Tag: FINANCIAL SERVICES

  • Sohar Worldwide launches Treasury Single Account for the Ministry of Finance

    Sohar Worldwide launches Treasury Single Account for the Ministry of Finance

    Muscat: As a part of its dedication to enhancing monetary governance and optimizing public expenditure, Sohar Worldwide has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Finance to formally launch the Treasury Single Account (TSA). The financial institution has distinguished itself as a frontrunner within the initiative, demonstrating distinctive effectivity within the growth and administration of the TSA framework. Notably, Sohar Worldwide stays one of many first monetary establishments to have accomplished the signing and introduced the full-scale launch of the TSA initiative in Oman.

    Commenting on the announcement, Mr. Khalil Salim Al Hedaifi, Chief Authorities and Non-public Banking Officer at Sohar Worldwide, acknowledged: “We acknowledge that fiscal prudence and strategic useful resource allocation are paramount to nationwide financial stability. We’re, due to this fact, honored to collaborate with the Ministry of Finance in shaping a extra environment friendly and dynamic public finance framework. Sohar Worldwide’s vital progress within the TSA initiative underscores our potential to drive monetary innovation with precision. Extra than simply operational execution, this initiative represents a basic shift in direction of higher fiscal self-discipline and optimized useful resource utilization—aligning Oman’s monetary governance with world finest practices. By centralizing public funds underneath a unified construction, we’re strengthening financial resilience, making certain seamless monetary integration, and reinforcing the sustainability of public expenditure.”

    Sohar Worldwide has performed a pivotal function in designing a centralized and resilient system that consolidates authorities accounts underneath a unified monetary construction. This transformative initiative enhances monetary oversight, strengthens liquidity administration, and reinforces budgetary self-discipline—making certain higher transparency and effectivity in public fund utilization. The financial institution’s management on this nationwide endeavor displays its experience in managing advanced monetary ecosystems and reaffirms its place as a trusted associate in Oman’s financial development.

    Past strengthening monetary governance, the TSA initiative exemplifies the impression of public-private partnerships in advancing Oman’s financial targets. Sohar Worldwide’s superior digital banking capabilities will facilitate seamless transaction processing, data-driven monetary decision-making, and enhanced reporting accuracy. With ongoing investments in cutting-edge expertise and monetary infrastructure, the financial institution stays on the forefront of national-level transformations that assist the Sultanate’s long-term monetary sustainability.

    Tasked with this key function, Sohar Worldwide is poised to redefine public monetary administration in Oman. Dedicated to delivering built-in, tailor-made options, the financial institution helps environment friendly authorities operations and drives financial growth whereas modernizing fiscal practices. In main this initiative, Sohar Worldwide reaffirms its dedication to stronger monetary oversight and a extra dynamic, resilient financial panorama.

    About Sohar Worldwide

    With the imaginative and prescient to grow to be a world-class Omani companies firm that helps prospects, neighborhood and folks to prosper and develop, Sohar Worldwide operates with a goal to assist folks ‘win’ by delivering responsive banking for his or her ever-changing world, complementing their development and prosperity with worldwide customary service supply. The Financial institution seeks to redefine banking in Oman via transformational developments centred on the ideas of Extra Velocity, making every part easy and quick; Extra Worth, making certain relevance and connectivity to prospects’ world; and Extra Imaginative and prescient, liberating stakeholders via gifted management. www.soharinternational.com

  • KIB launches “Quick Switch” remittance service powered by Visa via the KIB Cell app in Kuwait

    KIB launches “Quick Switch” remittance service powered by Visa via the KIB Cell app in Kuwait

    Kuwait: Kuwait Worldwide Financial institution (KIB) has introduced the launch of its newest digital service, “Quick Switch”, out there completely on the KIB cellular banking software. This new worldwide remittance service is launched in collaboration with Visa, a world chief in digital funds, to allow the Financial institution’s retail prospects to switch funds internationally to predefined beneficiaries’ financial institution accounts with unmatched pace, transparency and comfort.

    By means of this partnership, KIB is the primary financial institution in Kuwait to allow Quick Switch primarily based on the Visa Direct Account Functionality platform for its prospects. By integrating Visa Direct Account Functionality, KIB’s “Quick Switch” service ensures that beneficiaries obtain the complete remitted quantity with none deductions, offering a seamless and dependable expertise. With help for 40 worldwide locations, the service presents on the spot switch capabilities in lots of international locations, guaranteeing funds are delivered in document time. KIB’s imaginative and prescient for this service is to lift the cross-border cost requirements in Kuwait via aggressive overseas change charges, real-time transaction monitoring capabilities, and nil hidden prices or beneficiary deductions, all from the comfort of a cellular banking app.

    Highlighting the importance of this launch, Mohamed Atef Elshareef, Common Supervisor of Digital Innovation and Information Intelligence at KIB said: “Our new ‘Quick Switch’ service displays KIB’s dedication to redefining digital banking experiences. With the mixing of Visa Direct, our prospects can now expertise worldwide cash transfers with distinctive pace, transparency, and reliability. This represents one more step in KIB’s mission to empower prospects with modern banking options that cater to their day by day wants.”

