Burgan Bank Joins Regional Sustainability Leaders with Inclusion in FTSE4Good Index Series
Built on transparent management standards and rigorous assessment criteria, FTSE Russell's evaluations consider performance in areas such as corporate governance, health &safety, anti-corruption,and climate change. Companies included in the FTSE4Good Index Series demonstrate compliance with a variety of stringent ESG criteria.
Commenting on this accomplishment, Mr. Fadel Abdullah, Chief Executive Officer – Kuwait at Burgan Bank, stated: 'We are honored to beone of the five organizations in Kuwait recognized by globally renowned FTSE Russell for our unwavering efforts to adopt the best ESG practices in the banking sector and embed them into our operations, culture, and stakeholder engagement. Burgan's inclusion in the FTSE4Good Index Series is a testament to our consistent and measurable progress in sustainability practices.Thisrecognition affirms our strategic commitment to sustainable business growth, designedto create a positive impacton our community, industry, and natural environmentwhile supporting a resilient and equitable futurefor all stakeholders.'
The inclusion in the FTSE4Good Index Series provides external validation of Burgan Bank's efforts to align with global sustainability standards and frameworks such as UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), and Kuwait Vision 2035. This recognition reflects Burgan's strong ESG agenda, driven by a comprehensive framework and strategic roadmap, under which the Bank has achieved significant progress across its four ESG pillarsof Good Governance,Responsible Banking, Community Betterment, and Environmental Impact Reduction.
On the environmental front, Burgan Bank was awarded the LEED Gold certification (O&M v4.1) for its head office, recognizing its exceptionalenergy-efficient design and sustainable operations. The Bank continues to advance its Green House Gas (GHG) mapping and reduction efforts to design a long-term decarbonization strategy.The Bankhas installed electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at its head office and select branches, and motion-sensor lighting to optimize energy efficiencyas well as installed rooftop solar panels for clean renewable energy. Furthermore, the Bank has made concerted efforts for climate risk integration in its credit portfolio.
On the social sustainability front, Burgan Bank reaffirmed its recognition as a certified Great Place to Work® and continued to champion diversity and inclusion within its workforce. The Bank surpassed the mandated Kuwaitization target with 86% national representation, while women comprised 45% of its total staff, including strong representation in senior leadership roles. The Bank's efforts for social sustainability were also evident in its learning and development programs, tailored to address diverse needs and interests. In its pursuit of establishing a culture of healthy work-life balance, Burgan Bank currenly offers five days of fully paid paternity leave, one day of birthday leave, and four self-care days, in addition to the standard annual leave days. The Bank also offers numerous programs, benefits, events, and sporting initiatives for the comprehensive development of its employees. Moreoever, Burgan Bank has launched several initiatives and programs to empower women in the workplace and support their professional development – such as the "Lean In Circle" program and the "Empower Her" initiative. It is worth noting that the Bank is also major supporter of the "Partners for Hire" campaign, which aims to sustainably empower people with disabilities and provide them with job opportunities across various departments. Along the same lines and to cater to this community, Burgan Bank has also allocated six branches to serve customers with disabilities to promote equal access to banking services.
As part of its social impact agenda, the Bank maintained its long-standing support for the Kuwait Association for Care of Children in Hospital (KACCH) and Bayt Abdullah Children's Hospice (BACCH), helping ensure access to vital palliative care services. In 2024, Burgan Bank also partnered with the Kuwait Olympic Committee (KOC) as a sponsor of the national delegation to the Paris 2024 Olympics, reinforcing its commitment to community development and national pride.
Burgan Bank remains committed to fostering a strong compliance culture across the organization, focused on preventing financial crime, including money laundering, terrorism financing, fraud, corruption, and bribery. This commitment is underpinned by a robust governance framework that reflects the Bank's dedication to ethical conduct, responsible leadership, and maintaining the highest standards of security in the banking sector.
The Bank's comprehensive ESG strategy also delivered notableadvancements in digital transformation, particularly in cybersecurity, with the implementation of cutting-edge technologies, AI-driven threat detection, and proactive incident response measures to ensure maximum data protection for all stakeholders.
