Latest news with #BurganBank
Arab Times
11 hours ago
- Business
- Arab Times
Burgan Bank Joins Regional Sustainability Leaders with Inclusion in FTSE4Good Index Series
KUWAIT CITY, Jul 29: Burgan Bank announced its inclusionas a constituent in the FTSE4Good Index Series, an affirmation of its unwavering commitment to ESG best practices. Developed by global index and data provider FTSE Russell, the FTSE4Good Index Series is a globally recognized benchmark that measures the performance of companies demonstrating strong Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) indices are widely used by investors and asset managers to incorporate ESG factors into their investment decisions, as well as to create and evaluate responsible investment funds and related financial products. Built on transparent management standards and rigorous assessment criteria, FTSE Russell's evaluations consider performance in areas such as corporate governance, health &safety, anti-corruption,and climate change. Companies included in the FTSE4Good Index Series demonstrate compliance with a variety of stringent ESG criteria. Commenting on this accomplishment, Mr. Fadel Abdullah, Chief Executive Officer – Kuwait at Burgan Bank, stated: 'We are honored to beone of the five organizations in Kuwait recognized by globally renowned FTSE Russell for our unwavering efforts to adopt the best ESG practices in the banking sector and embed them into our operations, culture, and stakeholder engagement. Burgan's inclusion in the FTSE4Good Index Series is a testament to our consistent and measurable progress in sustainability affirms our strategic commitment to sustainable business growth, designedto create a positive impacton our community, industry, and natural environmentwhile supporting a resilient and equitable futurefor all stakeholders.' The inclusion in the FTSE4Good Index Series provides external validation of Burgan Bank's efforts to align with global sustainability standards and frameworks such as UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), and Kuwait Vision 2035. This recognition reflects Burgan's strong ESG agenda, driven by a comprehensive framework and strategic roadmap, under which the Bank has achieved significant progress across its four ESG pillarsof Good Governance,Responsible Banking, Community Betterment, and Environmental Impact Reduction. On the environmental front, Burgan Bank was awarded the LEED Gold certification (O&M v4.1) for its head office, recognizing its exceptionalenergy-efficient design and sustainable operations. The Bank continues to advance its Green House Gas (GHG) mapping and reduction efforts to design a long-term decarbonization Bankhas installed electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at its head office and select branches, and motion-sensor lighting to optimize energy efficiencyas well as installed rooftop solar panels for clean renewable energy. Furthermore, the Bank has made concerted efforts for climate risk integration in its credit portfolio. On the social sustainability front, Burgan Bank reaffirmed its recognition as a certified Great Place to Work® and continued to champion diversity and inclusion within its workforce. The Bank surpassed the mandated Kuwaitization target with 86% national representation, while women comprised 45% of its total staff, including strong representation in senior leadership roles. The Bank's efforts for social sustainability were also evident in its learning and development programs, tailored to address diverse needs and interests. In its pursuit of establishing a culture of healthy work-life balance, Burgan Bank currenly offers five days of fully paid paternity leave, one day of birthday leave, and four self-care days, in addition to the standard annual leave days. The Bank also offers numerous programs, benefits, events, and sporting initiatives for the comprehensive development of its employees. Moreoever, Burgan Bank has launched several initiatives and programs to empower women in the workplace and support their professional development – such as the "Lean In Circle" program and the "Empower Her" initiative. It is worth noting that the Bank is also major supporter of the "Partners for Hire" campaign, which aims to sustainably empower people with disabilities and provide them with job opportunities across various departments. Along the same lines and to cater to this community, Burgan Bank has also allocated six branches to serve customers with disabilities to promote equal access to banking services. As part of its social impact agenda, the Bank maintained its long-standing support for the Kuwait Association for Care of Children in Hospital (KACCH) and Bayt Abdullah Children's Hospice (BACCH), helping ensure access to vital palliative care services. In 2024, Burgan Bank also partnered with the Kuwait Olympic Committee (KOC) as a sponsor of the national delegation to the Paris 2024 Olympics, reinforcing its commitment to community development and national pride. Burgan Bank remains committed to fostering a strong compliance culture across the organization, focused on preventing financial crime, including money laundering, terrorism financing, fraud, corruption, and bribery. This commitment is underpinned by a robust governance framework that reflects the Bank's dedication to ethical conduct, responsible leadership, and maintaining the highest standards of security in the banking sector. The Bank's comprehensive ESG strategy also delivered notableadvancements in digital transformation, particularly in cybersecurity, with the implementation of cutting-edge technologies, AI-driven threat detection, and proactive incident response measures to ensure maximum data protection for all stakeholders. Moreover, Burgan Bank has consistently led the way in transparency and sustainability,reporting its sustainability related efforts and achievements consecutively for thelast six years since 2019. This reinforcesthe Bank's committedadherence to transparent governance and proactive sustainability leadership,demonstratingits year-on-year improvements in the sustainability and ESG performance. As a trusted financial partner and a bank that is 'Driven by You', Burgan Bank remains dedicated to upholding its responsibility toward its customers, community, and investors, by adopting the highest standards of ESG practices and ensuring that its business success reflects positively on its stakeholders.
