Bank of Sydney is a foreign-owned authorised deposit-taking institution (ADI) that traces its roots back to 1986.

Before the bank became what it is today, Bank of Sydney initially operated as a representative office of the Laiki Bank of Cyprus, until becoming a fully serviced and licenced bank under the name Laiki Bank Australia in 2000.

Eleven years later, it was acquired by the Bank of Beirut, Lebanon's biggest bank, and was rebranded as Beirut Hellenic Bank. Seeking to broaden its appeal to its local customers, the bank changed its name to Bank of Sydney - reflecting the city's role as the financial centre of Australia and representing the bank's centre of operations, at Pitt Street in Sydney.

Bank of Sydney operates retail branches across key locations including Sydney hubs like Bankstown, Chatswood, Maroubra, and Marrickville, and across other parts of Australia such as Adelaide and Melbourne.

One of the bank's distinctive aspects is its emphasis on personalised service and strong customer relationships. It believes "one straightforward conversation is better than talking to a machine and being placed on hold". The bank prides itself on offering a human-focused approach, ensuring all client concerns are addressed by a real person.

Bank of Sydney offers a comprehensive range of personal banking products that include home loans, transaction and saving accounts, and term deposits. It previously offered credit cards until they were discontinued on 25 May 2024 as the bank shifted its focus more on core deposit and lending products.

The bank also provides foreign banking services and business banking solutions.

As an ADI operating under Australian law, all deposits with Bank of Sydney are guaranteed by the Australian government up to $250,000.