NBK awarded Best Bank in Kuwait for 2025 & Al-Sager recognized as MENA Sustainability Leader of the Year
Three prestigious awards reinforce NBK Group's leadership in innovative banking solutions and its excellence in sustainability and asset management
KUWAIT: National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) has received three prestigious accolades from MEED magazine as part of MENA Banking Excellence Awards. Presented annually, these honors recognize the region's most distinguished financial institutions and spotlight those setting new benchmarks in innovation, customer experience and leadership within the banking sector. During the awards ceremony held by MEED magazine in Dubai, NBK was honored with three major distinctions, including 'Best Bank in Kuwait - 2025' - a new milestone that reaffirms the Bank's leading position in the financial sector.
Additionally, Isam Al-Sager, NBK Group Vice Chairman and CEO, was named 'MENA Sustainability Leader of the Year' in recognition of his outstanding leadership and pivotal role in driving the Bank's sustainability agenda. His contributions have positioned NBK as a model for advancing one of the most vital causes shaping the future of coming generations. In the meantime, NBK Wealth was named MENA Fund Manager of the Year - 2025, further cementing the Group's standing as one of the region's leading asset management firms.
Muhammad Al-Borno and Kholood Abdullah receive the award of the Best Bank in Kuwait.
Muhammad Al-Borno receives the Sustainability Leader Award on behalf of Essam Al Saqr.
Best in the local market
NBK's recognition as the Best Bank in Kuwait for 2025 reaffirms its outstanding track record in delivering an exceptional banking experience — one that not only fulfills customers' needs but consistently exceeds their expectations. Renowned for pioneering innovative banking services and advanced payment solutions, NBK continues to lead the way in digital banking, making its name synonymous with innovation and excellence in Kuwait and across the region.
Furthermore, NBK holds the highest credit ratings among all banks in the region, as affirmed by leading international credit rating agencies — Moody's, S&P's and Fitch. The Bank also stands out for its expansive local and international network, spanning key global financial centers, including China, Geneva, London, Paris, New York, and Singapore, alongside a strong regional presence across Lebanon, Egypt, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and the UAE.
Sustainability leader
MEED honored Isam Al-Sager, NBK Group Vice Chairman and CEO, with the MENA Sustainability Leader of the Year award. This recognition affirms his pivotal role in steering NBK toward numerous sustainability milestones and reinforcing the foundations of sustainable development in Kuwait and across all the markets where the Bank operates. Among NBK's most notable milestones in this area is the integration of ESG standards across its operations and corporate culture — an approach that supports the transition to a sustainable, low-carbon economy and aligns with Kuwait's national roadmap to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.
Over the past year, the Bank has made significant strides in advancing its sustainability agenda, most notably through the successful issuance of its inaugural US$500 million green bonds — the first of their kind by a Kuwaiti financial institution. By the end of 2024, the Bank's sustainable finance portfolio had reached US$4.97 billion, representing nearly 50 percent of its US$10 billion target by 2030. Additionally, the Bank published its first Green Bond Allocation and Impact Report, underscoring the positive environmental outcomes resulting from the deployment of bond proceeds.
NBK has been at the forefront of banks embracing the shift toward sustainable finance, launching a comprehensive suite of green transformation products and services across its branches. These include echo friendly housing loans, sustainability-linked financing, and consumer loans for electric vehicles — reinforcing the Bank's commitment to supporting environmentally responsible choices and advancing the transition to a low-carbon economy. Al-Sager was also ranked first in Kuwait and third in the banking and financial services sector across the Middle East in Forbes magazine's 2024 list of Sustainability Leaders in the region — further underscoring his influential role in driving sustainable practices within the banking industry.
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