Al Bawaba
15 hours ago
- Business
- Al Bawaba
Burgan Bank Joins Regional Sustainability Leaders with Inclusion in FTSE4Good Index Series
Burgan Bank announced its inclusion as a constituent in the FTSE4Good Index Series, an affirmation of its unwavering commitment to ESG best practices. Developed by global index and data provider FTSE Russell, the FTSE4Good Index Series is a globally recognized benchmark that measures the performance of companies demonstrating strong Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices. These indices are widely used by investors and asset managers to incorporate ESG factors into their investment decisions, as well as to create and evaluate responsible investment funds and related financial products. Built on transparent management standards and rigorous assessment criteria, FTSE Russell's evaluations consider performance in areas such as corporate governance, health & safety, anti-corruption, and climate change. Companies included in the FTSE4Good Index Series demonstrate compliance with a variety of stringent ESG on this accomplishment, Mr. Fadel Abdullah, Chief Executive Officer – Kuwait at Burgan Bank, stated: 'We are honored to be one of the five organizations in Kuwait recognized by globally renowned FTSE Russell for our unwavering efforts to adopt the best ESG practices in the banking sector and embed them into our operations, culture, and stakeholder engagement. Burgan's inclusion in the FTSE4Good Index Series is a testament to our consistent and measurable progress in sustainability recognition affirms our strategic commitment to sustainable business growth, designed to create a positive impact on our community, industry, and natural environment while supporting a resilient and equitable future for all stakeholders.'The inclusion in the FTSE4Good Index Series provides external validation of Burgan Bank's efforts to align with global sustainability standards and frameworks such as UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), and Kuwait Vision 2035. This recognition reflects Burgan's strong ESG agenda, driven by a comprehensive framework and strategic roadmap, under which the Bank has achieved significant progress across its four ESG pillars of Good Governance, Responsible Banking, Community Betterment, and Environmental Impact the environmental front, Burgan Bank was awarded the LEED Gold certification (O&M v4.1) for its head office, recognizing its exceptional energy-efficient design and sustainable operations. The Bank continues to advance its Green House Gas (GHG) mapping and reduction efforts to design a long-term decarbonization strategy. The Bank has installed electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at its head office and select branches, and motion-sensor lighting to optimize energy efficiency as well as installed rooftop solar panels for clean renewable energy. Furthermore, the Bank has made concerted efforts for climate risk integration in its credit the social sustainability front, Burgan Bank reaffirmed its recognition as a certified Great Place to Work® and continued to champion diversity and inclusion within its workforce. The Bank surpassed the mandated Kuwaitization target with 86% national representation, while women comprised 45% of its total staff, including strong representation in senior leadership roles. The Bank's efforts for social sustainability were also evident in its learning and development programs, tailored to address diverse needs and interests. In its pursuit of establishing a culture of healthy work-life balance, Burgan Bank currenly offers five days of fully paid paternity leave, one day of birthday leave, and four self-care days, in addition to the standard annual leave Bank also offers numerous programs, benefits, events, and sporting initiatives for the comprehensive development of its employees. Moreoever, Burgan Bank has launched several initiatives and programs to empower women in the workplace and support their professional development – such as the "Lean In Circle" program and the "Empower Her" initiative. It is worth noting that the Bank is also major supporter of the "Partners for Hire" campaign, which aims to sustainably empower people with disabilities and provide them with job opportunities across various departments. Along the same lines and to cater to this community, Burgan Bank has also allocated six branches to serve customers with disabilities to promote equal access to banking part of its social impact agenda, the Bank maintained its long-standing support for the Kuwait Association for Care of Children in Hospital (KACCH) and Bayt Abdullah Children's Hospice (BACCH), helping ensure access to vital palliative care services. In 2024, Burgan Bank also partnered with the Kuwait Olympic Committee (KOC) as a sponsor of the national delegation to the Paris 2024 Olympics, reinforcing its commitment to community development and national Bank remains committed to fostering a strong compliance culture across the organization, focused on preventing financial crime, including money laundering, terrorism financing, fraud, corruption, and bribery. This commitment is underpinned by a robust governance framework that reflects the Bank's dedication to ethical conduct, responsible leadership, and maintaining the highest standards of security in the banking Bank's comprehensive ESG strategy also delivered notable advancements in digital transformation, particularly in cybersecurity, with the implementation of cutting-edge technologies, AI-driven threat detection, and proactive incident response measures to ensure maximum data protection for all Burgan Bank has consistently led the way in transparency and sustainability, reporting its sustainability related efforts and achievements consecutively for thelast six years since 2019. This reinforces the Bank's committed adherence to transparent governance and proactive sustainability leadership, demonstrating its year-on-year improvements in the sustainability and ESG performance. As a trusted financial partner and a bank that is 'Driven by You', Burgan Bank remains dedicated to upholding its responsibility toward its customers, community, and investors, by adopting the highest standards of ESG practices and ensuring that its business success reflects positively on its stakeholders.
