Hassan Loan Is the end near?
May 27, 2025
Good loan
Loan Hassan is one of the most controversial financial phenomena in Lebanon.
The organization was founded in 1982 after the Israeli invasion of Lebanon, under the slogan “Supporting the needy”.
Over the years, it has transformed into a bank-like financial institution that provides integrated banking services.
with direct support from Hezbollah and external funding that is shrouded in mystery.
From social organization to financial arm
In 1987, Al-Qard al-Hassan received an official license from the Lebanese Ministry of Interior.
Today, it has expanded to include more than 34 branches in areas of Hezbollah influence, most notably in the southern suburbs of Beirut, the Bekaa, and the South. The organization provides a variety of services including:
- Financial loans secured by gold
- Shareholder Cooperative Loans
- Social and Rural Cooperation Funds
- Financial facilities for low-income people
This growing activity has made Al-Qard al-Hassan more like a bank operating outside the formal Lebanese banking system.
This has raised the ire of the international community, especially the United States.
Growing U.S. pressure: The “good loan” header
Information confirms that Al-Qard al-Hassan has been under US sanctions for years.
In 2007 and 2016, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed severe measures against the organization.
accusing it of “money laundering” and “terrorist financing,” referring to its direct ties to Hezbollah.
As Lebanon enters a new phase of negotiations with the international community and donor countries
The “Hassan loan” is one of the most sensitive files on the table of needed reforms.
The United States believes that the continuation of this institution undermines reform efforts and represents a parallel source of funding for Hezbollah outside of legitimate channels.
Toward an end to the “good loan”?
According to information provided to mtv, Washington has intensified its pressure on the Lebanese government to find a legal mechanism to end the operation of the “Hassan Loan”.
The possibility of withdrawing the license granted to the association is being discussed through the Ministry of Interior, the official body that previously granted it the license.
Especially since the association is practicing an activity beyond the framework on which it was established, which is considered a legal violation.
There is talk in official circles of a legal exit to avoid involving the Central Bank of Lebanon in this dispute.
Especially since its powers do not include associations licensed by the Ministry of Interior, but commercial banks licensed under the Monetary and Credit Law.
Challenges and possible scenarios
Despite U.S. pressure, the question of its closure remains extremely thorny. Such a decision could ignite an internal crisis of a political and sectarian nature.
For Hezbollah’s environment, the association is a social and economic support network that benefits thousands of families.
In light of the collapse of the traditional banking system in Lebanon and the lack of trust in banks.
If the Lebanese state moves to close the loan, it could face a political and even popular escalation.
that could lead to internal tension, in light of the exploding economic crisis.
The question remains: Will international pressure succeed in imposing the end of the institution as a condition for reform?
Or will the institution continue to operate amid delicate internal and external balances?
The answer will depend on the ability of the Lebanese state to make sovereign decisions independent of political tensions, and Hezbollah’s willingness to give up one of its most prominent financial arms at this critical stage.
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