Latest news with #MEEDMENABankingExcellenceAwards2025
Qatar Tribune
12-05-2025
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
Qatar Islamic Bank wins top retail and SME bank awards
Tribune News Network Doha Qatar Islamic Bank has been named best retail bank in Qatar and best SME bank in Qatar at the MEED MENA Banking Excellence Awards 2025, reaffirming its position as a leading financial institution committed to innovation, customer excellence, and sustainable growth. The best retail bank in Qatar award reflects QIB's strong retail proposition built around accessibility, efficiency, and trust. The bank's success is grounded in a well-balanced strategy that integrates digital innovation with personalized support. With over 300 features and an intuitive user experience, the QIB Mobile App has become the preferred banking channel for QIB customers, offering a comprehensive and user-friendly platform for all their banking needs. The App offers customers the ability to have full control of their accounts, cards, and transactions and to fulfil all their banking requirements remotely. All citizens and residents in Qatar can open their first account in QIB within few minutes through the mobile app without the need to visit a branch. Existing QIB customers can open additional accounts, apply for personal financing and/or a Credit Card, instantly via the QIB Mobile App. Further strengthening its position as a digital leader, QIB has introduced new innovations beyond banking including the QIB Marketplace providing a diverse range of products and including a section for local SMEs to display & sell products. The Bank has also introduced the first Auto Marketplace in Qatar, also within its mobile app, enabling customers to browse, book a test drive, select and finance vehicles online. The best SME bank in Qatar award underscores QIB's comprehensive approach to supporting small and medium-sized enterprises. QIB offers a wide range of tailored Shari'a-compliant products and digital services, including online account opening, Corporate Internet Banking, and its Corporate Mobile App. The Bank has also introduced co-branded credit cards in partnership with Ooredoo, as well as a suite of payment solutions such as POS machines, Payment Gateway, and the SoftPOS App. These services are designed to simplify banking for SMEs, improve access to financing, and help businesses manage their cash flow more efficiently, supporting their growth and contribution to Qatar's economic diversification. QIB's continued investment in innovation, combined with its strong financial performance, has cemented its status as a market leader. For the three months ended 31 March 2025, QIB reported a net profit of QAR 985 million, a 3.1% increase over the same period last year. Total assets grew to QAR 212 billion, while the Bank maintained a cost-to-income ratio of 16.6%, the best in the Qatari banking sector. QIB also continued to demonstrate prudent risk management, with a non-performing financing assets ratio of 1.76% and a financing-to-deposit ratio well within regulatory limits. Commenting on the awards, Bassel Gamal, QIB's Group CEO, said: 'We are pleased to be recognized by MEED for our excellence in retail and SME banking. These awards reflect the strength of our digital strategy, our focus on innovation, and our customer-first mindset. We remain committed to delivering secure, convenient, and inclusive banking experiences that meet the needs of individuals and businesses across Qatar.' MEED, in partnership with GlobalData financial services publications Retail Banker International and Private Banker International, hosted the fourth edition of the MENA Banking Excellence Awards 2025. This year's awards program honored top-performing financial institutions across the Middle East and North Africa, spotlighting innovation, customer experience, and operational excellence across various banking segments.
Daily Tribune
11-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Tribune
NBB Bags MEED Awards
TDT | Manama Bahrain's National Bank of Bahrain (NBB) has secured two top accolades at the MEED MENA Banking Excellence Awards 2025, reinforcing its leadership position in the Kingdom's financial services sector. NBB was named Best Retail Bank – Bahrain and received the award for Best Payment Ecosystem Integration for Corporates for its innovative banking platforms DigiCorp and DigiConnect. Usman Ahmed, Group Chief Executive Officer at NBB, described the double honour as a testament to the bank's commitment to delivering exceptional customer service and pioneering digital experiences across Bahrain's banking industry. Retail banking excellence NBB's recognition as Best Retail Bank – Bahrain highlighted its continuous drive to enhance customer experience through digital innovation. The bank introduced a new youth-oriented product and upgraded its mobile services, allowing users to open accounts instantly, apply for credit cards and access personal finance solutions via the app. In a significant step towards sustainability, NBB also opened Bahrain's first carbon-free banking branch in Madinat Khalifa. The building achieved the US Green Building Council's prestigious LEED Platinum certification, underscoring NBB's dedication to responsible banking and environmental stewardship. The bank's Yalla Family Account has empowered parents to set up accounts for their children and monitor spending, helping younger customers learn savings and budgeting skills in a secure environment. Corporate banking leadership In the corporate sector, NBB was recognised for the success of its digital banking platforms DigiCorp and DigiConnect. These solutions offer streamlined treasury management, real-time rate calculations, and seamless mobile app connectivity, reducing manual processes and improving operational efficiency for large corporations and SMEs. Since launch, the platforms have driven growth in corporate client acquisition and transaction volumes, strengthening NBB's role in supporting Bahrain's business community. Ed James, Head of Content and Analysis at MEED, commended NBB's performance, noting that the bank's innovative approach and customer-first mindset have set a strong example for regional peers. With its dual victory at the MEED MENA Banking Excellence Awards, NBB has underlined its strategic focus on customer-centricity, operational excellence and its ongoing contribution to the Kingdom's financial sector.
