islamic Bank, and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank founded a fully Islamic bank in Khartoum.
- 2005
Dubai Islamic Bank acquires a majority stake
[1]Dubai Islamic Bank purchased 60 percent of Bank of Khartoum as part of the bank’s privatization process.
- 1993
Khartoum Bank Group is formed
[1]The government grouped Unity Bank, National Export Import Bank, and Bank of Khartoum into the Khartoum Bank Group.
- 1984
Omdurman Bank and Juba Commercial Bank merge
[1]The two institutions were combined to form Unity Bank.
- 1975
The State Bank of Foreign Trade is renamed Bank of Khartoum
[1]The former Barclays Sudan network was renamed Bank of Khartoum after an interim identity as State Bank of Foreign Trade.
- 1970
Sudanese banks are nationalized
[1]The Sudanese government nationalized the country’s banks and placed them under the Bank of Sudan.
- 1925
Anglo-Egyptian Bank becomes part of Barclays’ international network
[1]Barclays Bank merged Anglo-Egyptian Bank with two other banks, incorporating the Khartoum operation into Barclays Bank (Dominion, Colonial and Overseas).
Products and positioning
A long-established Sudanese commercial bank combining a nationwide banking presence with a strong Islamic-finance orientation and Gulf-linked ownership history.
Personal banking
Retail banking
The bank’s retail activity encompasses personal accounts, deposits, payment services, transfers, and consumer financing. The available sources identify retail banking as a core business area but do not provide a verified current catalogue of named accounts, cards, channels, or consumer-finance products.
Business banking
Corporate and commercial banking
Bank of Khartoum serves companies and institutions through commercial banking, working-capital facilities, relationship banking, and other business-finance services. Corporate banking is one of the principal activities attributed to the institution in the available reference material.
International banking
Trade finance
Trade finance is identified as a flagship area, supporting commercial transactions that may require documentary, payment, or working-capital facilities. Specific current instruments and eligibility terms are not confirmed in the supplied sources.
Islamic finance · 2008
Islamic banking
The bank’s modern identity has a strong Islamic-finance orientation following Dubai Islamic Bank’s investment and the 2008 merger with Emirates and Sudan Bank, which had been established as a fully Islamic bank. The available material does not enumerate the current Sharia-compliant product range.
Banking services
Deposits and financing
Deposits and lending or financing are part of the bank’s broad banking offer. Because the supplied references do not provide current product names, rates, or contractual details, these are described at category level only.
Brand decisions
2008
Merger with Emirates and Sudan BankM&ABackground
Emirates and Sudan Bank had been founded in Khartoum in 2006 by Islamic Development Bank, Dubai Islamic Bank, Sharjah Islamic Bank, and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank.
Action taken
Bank of Khartoum completed the merger that it had announced in 2007.
Aftermath
The post-merger ownership described in the reference material included a 28 percent Dubai Islamic Bank stake, a 10 percent Sudanese government stake, and holdings by Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank and Sharjah Islamic Bank.
2005
Privatization and sale of a 60 percent stake to Dubai Islamic BankM&ABackground
The Sudanese government had prepared Bank of Khartoum for privatization by 2002. Dubai Islamic Bank subsequently acquired a majority share in 2005.
Action taken
A 60 percent share was sold to Dubai Islamic Bank, giving the institution a major Gulf Islamic-banking shareholder.
Aftermath
The transaction preceded the bank’s later merger with Emirates and Sudan Bank and contributed to its stronger Islamic-finance orientation.
Recent events
- 2014
European and Saudi banks announce cessation of transactions with Bank of Sudan[1]
Regulation · Other
Several European and Saudi Arabian banks reportedly announced that they would stop transacting with Bank of Sudan, affecting the international banking environment in which Bank of Khartoum operated.
- 2012
Bank of Khartoum Juba operation becomes Charter One Bank[1]
Other
Following South Sudan’s independence and a government-required share sale, the Bank of Khartoum Juba operation became Charter One Bank (South Sudan).
- 2011
United States removes Bank of Khartoum from sanctions blacklist[1]
Regulation · Other
The US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control removed Bank of Khartoum from its blacklist, enabling the bank to seek the return of blocked assets and resume limited dealings with US financial institutions.
Sources2 sources
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