Moreover, Burgan Bank has consistently led the way in transparency and sustainability,reporting its sustainability related efforts and achievements consecutively for thelast six years since 2019. This reinforcesthe Bank's committedadherence to transparent governance and proactive sustainability leadership,demonstratingits year-on-year improvements in the sustainability and ESG performance.
As a trusted financial partner and a bank that is 'Driven by You', Burgan Bank remains dedicated to upholding its responsibility toward its customers, community, and investors, by adopting the highest standards of ESG practices and ensuring that its business success reflects positively on its stakeholders.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Kuwait Times
21 hours ago
- Kuwait Times
Gulf Bank transitions entire recruitment process to a fully digital experience
Shift streamlines the recruitment journey, making it more efficient and user-friendly KUWAIT: As part of its continued commitment to sustainability, Gulf Bank has fully digitized its recruitment process – transforming every stage, from application to contract signing, into a completely paperless experience. This comprehensive shift streamlines and enhances the recruitment journey, making it more efficient and user-friendly. This milestone highlights Gulf Bank's commitment to innovation and sustainability, while placing job applicants' experiences at the heart of its priorities. The initiative also reinforces Gulf Bank's position as a leading financial institution in the region, constantly striving to offer the most advanced digital solutions. The Bank highlighted that this achievement reflects its vision of offering a fully digital recruitment experience that meets the aspirations of national talents looking to become part of the Gulf Bank family. Beyond improving efficiency and reducing reliance on paper, the initiative offers a competitive advantage in attracting professionals who share the Bank's vision for a more innovative and sustainable future. The new digital recruitment platform offers a smoother and more engaging experience for applicants, speeds up the hiring process, and enhances application tracking and management. It also allows the bank to respond more efficiently to operational demands, further boosting its ability to attract top talent in the market. This achievement reaffirms Gulf Bank's pioneering role in leading innovation across the Kuwaiti job market, contributing to the development of a sustainable, digital business environment that meets the ambitions of the next generation of professionals. It also sets a benchmark that encourages other public and private sector entities to adopt effective digital practices. Gulf Bank continues to play a key role in embedding sustainability within the community by supporting initiatives that minimize environmental impact and highlight the importance of digital transformation across its operations and services. The full shift to digital recruitment stands as a clear example of this commitment, significantly reducing paper usage and emissions tied to traditional methods – contributing to Kuwait's national environmental sustainability goals.
Kuwait Times
2 days ago
- Kuwait Times
Burgan Bank promotes Eng Saud Al-Hadbah to GM of General Services Administration
Bank reinforces its commitment to sustained human capital development and talent empowerment KUWAIT: In line with its ongoing dedication to human capital development and internal career advancement, Burgan Bank is proud to announce the promotion of Eng Saud Al-Hadbah to General Manager – General Services Administration. As part of its holistic development strategy, Burgan Bank continues to promote from within, recognizing high-performing professionals with proven leadership and operational excellence. Eng Al-Hadbah's promotion is a testament to the Bank's belief in the potential of its people and its sustained efforts to remain an employer of choice in the Kuwaiti banking sector. Commenting on the promotion, Fadel Mahmoud Abdullah, Chief Executive Officer – Kuwait at Burgan Bank, stated: 'On behalf of Burgan Bank's Board and Executive Management, I would like to extend our warmest congratulations to Eng Saud Al-Hadbah on his well-earned promotion. His leadership, deep operational knowledge, and institutional loyalty have consistently demonstrated the qualities we value most in our people. Investing in our talents is not just a goal — it's a strategic pillar that defines how we grow and how we lead.' He added: 'At Burgan Bank, we believe that cultivating internal talent and providing clear pathways for growth is central to building a sustainable, future-ready organization. Eng Al-Hadbah's elevation is not only well-deserved but symbolic of our broader mission: to enable homegrown leadership that can drive our operational excellence, customer-centric mindset and innovation-forward approach.' Eng Saud Al-Hadbah began his journey with Burgan Bank in 2010, and over the years, has held several key roles across different departments. Prior to this promotion, he served as Deputy General Manager – General Services Administration, where he played a pivotal role in enhancing the Bank's operational infrastructure and ensuring seamless service delivery across all functions and branches. His leadership in facilities management, procurement, and administrative operations has contributed significantly to the Bank's operational agility and service efficiency. With this promotion, Eng Al-Hadbah now assumes broader responsibilities in steering the Bank's General Services functions, including further integration of digital operational frameworks and supporting the Bank's evolving transformation strategy from an infrastructure standpoint. It serves to note that Burgan Bank, a certified Great Place to Work, continues to maintain a robust development framework that nurtures talent across all levels of the organization — with a dedicated focus on identifying, equipping, and advancing future leaders.