Kuwait Times
19-07-2025
- Business
- Kuwait Times
Burgan Bank honors Kuwait's Class of 2025 top graduates
Bank collaborates with the Ministry of Education in line with New Kuwait Vision 2035 KUWAIT: Stemming from its firm belief in the importance of education as a core pillar of community building and sustainable development, Burgan Bank, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, organized a special ceremony for honoring the nationwide top-achieving graduates 2025 in Kuwait, in recognition of their academic achievement and outstanding performance in both the science and arts sections and the special education schools affiliated with the ministry. The ceremony was attended by Maryam Al-Enezi, Assistant Undersecretary for Educational Development and Activities at the Ministry of Education; Fadel Abdullah, Chief Executive Officer – Burgan Bank Kuwait; Naqeeb Amin, General Manager – Human Resources and Development for the Group at Burgan Bank; members of the bank's top management and the graduates' parents. The event was marked by a joyful atmosphere among the students and their families, in appreciation of the exceptional efforts they made during the 2025 academic year, which culminated in their excellence. The ceremony began with a welcoming speech by Abdullah, Al-Enezi and Amin, followed by the official honoring of students who received symbolic trophies, and commemorative gifts. The students also contributed a few heartfelt words expressing their ambitions and future plans, amidst the encouragement and joy of the attendees for this achievement and excellence. Naqeeb Amin, General Manager – Human Resources and Development for the Group, delivers his speech. Officials honors the graduates and top-achievers during the ceremony. Maryam Al-Enezi, Assistant Undersecretary for Educational Development and Activities at the Ministry of Education, delivers her speech. KUWAIT: The Burgan Bank team are seen in a photo with all the honored graduates and top-achievers. Honoring top achievers In a celebratory ceremony, the bank recognized exceptional students from the science and arts departments, as well as high-achieving children of Burgan Bank employees. This meaningful gesture reflects the bank's steadfast commitment, as a certified Great Place to Work, to fostering a culture of recognition, inclusion, and appreciation. It also highlights its appreciation for its people and reinforces its aspiration to be an employer of choice—one that celebrates the accomplishments of its extended family and values the contributions of employees in shaping a knowledgeable and empowered generation. Further underscoring its commitment to its sustainability pillars and its dedication to supporting all youth without exception, the bank honored the top-achieving students from the special education schools affiliated with the education ministry who have overcome personal and academic challenges to achieve excellence. Additionally, as part of Burgan Bank's vision and strategy to enhance employee competencies and invest in human capital, a select group of dedicated employees were honored at the ceremony for receiving their master's degree under the umbrella of the Kafa'a program and bachelor's degree as part of the Burgan Cares program, in recognition of their dedication to professional development. On this occasion, Abdullah congratulated the outstanding students on the impressive results they achieved during their academic year, expressing the bank's pride in this achievement, which stands as the fruit of years of hard work and perseverance to bring honor to Kuwait. Al-Enezi, expressed the Ministry of Education's pride in this fruitful cooperation with Burgan Bank, emphasizing that the partnership between the public and private sectors sets an example for serving the community and advancing the education sector. She said: 'We thank Burgan Bank for organizing this wonderful ceremony for our top-achieving students in Kuwait. The support of Kuwaiti banking institutions for outstanding students reflects a sense of national responsibility and fosters an environment for excellence and progress. It also serves as a strong incentive for other students to follow in their footsteps. We appreciate this role, which supports and complements our efforts to establish a stimulating and productive educational environment.' Meanwhile, Amin stated during his speech: 'This honoring ceremony comes as an extension of the bank's unwavering efforts to support education as a fundamental pillar for building prosperous societies,' noting that Burgan Bank, through its corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability strategy, is committed to launching a wide range of initiatives that aim to enable youth in achieving their ambitions as well as contribute to preparing a distinguished generation capable of leading the future within various fields. He added: 'We also believe that empowering youth energies is a true investment in Kuwait's future. Through our effective partnerships with the government sector, we strive to support national development objectives and promote a culture of excellence and innovation among students.' Social responsibility and sustainability Amin emphasized that this initiative falls within the bank's social responsibility program and sustainability principles, empowering young national cadres, and supporting the education sector in line with the New Kuwait Vision 2035. He emphasized that top-achieving students are a national asset that must be invested in and provided with all necessary support