BBK celebrates 50 years of ‘Leadership and Innovation’

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait (BBK), one of the best financial and banking service providers in the Kingdom, will be having special programmes for the entire coming year, marking its Golden Jubilee celebrations.

The bank has led a journey of leadership and innovation during the past fifty years.

BBK is proud of its ongoing contributions to Bahrain’s economic and socially sustainable growth, meeting the aspirations of its leaders and citizens, said BBK Chairman of the Board of Directors Murad Ali Murad, while speaking at the press conference held at Four Seasons Hotel yesterday.

“We pledge to continue its national and banking role over the next fifty years by maintaining its customers’ confidence and supporting Bahrain’s sustainable growth and future aspirations,” Murad said.

Marking the occasion, the bank has announced the launching of various products and community investment initiatives.

Fifty scholarships will be offered to graduating students from Bahrain’s public and private schools for enrollment at Bahrain University and Bahrain Polytechnic.

In addition to these scholarships, BBK will repay 50 of its customer loans with the maximum amount set at BD5,000.

The bank will announce the details of these initiatives later this year. Murad praised the development and prosperity the Kingdom is witnessing under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister. He also emphasised that BBK is proud of these developments.

Murad further praised the efforts of His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Shaikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah and the regulatory and legislative authorities in the Kingdom and Kuwait.

Murad reviewed aspects of the history of BBK, established in 1971, and the significant events that it has witnessed during crucial periods in the history of Bahrain and the region over half a century.

He added: “We had witnessed ‘The Golden Age of the Bahraini banking sector in the 1970s when Bahrain attracted regional and international banks, with the valuable support of HH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa.

The pillars of the banking industry were integrated through a flexible environment that provided advanced legislation and qualified cadres.

We have always exceeded our customers’ expectations at BBK, and we have achieved significant progress in competition and growth.

We are now continuing those steady steps towards a brighter future.” Commenting on this occasion, Dr AbdulRahman Saif, Group Chief Executive, said that BBK has always affirmed its position as one of Bahrain’s most stable and well-established financial institutions and continues to develop and grow steadily year after year.

“The bank is constantly working on launching innovative financial products that meet the aspirations of customers, expand its digital branches and improve the performance of its subsidiaries.”

He also revealed that the bank continues to develop its strategic and operational plans for the coming years under the slogan “Leadership and Innovation”, as BBK has always been one of the pioneers and innovators in the financial and banking sector.

During the press conference, Dr Saif highlighted the bank’s future vision based on its five-decade journey of contribution and success.

He said, “The national banking icons who have led the bank’s successful path have given us a significant legacy with rich achievements, and it is our job to maintain and develop these achievements now and in the future.

“BBK’s work environment is marked by loyalty and passion for excellence and innovation, which are passed to the bank’s cadres for future generations, giving us the confidence that no matter how the banking industry evolves and data changes.

BBK will remain at the forefront of institutions not only keeping pace with this development but rather leading it as well,” he added.

The Group Chief Executive thanked the media and the press for shedding light on the bank’s development and prosperity over the past fifty years.