IslamicFinance.de

Islamic Bank of Britain (IBB) plans to change its name to Al Rayan Bank PLC, subject to formal shareholder approval. The change will be completed in December 2014. The rebrand follows IBB's acquisition, earlier in the year, by Qatar-based Masraf Al Rayan (MAR). Rebranding activity will involve the introduction of a new Al Rayan Bank logo and brand identity. It will continue to operate as a UK regulated bank, and customers' deposits will remain protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. With an increased focus on corporate and real estate finance, Al Rayan Bank will develop its presence in London. Its retail banking and operational head quarters will remain in Birmingham.

Deadlines for Qatar-based Islamic bank Masraf to announce a firm intention to make an offer for Islamic Bank of Britian have been extended to the end of August. The latest deadline again lapsed as talks that have been ongoing since late 2012 continue. The bank has struggled to make a profit in recent years and at the end of 2012 bosses revealed the lender would look at ways to offer more products. In 2009 the bank attempted to boost business by targeting mortgage advisers, launching a website providing resources enabling them to re-sell the Islamic Bank of Britain’s range of Sharia-compliant home purchase plans and commercial property finance products. Yet in 2011 the bank reported a loss of £8.9m despite income from home purchase plans increasing 17.9 per cent to £2.3m.