National Bank of Kuwait's half-year profits jump 17% to KD 37.1 million
The Group continued to see an increase in its key financial indicators
Talal Behbahani: The results reflect the Group’s success in achieving its targets and maintaining a sustainable growth pace
Jill Jean van der Toel: Our improved indicators amid regional challenges demonstrate the Group’s success in navigating changes
Kuwait Finance House announced yesterday its strong financial results for the first half of 2026, recording growth in its key financial indicators, with net profits reaching KD 37.1 million, representing a 17% increase compared to the first half of 2025.
In a press release, the bank stated that these results reflect the Group’s continued execution of its strategic priorities, disciplined management of the general budget, and flexible business model, which enabled the bank to achieve robust growth and distinctive profitability despite growing geopolitical and economic uncertainty in the region.
The Group further strengthened its profitability, with return on equity rising to 9.98%, and earnings per share growing to 12 fils. This improvement was supported by disciplined cost management and a sustained focus on operational efficiency, driving the cost-to-income ratio down to 43.1%, outperforming both budgeted levels and the previous year’s figures.
Meanwhile, operating revenues increased by 10% to reach KD 119.22 million, while operating profits rose by 8% to KD 67.85 million.
The loan and advance portfolio reached KD 4.92 billion, up 4.40% during the first half, while total customer deposits stood at KD 4.33 billion. Total assets grew by 1.2% to KD 7.27 billion. Asset quality remained among the strongest in the sector, with the non-performing loans ratio holding steady at a low 1.25%, and the provision coverage ratio reaching a strong 340%, reflecting the Group’s robust risk management framework and conservative underwriting approach.
In a related development, the Group maintained a strong capital position, with the capital adequacy ratio (CAR) at 18.03%, while shareholders’ equity rose by 9.80% to KD 697.56 million.
Talal Behbahani, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Kuwait Finance House Group, expressed his satisfaction with the results, which reflect the Group’s success in sustaining a steady growth pace and its high capacity to keep pace with regional and international developments.
He added that the Group achieved balanced growth across its key financial indicators, driven by the expansion of its operational activities, a conservative approach to risk management, and the maintenance of asset quality. He noted that the results embody the success of the strategic plans and the Group’s ability to seize promising opportunities and enhance the added value it delivers to shareholders and all stakeholders.
Behbahani noted that the continuous investment in comprehensive digital transformation and the adoption of artificial intelligence technologies in operations have directly contributed to enhancing operational efficiency. He highlighted that the first half of the year saw the launch of several new solutions, including ChatGPT Enterprise, Microsoft Copilot, and Robotic Process Automation (RPA), alongside the delivery of exceptional customer experiences to meet diverse customer expectations. These efforts aim to develop additional solutions within the bank’s mobile application, aligning with industry developments and elevating productivity and the banking experience.
Awards and High Rankings
Behbahani also mentioned that the Group maintained its high credit rating of A from Fitch and A2 from Moody’s, underscoring the strength of its financial position and its ability to face various challenges and meet the requirements of stakeholders in evaluating performance, regulatory indicators, and operations within the banking sector in the State of Kuwait.
Success of Plans
For his part, Group Chief Executive Officer Gilles Jean van der Tol stated that the Group’s performance during the first half of 2026 reflects the successful implementation of our strategic plans and highlights the strength and diversity of our business model. We achieved double-digit profit growth while enhancing returns, strengthening the capital base, and maintaining excellent asset quality, in addition to delivering results that exceeded our internal targets despite the regional operating environment.
He added, “We continued to achieve growth rates in key financial indicators, driven by strong operational performance, and persisted in executing our digital transformation vision by strengthening our technological infrastructure and launching innovative, instant payment solutions that meet our customers’ expectations.”
Winning Draws and ABK Build
He further pointed out that the first half of the year witnessed the resumption of the Winning Account draws, with the execution of postponed draws to announce winners of various cash prizes. Additionally, the account was relaunched with a completely new look, its draw structure was developed, a new semi-annual draw was added, and prize values were increased. This reflects the bank’s commitment to enhancing customer trust and satisfaction, encouraging savings, and attracting customers to choose it as their preferred option in the banking sector. He also noted that the bank launched the ABK Build platform during the first half of the year, the first of its kind in the local market, offering housing facilities to customers planning to build. The platform provides them with the opportunity to obtain discounts, guidance, and assistance from the initial planning stage through implementation, in collaboration with partners across various sectors.
Growth in the UAE and Egypt
Van der Tol noted that Kuwait Finance House – UAE successfully obtained a license from the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Center as a custodian agent for mortgage guarantee services, becoming the first Kuwaiti and Gulf bank to offer this service to customers in Abu Dhabi, reflecting the trust and standing it has achieved in the UAE market.
He added that Kuwait Finance House – Egypt continued to strengthen its branch network by opening a new branch inside the “East Hub” mall in the “Madinty” project in eastern Cairo, as part of its ambitious plans to enhance its geographic footprint and expand banking services across various governorates.
Corporate Social Responsibility
He clarified that the bank sponsored and supported numerous health, educational, sports, and humanitarian events and initiatives during the first half of the year under its corporate social responsibility program, which is continuously developed to enhance positive impact and increase its presence among all segments of Kuwaiti society.
He continued, “We remain firmly committed to raising the level of protection for our customers’ data as a fundamental part of our ongoing participation in the ‘Be Aware’ campaign, in collaboration with the Central Bank and the Banks Association. We have taken care to develop the provisions of our Customer Protection Guide to enhance awareness of customers’ rights and obligations when dealing with banks, and to elevate the level of banking solutions we provide.”
Key Financial Indicators
● Operating profits rose by 8% to KD 67.9 million
● Return on equity improved to 9.98%
● Earnings per share grew to 12 fils
● Cost-to-income ratio improved to 43.1%
● Non-performing loans ratio maintained at a low level of 1.25%
● Provision coverage ratio strengthened to 340%
● Capital adequacy ratio reached 18.03%
● Strong credit ratings from “Fitch” (A) and “Moody’s” (A2)
