Is STAN.L (Standard Chartered PLC) Halal or Haram?

Based on our AAOIFI-standard shariah screening, STAN.L is Not Halal (Haram) and is not considered permissible for Muslim investors. It failed 4 of 4 compliance screens. Standard Chartered PLC's core business activity was found to be non-compliant. Its debt-to-market-cap ratio of 233.28% exceeds the ≤33% threshold. Its interest income of 61.24% exceeds the ≤5% limit. Its cash & securities ratio of 362.70% exceeds the ≤33% threshold.

Standard Chartered PLC is a leading international banking group with a strong presence across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. The bank operates through two main segments—Corporate, Commercial & Institutional Banking and Consumer, Private & Business Banking—offering products ranging from personal mortgages and credit cards to complex transaction banking and wealth management services. Unlike pure investment firms, its core operations rely heavily on traditional lending and deposit-taking mechanisms. For Muslim investors using HalalStocks.co.uk, Standard Chartered is classified as Not Halal (Haram). The company failed every single metric in our AAOIFI screening process, most notably the Business Activity screen. Because the primary function of a conventional bank is to generate profit through interest (Riba)—charging it on loans and paying it on deposits—the foundational business model is impermissible regardless of its financial ratios. Financially, the stock exhibits severe non-compliance issues typical of the banking sector. Its interest-bearing debt relative to market capitalization stands at a massive 233.3%, far exceeding the 33% limit, while its cash and interest-bearing securities ratio is similarly excessive at 36 2.7%. Furthermore, with 61.24% of its revenue derived directly from interest income, there is no possibility of 'purifying' dividends, as the non-compliant income is the majority, not a minority, of earnings. Investors should note that while Standard Chartered does offer specific 'Saadiq' Islamic banking windows in certain regions, buying shares in the parent PLC gives you ownership of the entire conventional entity. Therefore, holding the stock remains impermissible for Sh ariah-compliant investors, even if the bank offers some halal products to its customers. Standard Chartered PLC operates in the Financial Services sector under the Banks - Diversified industry and is headquartered in London, GB. The company is led by CEO Roberto Hoornweg and employs approximately 80,946 people.

STAN.L was screened using AAOIFI-based shariah compliance criteria. Four tests are applied: (1) Business Activity — the company's core business must not derive primary income from haram (prohibited) activities such as alcohol, gambling, tobacco, or interest-based finance. (2) Debt-to-Market-Cap — total debt must not exceed 33% of market capitalization. (3) Interest Income — interest income must not exceed 5% of total revenue. (4) Cash & Securities — cash and interest-bearing securities must not exceed 33% of market cap. STAN.L passed 0 of these 4 screens.

STAN.L was last screened on 2026-03-01. Shariah compliance status can change as companies report new financial data, acquire new businesses, or shift revenue streams. We recommend checking back periodically for the most up-to-date screening results.