National Bank Crowned Best Bank in Kuwait 2026

National Bank of Kuwait was awarded the “Best Bank in Kuwait 2026” prize by Global Finance magazine, during the awards ceremony hosted by the magazine in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, on the sidelines of the 2026 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group. The award was accepted on behalf of the National Bank by Abdulmohsen Al-Rashid, Head of Digital Engagement.

This honor is part of Global Finance’s “Best Banks in the World 2026” awards, which annually recognize the most outstanding banking institutions globally based on performance, innovation, ability to meet customer needs, and responsiveness to rapid developments in the financial sector.

This achievement reflects the leading position of the National Bank within the Kuwaiti banking sector and underscores the success of its strategy focused on sustainable and balanced growth, alongside its ability to maintain strong financial and operational performance levels, while enhancing the confidence of its customers, shareholders, and partners.

The award also demonstrates the National Bank’s superior performance and competitive edge in the market, driven by a flexible business model built on operational efficiency and continuous development of services and products, as well as its capacity to deliver advanced banking solutions that align with customer needs and keep pace with the rapid transformations in the financial sector.

This international recognition further confirms the bank’s success in consolidating its approach centered on innovation and digital transformation, through investments in technological infrastructure, development of digital products and services, and enhancement of service quality for customers, thereby supporting its local and international business growth and strengthening its ability to adapt to the fast-changing dynamics of the banking industry.

Global Finance relied on a set of quantitative and qualitative criteria in selecting the winning banks, including financial performance, profitability, asset growth, geographic reach, strategic relationships, business development, and innovation in products and services, in addition to the ability of banking institutions to adapt to economic challenges, meet evolving customer needs, and keep pace with digital transformation. The evaluation process also took into account levels of investment in financial technology and artificial intelligence, service quality, and support for sustainability initiatives and responsible financing.

Global Finance noted that the National Bank continued to expand its banking services by investing in the latest technological solutions and launching innovative digital products and services, contributing to enhancing customer experience and improving the quality of services provided. It also highlighted the bank’s commitment to developing its technological infrastructure to provide greater flexibility and scalability, support the modernization of its core systems and digital platforms, accelerate the launch of new products, and enhance their integration with existing services across its various markets.

The magazine pointed out that the bank launched several notable initiatives in 2025, alongside enhancing digital channels with more than 100 new features, improving operational efficiency, and simplifying digital registration procedures by using facial recognition technology for automated identity verification.

In the retail banking sector, the magazine reported that the National Bank continued to offer advanced banking solutions and experiences through strategic partnerships with global brands, including The Bestor Collection, Harrods, and Al-Shaya Group. It also strengthened its support for the small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) sector by launching Kuwait’s first point-of-sale financing solution tailored to this segment, contributing to supporting their business growth and enhancing financial inclusion.

Global Finance affirmed that these efforts align with Kuwait’s Vision 2035, which aims to accelerate the transition toward a digital economy and expand access to banking services by adopting the latest financial technologies.

The magazine also praised the bank’s progress in financial education and inclusion, in line with the Central Bank of Kuwait’s directives, as well as its efforts in sustainable finance. It noted that the bank’s sustainable asset portfolio grew by 23% year-on-year, reaching $6.11 billion by the end of December 2025, as part of its strategic goal to reach $10 billion by 2030.

This accolade adds to National Bank of Kuwait’s distinguished record of international awards and honors, reflecting its success in implementing its long-term strategy and enhancing its competitive capabilities through a focus on innovation, the development of digital banking services, and delivering added value to its customers via its local and international network.

Global Finance awards are among the most prominent global awards in the banking sector, widely recognized by financial institutions and investors worldwide due to their reliance on a comprehensive assessment of banks’ performance, their ability to achieve sustainable growth, deliver added value to customers, and keep pace with rapid economic and technological developments.