Kuwait Times
4 days ago
- Kuwait Times
Burgan Bank reports stable financial performance for H1
Bank posts a net income of KD 21 million and operating profit of KD 49 million KUWAIT: Burgan Bank ('Burgan' or 'the Bank') announced its financial results for the first half of 2025 (H1'25), for the period ending June 30, 2025. The results indicate continued operational progress and consistent performance across key business areas. During the first half of the year, the Bank recorded revenues of KD 126 million, representing a 14 percent increase year-on-year (y-o-y) compared to H1'24. The growth was primarily supported by an increase in Net Interest Income, which rose to KD 83 million, marking a 16 percent y-o-y increase. This was driven by stronger Net Interest Margins, which improved to 2.2 percent in H1'25 from 2.1 percent in the same period last year, along with continued expansion of the loan portfolio. Non-interest income also grew by 9 percent y-o-y to KD 43 million in H1'25, largely reflecting the contribution from United Gulf Bank (UGB) starting this quarter. Driven by healthy top-line momentum, Burgan Bank delivered Operating Profit of KD 49 million and Net Income of KD 21 million, reflecting operational stability relative to the same period last year. On the balance sheet front, the Bank demonstrated resilient asset growth. Total assets increased by 14 percent y-o-y, reaching KD 8.7 billion as of June 30, 2025. The loan portfolio stood at KD 4.6 billion, up 4 percent y-o-y. The deposit base also expanded by 16 percent, reaching KD 5.4 billion, reinforcing the Bank's stable and diversified funding base. Burgan Bank also sustained a healthy capital and liquidity position. The Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio stood at 11.7 percent, while the Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) reached 17.4 percent, both comfortably above the regulatory minimum requirements of 10.5 percent and 14.0 percent, respectively. Additionally, the Bank's liquidity remained strong, with a Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) of 225 percent and a Net Stable Funding Ratio (NSFR) of 113 percent, both well in excess of the 100 percent regulatory threshold. Commenting on the H1'25 financial results, Burgan Bank's Chairman, Sheikh Abdullah Nasser Al-Sabah, said: 'The first half of 2025 marks another strong step forward in Burgan Bank's transformation journey. As we navigate a complex regional and global landscape, our performance reflects the Bank's resilience, disciplined execution, prudent risk management, and forward-looking strategy. Backed by a solid financial core and a clear vision, we remain focused on creating sustainable long-term value for our shareholders, empowering our people, and delivering an elevated banking experience for our customers.' He added: 'Through financial management and strategic focus, we continue to make meaningful progress – reinforcing the strength of our core Kuwait operations, sustaining growth across the Group, and deepening our role as a trusted partner to customers and communities. Beyond the numbers, we are committed to building a modern banking model that responds to the needs of tomorrow – driven by innovation, rooted in strong governance, and powered by our most valuable asset: our people.' Sheikh Abdullah Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Chairman Tony Daher, Group Chief Executive Officer Tony Daher, Group Chief Executive Officer at Burgan Bank, said: 'Our first-half performance in 2025 reflects the strength of our financial position, strategic clarity and operational discipline. We achieved solid revenue and asset growth, backed by a robust capital base — demonstrating our agility in a challenging and fast-evolving environment. At the same time, we continue laying the groundwork for the future by accelerating our digital transformation, modernizing our core banking infrastructure, and building scalable platforms to drive long-term innovation and growth.' Adding: 'Our strategy is driven by people: our employees, our customers, and our communities and we are building a culture that fuels ambition and advances our role as a future-ready, human-centric institution.' Inclusion in FTSE4Good Index In June 2025, Burgan Bank was included in the prestigious FTSE4Good Index Series — a recognition that underscores the Bank's steadfast commitment to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) excellence. The FTSE4Good Index Series is a globally respected benchmark that identifies companies demonstrating strong ESG performance and is widely used by institutional investors and asset managers to integrate ESG factors into investment strategies and support the development of responsible investment products and