The Safra family is a prominent Brazilian family of Syrian Jewish descent.[1][2][3] The Safras were bankers and gold traders originally from Aleppo.[4][5] They were engaged in the financing of trade between Beirut, Aleppo, Istanbul and Alexandria.[6]
In 1914, Jacob Safra settled in Beirut, and he opened his first Bank, Banque Jacob E. Safra, in 1920. It quickly prospered, benefiting from a massive influx of Syrian businessmen and merchants who became Jacob's customer base.[7]