Bank online, says Ithmaar Bank

TDT | Manama

Ithmaar Bank, a Bahrain-based Islamic retail bank, said yesterday it encourages customers to bank online to help contain the Coronavirus (COVID-19) virus.

The move, Ithmaar Bank said, also falls in line with the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) directives issued on 05 March 2020 urging all banks, financing companies and micro-finance companies in the Kingdom to grant concessions to customers affected by the global outbreak of COVID-19. “As a pioneering Islamic retail bank, Ithmaar Bank recognises the important role we must play in the community,” said Ithmaar Bank Chief Executive Officer, Ahmed Abdul Rahim.

He said the bank has installed “hand sanitisers at every one of our 16 branches as well as on each floor at our Seef headquarters, disabling the fingerprint-based employee attendance system, following MOH-recommended sanitation protocols and encouraging all employees to follow relevant government guidelines.”

The ban is also granting concessions such re-scheduling or granting temporary deferrals on credit instalments for individual customers affected by COVID-19 and relaxing requirements on corporate customers, particularly Small and Medium-sized Enterprises SMEs. “In addition to following all relevant directives, Ithmaar Bank has also initiated its own public awareness campaign,” said Abdul Rahim.

“This has included sending out SMS messages to our customers and reposting MOH public awareness messages on the Bank’s own social media platforms. The Bank has also started encouraging customers to bank online, rather than visiting the branches, to help contain the COVID-19 virus,” he added “Over the years, Ithmaar Bank invested tremendous time, money and effort on developing the Bank’s digital infrastructure and on implementing far-reaching, bank-wide digital initiatives,” said Abdul Rahim.

“As a result, almost all Ithmaar Bank transactions can now be completed online, without ever having to visit a branch,” he said. Customers can message the Ithmaar Bank Call Centre number 13303030 to request information through WhatsApp about Ithmaar Bank products and services, as well as make general inquiries like Thimaar draw dates and winners list, as well as ongoing promotions and campaigns.