Al-Watani Confirms Its Superiority in Various Aspects of Banking with 5 Euro Money Awards
In a new achievement that consolidates its leading position and continuous superiority at both the local and regional levels, Kuwait Finance House (KFH) won five prestigious awards from Euromoney, the world’s leading finance and business magazine, as part of the 2026 Excellence Awards. These honors recognize the bank’s exceptional performance across various aspects of banking operations and its active role in supporting sustainability initiatives and corporate social responsibility.
The Euromoney Excellence Awards are granted based on a rigorous, data-driven methodology. Participating institutions undergo a comprehensive evaluation process that analyzes financial performance and achieved results, measures innovation in products and services, assesses their impact on customers, and compares institutional performance against market peers using comparable indicators and standards. The evaluation process also includes in-depth research reviews, analysis of submitted data, and follow-up interviews with executive leadership to verify results and understand strategic directions.
Winning the “Best Bank in Kuwait” award demonstrates the bank’s success in establishing a balanced business model that combines strong performance, operational flexibility, and the ability to adapt to economic changes. The bank has consistently executed its long-term strategy, leveraging its diversified operations and accumulated expertise, enabling it to continue delivering sustainable value to its clients and shareholders while maintaining its leading position in the Kuwaiti banking market.
Furthermore, the bank’s continuous investments in technology and human resources have enhanced its capacity to keep pace with rapid transformations in the financial sector. It has continued to develop its services and products and expand its digital solutions, thereby improving operational efficiency and enhancing the customer experience. This approach underscores its commitment to innovation and providing advanced banking services that respond to evolving customer needs and align with future requirements.
This recognition also acknowledges the bank’s success in integrating sustainability principles into various aspects of its operations, through strengthening sustainable finance, developing institutional frameworks related to governance and risk management, and establishing responsible practices that support long-term growth. At the same time, the bank has continued to implement its vision, which places customers at the heart of its strategy and balances technological advancement with sustainability, thereby reinforcing its position as a leading financial institution that contributes to economic development and creates long-term sustainable value.
The bank has also strengthened its standing by adopting advanced practices in transparency, disclosure, and communication with the investment community. It is committed to providing accurate and timely information and developing effective communication channels with investors and analysts, thereby helping to build trust and enhance commitment to global best practices in governance and disclosure. This highlights its focus on building sustainable relationships with various stakeholders.
Winning the “Best Bank in the Middle East for Corporate Social Responsibility” award reflects the bank’s success in developing an integrated model for community responsibility. KFH has moved from implementing traditional initiatives to making long-term investments in measurable community projects aligned with national development priorities.
This model is based on aligning its programs with sustainability (ESG) principles, applying the highest standards of governance and transparency, and focusing on achieving tangible behavioral and developmental outcomes that go beyond mere participation in activities. This reinforces its position as a financial institution leading the transformation in the concept of corporate social responsibility within the banking sector.
The magazine based its evaluation of this award on several factors, including the corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy, governance model, level of innovation, progress in social investments, as well as measuring the actual impact and economic value generated by these initiatives, alongside the bank’s ability to develop its institutional capabilities in this field.
A number of key programs have emerged as leaders within this framework, foremost among them the “Bankee” program aimed at enhancing financial literacy in schools. This initiative successfully reached over 50,000 students across more than 104 schools in various regions of Kuwait, with active participation from over 12,000 teachers. With an investment exceeding one million Kuwaiti dinars, the program reflects its broad scope and deep impact, playing a vital role in empowering educational staff and strengthening their capacity to convey financial literacy concepts using modern and interactive methods.
Other community initiatives by the bank have further amplified this impact. The NBK Run event saw widespread participation, with over 7,000 competitors from diverse age groups joining an inclusive model that supports the integration of all societal segments, including people of determination. More than 94% of participants reported their intention to adopt a healthier lifestyle. Seasonal programs such as “Do Good in the Month of Good” during Ramadan also contributed significantly, benefiting over 6,800 individuals through the distribution of food supplies, support for road safety, initiatives to reduce food waste, and the promotion of cultural activities and community engagement. Through these efforts, NBK has demonstrated its ability to build an integrated CSR system that delivers sustainable economic and social value, contributing to long-term community development.
In the realm of retail banking services, the bank launched several innovative products to meet evolving customer needs, offering exclusive experiences through strategic partnerships with global brands. These include collaborations with The Best Collection luxury retail group, co-branded credit cards with Harrods, and a prepaid card in partnership with Al Shaya Group.
NBK has further reinforced its established position as a trusted financial partner for large corporations, thanks to its ability to deliver added value to clients and provide innovative solutions that support their expansion and business sustainability. The award for “Best Bank in Kuwait for Large Corporates” reflects the bank’s outstanding performance and its capacity to offer comprehensive banking solutions tailored to the evolving needs of major enterprises. The bank distinguished itself by providing innovative financing services and developing advanced digital products that enhanced the customer experience and attracted a wide range of leading companies.
The bank also played a pivotal role in financing major strategic projects in Kuwait, actively contributing to economic growth and the implementation of national development plans. This excellence is underpinned by a broad network of relationships and deep expertise in structuring deals and managing institutional financing.
The award for “Best Bank in Kuwait in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG)” underscores NBK’s commitment to adopting an integrated sustainability approach that combines strong financial performance with corporate responsibility. The criteria for this category are based on evaluating tangible initiatives by financial institutions in developing and offering products and services that address environmental and social aspects, implementing effective governance policies, strengthening institutional capabilities in sustainability, making progress in financing sustainable projects, and reducing carbon footprints in line with international standards.
The bank has distinguished itself by integrating ESG principles into its business model, alongside developing flagship initiatives in sustainable finance, reducing environmental impact, promoting diversity and inclusion, and upholding the highest governance standards. This is supported by a high level of disclosure and the provision of measurable data on performance and sustainability, thereby enhancing investors’ ability to assess the robustness of the bank’s business model and its future prospects.
