Mohammed al-Othman, group general manager of the Consumer Banking Group at National Bank of Kuwait (NBK), has been named as the Mena Retail Banker of the Year and Mena Digital Innovator of the Year. 

Al-Othman impressed the award judges with his leadership in launching Weyay Bank, Kuwait’s first fully digital bank.

"Focused on younger customers in the 15-25 age group, Weyay Bank has already gained a significant market share among this new generation and has set a high bar for other banks in Kuwait and the region as a whole to follow," said Edward James, director of content and analysis at MEED.

Just as impressively, the conceptualisation, creation and launch of Weyay was completed in just 13 months despite the challenges imposed by Covid. "This combined with Weyay’s already incredible success leave no doubt that Mohammed and his team at NBK are worthy winners of these two prestigious awards," said James.

> View the Mena Banking Excellence Awards 2022 winners announcement here

The Middle East and North Africa is widely accepted as one of the fastest-growing markets in the banking and financial services sector.

From Egypt issuing the first green bond in the region, to Saudi Arabia’s issuance of standalone digital banking licences, the region is challenging more well-established global markets in the race to become world-class financial hubs.

Recognising these rapid changes and the evolving financial services landscape, MEED has partnered with leading financial services publications Retail Banker International and Private Banker International to introduce the first edition of the Mena Banking Excellence Awards.

This initiative is an extension of the long-running programmes RBI Asia Trailblazer awards, now in their 13th year, and PBI Global Wealth Awards, now in their 32nd year. 

The 2022 awards programme celebrates the best-in-class banking and financial services institutions and individuals for their strategy, innovative offerings, commitment to customer excellence and impact on the regional finance sector. 

"We received a very high number of entries. But that is only part of the story. The quality of the entries received was exceptional," said James.

"To be able to recognise so many outstanding banks in this first edition is hugely encouraging and has allowed us to set a high benchmark of excellence for the future.

"The MEED team and I are tremendously excited to see the next iteration of banking excellence evolve as we invite the industry to take part in the second edition, which will be hosted in person alongside our first regional banking summit on 10 May 2023."