funds. Burgan Bank's inclusion reflects its comprehensive ESG strategy, built on a clear roadmap and robust framework that have enabled measurable progress across its core sustainability pillars. This milestone reinforces the Bank's continued efforts to embed ESG principles across all aspects of its operations — further strengthening its position as a forward-thinking, impact-driven financial institution. Commenting on the Bank's inclusion in the FTSE4Good Index Series, Daher said: 'Being one of only five Kuwaiti organizations recognized by the globally respected FTSE Russell is a proud milestone and a clear testament to our unwavering dedication to sustainability. This achievement reflects our relentless commitment to embedding ESG principles throughout our operations, culture, and stakeholder relationships. It strengthens our resolve to drive sustainable growth that creates real value for our community while building a resilient, inclusive, and environmentally responsible future.' Sustaining momentum During H1'25, Burgan Bank introduced SoftPOS by KNET, an innovative digital payment solution that empowers business owners and entrepreneurs to accept payments directly through an Android smartphone — completely eliminating the need for traditional POS hardware. Designed specifically for mobile and small-scale merchants, SoftPOS offers a cost-effective, secure, and flexible alternative that simplifies transactions and enhances operational agility. This forward-looking solution is a testament to Burgan Bank's ongoing drive to lead in digital transformation, offering smart banking tools that elevate the customer experience while enabling businesses to grow and adapt in an increasingly digital marketplace. Strengthening commitment True to its mission to become an employer of choice and its dedicated strategy for investing in national human capital, Burgan Bank maintained a strong emphasis on its people-first culture throughout the second quarter of the year. The Bank reinforced its commitment to talent development and employee empowerment by celebrating the accomplishments of team members who completed advanced training programs, including executive education at Harvard Business School and certifications from the Kuwait Institute of Banking Studies. Employees also advanced through Burgan Bank's flagship Ro'ya program, which continues to nurture a new generation of in-house leaders. Further demonstrating its inclusive approach, the Bank launched several initiatives under its 'Empower Her' initiative to honor the achievements and contributions of its female workforce. Burgan Bank's commitment to people extended beyond its internal teams, reaching into the broader community to support the development of the next generation of national talent. The Bank sponsored Academy X, Kuwait's largest women-led tech empowerment initiative, in partnership with CODED Academy and Kuwait University. It also participated in several major university career fairs, strengthening its engagement with aspiring professionals and reaffirming its long-standing commitment to youth development and national workforce empowerment. 2024 Visa Award Burgan Bank was recognized with the 2024 Visa Award for 'Best-in-Class Premium Active Cards Growth in Kuwait', reaffirming its position as a leader in premium card innovation. This prestigious accolade highlights the Bank's ongoing efforts to enhance the customer experience through cutting-edge, secure, and lifestyle-oriented payment solutions. The award also reflects the strong synergy between the Bank's Retail Banking and Private Banking divisions, whose collaboration has fueled notable growth in the premium card segment. In addition, the recognition underscores Burgan Bank's long-standing partnership with Visa, through which the Bank has introduced a wide array of tailored card offerings, enriched with exclusive rewards, loyalty benefits, and premium privileges designed to meet the evolving aspirations of its clientele. Sheikh Abdullah Nasser Al-Sabah concluded by saying: 'Our achievements are not a destination, but stepping stones in our continuous journey of success and sustainable growth. We remain committed to serving our customers, our community, and the broader economy as a proactive, responsible corporate citizen — delivering on our promises and driving meaningful, sustainable progress. I would also like to extend my gratitude to all those who have helped us achieve our success and our solid financial standing.' Building on these achievements and the momentum they have created, Burgan Bank is committed to adhering to the same levels of excellence and innovation throughout the remainder of the year, adding value and making change wherever possible in the market and across the society.
