What is the ruling on working in a bank branch that claims to base its dealings on Islamic transactions, but is affiliated with an interest-based (usurious) bank, offers loans with usurious interest, and also allows depositing or borrowing with usurious interest from the interest-based bank, knowing that salaries are disbursed from the interest-based bank? And is striving to expand Islamic branches considered a justification for working in this bank?

There are two explicit contraventions in the dealings of the branch described by the questioner as Islamic:

The first: The usurious loans, about which he said: "(Micro-loans, which are usurious loans given to the client with a specified interest...)".

The second: The explicit usurious dealing between this branch and the central bank, specifically in the process of depositing surplus funds from deposits, as well as borrowing from it in case of liquidity shortage, with usurious interest!

There are other problematic issues, but they are not as explicit and clear in their prohibition, such as the central bank setting a specific ceiling for deposit profits, and the availability of Sharia controls in the Murabaha sale process.

What has been stated makes us rule out this branch being an Islamic bank. If the majority of its dealings are prohibited, then it is not permissible to work there under these circumstances, let alone work in the general administration of a usurious bank, which is even more reprehensible!

As for working in usurious banks, it is not justified by the pursuit of establishing Islamic branches, especially if they are like the branch mentioned in the question with its Sharia contraventions. Indeed, safety is unparalleled, and warding off evils takes precedence over gaining benefits. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "When I forbid you to do something, avoid it, and when I command you to do something, do of it as much as you can." (Agreed upon).

Indeed, working in a usurious bank is not permissible under any circumstances, except in a state of necessity, such that a person cannot find what sustains himself and his family, or cannot find shelter.