and attention to prepare a cultured and promising generation for Kuwait's future. Throughout the year, the bank welcomes school and university students as part of its professional training programs presented by a select group of the bank's employees, designed to prepare young talents and help them understand the job market requirements they need to prepare for before graduating, enhancing their chances of employment as fresh graduates, which Amin described as a national and social duty and a true investment in the future generation. Training top-achievers As an extension of Burgan Bank's appreciation for the efforts of outstanding students and its commitment to empowering them with future skills, the bank announced during the ceremony that it will organize an educational workshop dedicated to the honorees in cooperation with Coded Academy. The workshop aims to focus on AI and coding, as well as motivating the younger generation to explore modern educational and technical opportunities that qualify them to enter various industries in the job market, including the banking industry. The workshop will also include an awareness session about 'Let's Be Aware' (Diraya) campaign to foster a sound banking culture and financial awareness among students, as part of the bank's commitment to supporting digital education, financial literacy, and developing future skills among Kuwaiti youth. In conclusion, everyone expressed their pride in the top-achieving students and wished them continued success in their academic and university journeys. Furthermore, Burgan Bank affirmed its ongoing commitment to adopting and supporting initiatives and partnerships that empower students and youth, while also emphasizing its steadfast investment in what contributes to the development of the education sector and the advancement of society in line with Kuwait Vision 2035.
Arabian Post
03-07-2025
- Business
- Arabian Post
GCC Equities Gain as Ceasefire and Fed Hopes Boost Confidence
Gulf Cooperation Council stock markets rallied in June, with the S&P GCC Composite Index climbing 3 % on easing Middle Eastern tensions and growing expectations of US interest rate cuts. Investor sentiment strengthened across the region, led by notable gains in Kuwait and Dubai. Kuwait's All Share Index recorded a 4.2 % rise in June, lifting its year‑to‑date performance to 14.8 %. The consumer‑staples and real‑estate sectors led the charge, posting increases of 9.1 % and 7.7 % respectively. The banking sector was also buoyant: Kuwait International Bank gained 15.9 % while Burgan Bank rose 8.7 %, following substantial share acquisitions by insiders. Warba Bank and Gulf Bank climbed 8.5 % and 7.2 %, respectively, as merger talks gained traction. Dubai's equity market rose approximately 4.1 % over the month. Dubai Islamic Bank and toll operations firm Salik were strong performers, with the former up 4.9 % and the latter rising 2.2 % when the UAE market hit a 17‑year high. Abu Dhabi's index also gained, with Islamic Bank and Aldar Properties climbing 12.1 % and 7.3 %, respectively. ADVERTISEMENT Saudi Arabia's Tadawul index rose 1.6 % during the month. Al Rajhi Bank and Riyad Bank were key contributors, and the International Monetary Fund upgraded Saudi's GDP growth forecast to 3.5 % for 2025, citing robust demand for government-led projects. Qatar's index increased by around 0.8 %, driven by a 1.2 % rise in Qatar National Bank. Markets surged as a ceasefire between Israel and Iran reduced regional geopolitical risk. Most GCC benchmarks reverted to pre-conflict levels by the end of June, while oil prices remained steady following the truce. Dubai's index in particular reached a 17‑year high on the back of this stability. Buoyant global trends added further support. The prospect of US rate cuts, raised amid dovish signals from Federal Reserve policymakers and cooling inflation indicators, boosted risk appetite in emerging markets. Wall Street's S&P 500 neared record highs during the same period, underpinning regional investor confidence. Sector rotation within the Gulf saw strong performances. Kuwaiti consumer staples and real estate led regional returns, while in Saudi, banking stocks remained upward, supported by IMF optimism. UAE financials and tolls also flourished as global capital flowed into yield-bearing assets. However, oil market dynamics and monetary policy divergence posed selective risks. Although crude prices rebounded, volatility remains a factor for oil-linked economies. Meanwhile, divergence between global central banks—especially between the US Fed and ECB—has put pressure on regional currency pegs, influencing capital flows. Investor strategies appear focused on defensive yet yield-enhancing sectors amid cautious optimism. Data from Markaz, Kuwait's financial centre, shows strong interest across consumer staples, real estate, and banking, with insider share acquisitions reinforcing positive trader sentiment. Emerging trend analysis suggests GCC markets are increasingly appealing as geopolitical risk diminishes and global liquidity tilts toward accommodative central bank policy. The IMF's upgraded growth forecasts, particularly in Saudi, and policy divergence supporting higher yields in the Gulf, are luring foreign capital. Looking ahead, attention will turn to sustainability of the ceasefire, future Fed decisions on policy easing, and crude price movements. GCC markets remain sensitive to developments in US monetary policy and Middle Eastern stability, with any deterioration potentially reversing the current momentum.
