'National' Crowned Best Bank in Kuwait for 2026

Within the framework of the "Global Finance" awards ceremony held on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund meetings in Bangkok

An honor reflecting the superior performance of National Bank of Kuwait and its distinction from its competitors in the Kuwaiti market

Award criteria include financial performance, asset growth, geographic spread, innovation, and customer needs

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 the Thai capital, Bangkok, on the sidelines of the 2026 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group.

In a press statement yesterday, the bank said that the award was accepted on its behalf by Abdulmohsen Al-Rashid, the Bank’s Head of Digital Connectivity. He noted that this honor is part of the "Best Banks in the World 2026" awards, which Global Finance annually grants to banking institutions distinguished by their performance, innovation, ability to meet customer needs, and responsiveness to the rapid developments in the financial sector.

He added that this achievement embodies the leading position of National Bank of Kuwait in the Kuwaiti banking sector, and confirms the success of its strategy focused on achieving sustainable and balanced growth, alongside its ability to maintain strong financial and operational performance levels, and enhance the confidence of its customers, shareholders, and partners.

Furthermore, winning the award demonstrates the superior performance achieved by "Al-Watani" and its distinction from competitors in the market, based on a flexible business model centered on operational efficiency and continuous development of services and products, as well as its ability to provide advanced banking solutions that meet customer needs and align with the rapid transformations witnessed by the financial sector.

This international recognition also confirms the bank’s success in consolidating its approach based on innovation and digital transformation, through investment in technological infrastructure, development of digital products and services, and enhancement of service quality provided to customers, thereby supporting the growth of its business locally and internationally and strengthening its ability to keep pace with the rapid changes in the banking industry.

The bank clarified that Global Finance magazine relied on a set of quantitative and qualitative criteria in selecting the winning banks, including financial performance, profitability, asset growth, geographic spread, strategic relationships, business development, and innovation in products and services, in addition to the ability of banking institutions to adapt to economic challenges, meet changing 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 magazine noted that National Bank of Kuwait continued to expand its banking services by investing in the latest technological solutions and launching innovative digital products and services, contributing to enhancing the 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 its existing services across its various markets.

The magazine noted that the bank launched several distinctive initiatives during 2025, in addition to enhancing digital channels with more than 100 new features, improving operational efficiency, and simplifying digital registration procedures by using facial recognition technology for automatic identity verification.

In the realm of retail banking, the magazine reported that NBK 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, thereby contributing to business growth and enhancing financial inclusion.

Global Finance affirmed that these efforts align with Kuwait 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 NBK’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 achieve $10 billion by 2030.

A Record Full of Awards

NBK considers this accolade an addition to its distinguished record of international awards and honors, reflecting its success in implementing its long-term strategy and enhancing its competitiveness through a focus on innovation, the development of digital banking services, and delivering added value to its customers via its local and international network.

Award Based on Comprehensive Performance Evaluation

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