Warba Bank announces registration for 'Rwad 7.0' program

Woori Bank has announced the opening of registrations for the seventh edition of its innovation program, “Rwad 7.0,” in collaboration with the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). This year’s edition is themed “The Future of Banking,” aiming to explore and develop innovative solutions based on the latest emerging technologies and their applications in the banking sector.

The launch of the new edition aligns with Woori Bank’s strategy to support innovation, empower young talent, and encourage advanced banking ideas and solutions that contribute to the development of banking services. The program targets undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral students from Kuwait and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries who are currently studying in the United Kingdom.

Speaking on the occasion, Anwar Badr Al-Ghaith, Executive Vice President of Digital Transformation and Operations at Woori Bank, stated: “Rwad 7.0 represents an extension of Woori Bank’s commitment to supporting innovation and providing an environment that enables young talent to transform their ideas into practical, applicable solutions. We view this program as a platform that brings together knowledge, technology, and creativity, offering participants a real opportunity to understand the future challenges facing the banking sector and work on developing innovative solutions to address them.”

Al-Ghaith added that choosing “The Future of Banking” as the theme for the seventh edition reflects the importance of leveraging rapid technological advancements, particularly advanced technologies that are effectively reshaping customer experiences and developing financial operations and services. Through Rwad 7.0, the bank seeks to encourage students and talent to think differently and apply their academic knowledge to innovate solutions that deliver real value to the banking sector.

He emphasized that investing in young talent is a key pathway to supporting the innovation ecosystem, confirming that Woori Bank continues to build partnerships and programs that offer participants opportunities for learning, experimentation, and development, in line with global transformations in the financial and banking sectors.

**“The Future of Banking” as the Focus of the Seventh Edition**

“Rwad 7.0” focuses on exploring cases related to the latest advanced technologies and studying how these technologies can be utilized in the banking industry, thereby opening the door for participants to present innovative ideas and solutions that address future needs and challenges in the sector. The program aims to enhance participants’ innovative thinking, transform theoretical knowledge into practical applications, and provide students with the opportunity to present new ideas within an environment focused on innovation, technology, and banking services.

**An Innovative Program Spanning Several Weeks**

The “Rwad 7.0” program runs for up to eight weeks, with training delivered virtually through interactive technical platforms designed to facilitate active participation, allowing participants to maximize their benefit from the program. The program concludes with a Demo Day in London, the UK capital, where participating teams will have the opportunity to present their projects and innovative solutions in December.

**Call for Students to Participate and Submit Ideas**

The program invites students currently studying in the United Kingdom, whether at the undergraduate, master’s, or doctoral level, to register and participate in this innovative experience. Registration applications are open to students from Kuwait and GCC countries.

Participation offers students an opportunity to develop their innovation and teamwork skills, gain a deeper understanding of potential technology applications in the banking sector, and develop solutions and ideas to be presented to a panel of experts during the final stage of the program.

**Cash Prizes Worth £30,000**

The program includes cash prizes for participating teams totaling £30,000, along with additional awards and incentives to be announced in the coming period. Through these prizes, the program aims to motivate participants to submit innovative and scalable ideas, encouraging them to continue working on their projects and transforming them from mere concepts into solutions that hold future value.

**A Partnership Between Woori Bank and DIFC**

“Rwad 7.0” is held in collaboration between Woori Bank and DIFC, supporting innovation and providing new opportunities for young talent to learn about recent developments in technology and financial services. This partnership reflects the importance of cooperation between financial institutions and specialized innovation ecosystems, contributing to an environment suitable for developing new ideas and linking them to the changing needs of the banking sector. In the previous edition, participants had the opportunity to visit DIFC’s headquarters in Dubai to gain valuable expertise in banking innovation, and this opportunity will be available again for participants in the current edition.

**Woori Bank’s Continued Approach to Supporting Innovation**

The launch of the seventh edition of “Rwad” reaffirms the program’s status as one of Woori Bank’s key innovation initiatives, providing a platform that connects students, idea holders, and talent with the banking services sector, encouraging them to explore the potential offered by modern technology.

Through these initiatives, Woori Bank continues to focus on supporting innovation as a core value in developing its business and keeping pace with rapid transformations in the banking industry, alongside investing in the competencies and talent capable of contributing to building future banking solutions.

To register for the program, interested students can submit their applications by visiting the following link: https://qr1.be/5SV8DU or by contacting the program team via the dedicated email address: [email protected].