Al Bawaba
03-07-2025
- Business
- Al Bawaba
Burgan Bank Signs Partnership with SAP to Deploy the SuccessFactors HCM System
Burgan Bank announced a partnership deal with SAP, a global leader in enterprise applications and business AI, as a strategic step toward deploying the cutting-edge, full-suite human resources management (HRM) system, SuccessFactors. This agreement marks a feat for both human resources and IT departments, reflecting the Bank's vision and strategy to be the most modern and progressive bank in Kuwait, and its commitment to offering an outstanding and motivational workspace that stands out across Kuwait's banking agreement was signed by Mr. Fadel Abdullah, Chief Executive Officer – Kuwait at Burgan Bank, and Mrs. Sundus Bushahri, Managing Director SAP Kuwait, in the presence of executive management members from both organizations. In light of the partnership, Mr. Barrak Jassem Al-Mattar, General Manager – Information Technology at Burgan Bank, said: 'Adopting SAP's SuccessFactors system is a strategic and deliberate step in Burgan Bank's digital transformation journey that reflects our commitment to deploying the latest global technologies, developing our digital infrastructure, and enhancing our operational efficiency, especially in human resources management. Thanks to this integrated AI and data-driven system, we can provide our employees with an advanced technical experience that supports their holistic growth.'He added: 'We will continue implementing all advanced systems as part of Burgan Bank's strategy to create a digital and secure work environment that keeps pace with the latest developments in the global banking sector.'For his part, Mr. Ali Hussain Akbar, Deputy General Manager – Human Resources at Burgan Bank, commented: 'We are pleased to announce our partnership with SAP to implement SuccessFactors, one of the world's leading HRM solutions. This comes as part of the Bank's ongoing efforts to elevate its human resources infrastructure and provide a comprehensive and outstanding digital experience for our employees, who sit at the top of our priorities and form the foundation of our sustainable success. Through this system, we will be able to support their career growth more effectively and innovatively, in line with the Bank's strategy and dedication to achieving excellence in the banking sector and the field of digital transformation.'Mr. Ali added: 'Adopting SuccessFactors is an extension of our commitment to attracting ambitious talents and enhancing our employees' skills through training, development, and career planning. We are also aware that successful and smooth onboarding facilitates new hires' integration into the work environment, reflecting Burgan Bank's culture of streamlining internal procedures. In addition, we aim to foster a flexible, digital work environment that motivates and empowers our employees to grow and develop, facilitating their daily work experience in line with the highest global standards and strengthening our position in the local market.'On her part, Mrs. Bushahri said: 'Burgan Bank's deployment of SAP SuccessFactors marks a strategic step in its digital transformation journey, with a strong focus on people and performance. By modernizing core HR processes and leveraging SAP's Business AI capabilities, the Bank is building the foundations for a more agile, inclusive, and future-ready workforce. This approach reflects a clear commitment to continuous development and innovation.'With this partnership, Burgan Bank affirms its unwavering commitment to adopting the best global digital solutions, developing the work environment, elevating employees' professional experiences, and supporting their professional development. As a certified Great Place to Work®, Burgan Bank remains committed to achieving organizational excellence by partnering with the best service providers and deploying the latest technologies across the market. Previous efforts include Burgan's partnership with market-leading Tata Consultancy Services to upgrade its core banking system by implementing the TCS BaNCS™ suite of products.
