Warba Bank Wins 'Life-Changing in Society' Award for 'Basma' Campaign

In a new regional achievement that reinforces its prestigious position in the Islamic banking sector and corporate social responsibility, 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, awarded to institutions and financial and technological solutions 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 people’s lives.

Muhannad Isa Burahme, Director of Product Development and Customer Segments at NBK, accepted the award on behalf of the bank while taking the stage at 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.

Speaking on this exceptional recognition during the award ceremony, Muhannad Isa Burahme, Director of Product Development and Customer Segments at NBK, said, “Standing on the stage 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 recognition is a living testament to 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 upon deeper human and community issues.”

Burahme 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 become a tool that makes a real difference in the lives of others, bringing smiles to the faces of our orphaned children on their happy Eid days.”

The “BASMA” campaign achieved notable 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 societies during the blessed month, in collaboration with the orphanage under the Ministry of Social Affairs. The bank donated 10% of the total value of customers’ purchases to buy Eid al-Fitr gifts for orphaned children via the “Dabdoub” platform, without imposing any additional cost or discounts on the customer; NBK covered all costs entirely, allowing customers to contribute to charitable work seamlessly and automatically during their daily shopping.

In this context, Burahme explained, “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 the orphaned child on the morning of Eid. True giving is not limited to meeting basic needs; it extends to making this precious 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.

The “Changing Lives in the Community Award” highlights initiatives that use payment and card technologies to support communities and charitable activities. The global and regional list of winners included institutions that successfully innovated fundraising methods and supported humanitarian causes through smart payment solutions.

Burahme concluded his statement, “We consider this award an additional motivation for NBK to continue developing banking products and services that integrate digital innovation with positive community impact, reaffirming our enduring commitment to being the best financial and community partner for our customers.”