Warba Bank Wins 'Life-Changing in Society' Award

In a new regional achievement that reinforces its prestigious position in the Islamic banking and social responsibility sectors, NBK announced its win of the “Changing Lives in the Community Award” presented by The Card and Payments Awards Middle East, for its innovative “Basma” campaign launched in collaboration with “Dabdoub,” the premium gaming platform.

The “Changing Lives in the Community Award” is one of the most distinguished categories in the payments sector, recognizing institutions, technological solutions, and financial services that go beyond traditional banking transactions by leveraging payment cards and innovative solutions to create tangible community value, support charitable work, and achieve a sustainable positive impact that directly affects individuals’ lives.

Mouhand Boreham, Director of Product Development and Customer Segments at NBK, accepted the award on behalf of the bank during the regional awards ceremony held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, attended by a select group of senior leaders from the banking, technology, and financial sectors in the region.

Commenting on this exceptional recognition while accepting the award, Mouhand Boreham, Director of Product Development and Customer Segments at NBK, stated: “Standing on the podium and receiving the ‘Changing Lives in the Community’ award at the regional level is a great source of pride and honor for the entire NBK family. This prestigious regional accolade is a living affirmation of the correctness of our strategic direction and a testament to our delivery of empowering, developmental experiences that transcend the boundaries of traditional banking to touch deeper human and societal issues.”

Boreham added: “Our goal at NBK has always been to contribute to empowering people and society and creating unique value. The ‘Basma’ campaign embodied our core values of innovation, collaboration, and social responsibility. Through this initiative, we aimed to demonstrate how our everyday bank cards can transform into tools that make a real difference in others’ lives and bring smiles to the faces of our orphaned children on their happy Eid days.”

The “Basma” campaign achieved remarkable success and widespread community engagement during the holy month of Ramadan. Its concept encouraged NBK customers holding VISA cards (including Visa Signature, Visa Platinum, and prepaid cards) to use their cards for purchases at cooperative and consumer stores during the blessed month, in partnership with the Orphanage under the Ministry of Social Affairs.

The bank pledged to donate 10% of the total value of customers’ purchases to buy Eid al-Fitr gifts for orphaned children via the “Dabdoub” platform, with no additional cost or deductions for customers, as NBK fully covered all expenses. This allowed customers to contribute to charitable acts seamlessly and automatically during their daily shopping.

Clarifying this context, Boreham noted: “During Ramadan, many initiatives focus on food baskets and iftar meals, but at NBK, we wanted to complete the message of giving with a different human dimension that evokes joy and happy memories for orphaned children on the morning of Eid. True giving is not limited to meeting basic needs; it extends to making this cherished group feel that they are an integral part of society.”

This victory underscores NBK’s commitment to its vision of opening opportunities through unique values and its mission to deliver empowering experiences and sustainable growth. It also highlights the bank’s role in integrating financial technology and bank cards with community programs, aligning with Kuwait Vision 2035 and the bank’s strategy for sustainable growth and social responsibility.