Biz Bahrain
11-05-2025
- Business
- Biz Bahrain
NBB Wins MEED's MENA Banking Excellence Awards in 2025
The National Bank of Bahrain (NBB) has once again reinforced its leadership within the Kingdom's banking landscape by securing two major accolades at the MEED MENA Banking Excellence Awards 2025. The Bank was named Best Retail Bank – Bahrain, and received top honours for Best Payment Ecosystem Integration for its flagship corporate banking platforms NBB DigiCorp and DigiConnect. Commenting on the occasion, Usman Ahmed, Group Chief Executive Officer at NBB said, 'This recognition across two major categories reaffirms our commitment to serve the Kingdom's diverse financial needs with distinction. Whether by pioneering digital experiences for families, playing a pivotal role in empowering SMEs, or reimagining the corporate banking ecosystem through technology, NBB continues to set new benchmarks for excellence and impact in Bahrain's banking sector.' Ed James, Head of Content & Analysis at MEED added, 'NBB has demonstrated an outstanding determination to banking brilliance across key areas. With DigiCorp and DigiConnect, NBB's bold approach to streamlining client's treasury and ERP connectivity sets a strong example of innovation in action. In retail banking, the Yalla Family Banking proposition and Bahrain's first net-zero carbon branch solidify NBB's leadership in the market. Meanwhile, through different initiatives, the Bank has strengthened its role as a key enabler of the growth of the Kingdom's entrepreneurial ecosystem.' The Best Retail Bank – Bahrain award recognises NBB's achievements in delivering a holistic retail banking experience driven by digital innovation, exceptional customer service, and alignment with its ESG principles. The Bank launched a new youth-focused product and enhanced its digital banking capabilities with services that include instant account opening, credit card applications, and personal finance acquisition through an app-based journey. NBB also inaugurated its carbon-free branch in Madinat Khalifa, Bahrain's first sustainable building to achieve the USGBC's esteemed LEED Platinum certification, advancing its sustainability agenda. Additionally, its broader efforts in making social housing more accessible for citizens and providing attractive financing solutions for energy-efficient vehicles further underscore its commitment to responsible banking. Among the Bank's standout product introductions was the Yalla Family Account, allowing parents to open accounts for their children via the NBB Digital Banking App and manage spending via a specialised dashboard. The comprehensive solution helps children learn financial discipline and develop saving habits in a safe environment. The Points by NBB loyalty platform continued to grow its market reach with cashback, raffle entries, vouchers, air mile redemptions, and donation options. The Best Payment Ecosystem Integration award recognised the impact of NBB DigiCorp and DigiConnect, digital corporate banking platforms serving large corporations and SMEs. These solutions simplify payments, working capital management, and reporting, with streamlined workflows and mobile app support for seamless transactions. Since launch, these platforms have driven notable growth in corporate client acquisition, transaction value, and transaction volume, owing to its intuitive design and robust mobile capabilities. Built on a scalable infrastructure, DigiCorp enables real-time treasury rate calculations, API connectivity and seamless host-to-host integration via DigiConnect reducing manual processes and improving operational efficiencies. The MEED awards reflect NBB's strategic focus on innovation, customer-centricity, and operational excellence, delivering measurable impact across key growth segments. The Bank remains committed to strengthening Bahrain's financial landscape through its purpose-driven strategy.