    In the meantime, Othman Tawfeqe, Common Supervisor of the Retail Banking Division, mentioned: “Our focus has at all times been on empowering our prospects with handy, safe, and cost-effective digital options, and the launch of ‘Quick Switch’ is a testomony to KIB’s technique of placing customer-centric innovation on the coronary heart of every part we do. We attempt to strengthen {our relationships} with all buyer segments and improve monetary inclusion via superior applied sciences that ship pace and transparency in transactions, solidifying KIB’s place among the many leaders in modern monetary options.”

    In his flip, Fahad Al-Bader, Common Supervisor of the Operations Division at KIB, said: “The launch of the swift switch service is a major step towards enhancing operational effectivity at KIB. We’ve targeted on streamlining worldwide switch processes by leveraging the most recent applied sciences to make sure pace and accuracy. Our dedication to steady innovation permits us to reinforce the standard of banking providers, ship added worth, strengthen buyer belief, and meet evolving wants in an more and more dynamic monetary panorama.”

    From his facet, Mohamed Reyad, Visa’s Nation Supervisor for Kuwait, mentioned: “We’re excited to see KIB change into the primary financial institution in Kuwait to make use of Visa Direct Account functionality to ship the improved remittance expertise a rising variety of shoppers search. With Kuwait among the many largest supply markets of remittances globally, this partnership will assist reinforce Kuwait’s place as a frontrunner in world remittances whereas supporting the federal government’s innovation agenda. We stay up for related collaborations with our native companions so extra shoppers in Kuwait can take pleasure in a greater remittance expertise.”

    The brand new service is accessible to all KIB retail prospects. Prospects can entry the “Quick Switch” characteristic through the KIB cellular banking app below the Worldwide Transfers part. With plans to broaden its hall community attain and embrace further locations and currencies sooner or later, KIB continues to solidify its place as a frontrunner in digital banking innovation.

    About KIB

    Kuwait Worldwide Financial institution (KIB) is a financial institution that operates in response to the Islamic Shari’ah, primarily based within the State of Kuwait. Included in 1973, and initially often known as Kuwait Actual Property Financial institution, KIB made the transition to its present Islamic working mannequin in 2007. In 2018, KIB launched into a brand new section of its journey stuffed with innovation and growth. As a part of its new strategic course, the Financial institution focuses on providing a next-level buyer expertise below the slogan: “Financial institution for Life”. 

    By means of a community of branches unfold throughout the State of Kuwait, KIB presents a broad vary of banking services and products, in addition to modern digital banking options consistent with worldwide greatest requirements. As a part of its responsibility in the direction of the group, the Financial institution additionally encompasses a number one social duty program that goals at positively impacting all members of the group via a variety of impactful initiatives and actions.

    Right this moment, KIB has taken concrete steps in implementing its new strategic aims. The Financial institution has cemented its position as a key participant within the native banking business and has continued to keep up its sturdy monetary efficiency; enabling it to be globally acknowledged for its sturdy credit standing and monetary place.

  • NBK Wealth Group CEO joins “Way forward for Asset Administration Center East” panel dialogue

    NBK Wealth Group CEO joins “Way forward for Asset Administration Center East” panel dialogue

    Al-Hamad:

    • Managing each present monetary wealth and the inflow of worldwide capital into the area calls for deep native experience.
    • In wealth administration, know-how has shifted from being a aggressive benefit to an important requirement
    • At NBK Wealth, we transcend one-size-fits-all options, crafting bespoke wealth administration methods tailor-made to every consumer’s distinctive wants
    • Many asset managers concentrate on mid-net-worth traders and the native wealth pool, recognizing the rising demand for tailor-made funding options within the area

    NBK Wealth Group CEO, Mr. Faisal Al-Hamad, took half in a panel dialogue on the Way forward for Asset Administration Center East convention, organized by the Monetary Occasions Group in Abu Dhabi.

    The convention introduced collectively main executives from prime asset administration companies, sovereign wealth funds, and household workplaces throughout the Center East and past. That includes business debates, intimate breakout classes, and unique roundtables, the occasion uncovered alternatives for development on this dynamic area amidst world financial and political shifts.

    Contributors underscored the numerous inflow of wealth into the Center East, pushed by “the good millionaire migration”, fueled by favorable tax regimes and way of life advantages, in addition to geopolitical and financial instability elsewhere. Establishments and asset administration companies from all around the world are flocking to the area to capitalise on the rising wealth pool.

    Discussions on the convention reaffirmed the GCC’s outstanding resilience in navigating geopolitical challenges, underscoring its sustained financial development and skill to draw funding charges above the worldwide common. Getting into a brand new period of funding, the GCC is propelled by sturdy sovereign wealth funds, large-scale home initiatives, and supportive authorities initiatives. Initiatives similar to Saudi Arabia’s Imaginative and prescient 2030, the Abu Dhabi Financial Imaginative and prescient 2030, and the Dubai Financial Agenda D33 are driving financial development and establishing the area as a premier funding vacation spot.

    Discussions additionally underscored the GCC’s distinctive benefits as a worldwide commerce and funding hub. Regardless of its development potential, the area poses challenges for asset administration companies, together with a shortage of expert professionals and fierce business competitors.

    Contributors emphasised that as governments actively promote the reshoring of property domestically, native and worldwide asset managers should decide easy methods to strategically place themselves to capitalise on these development alternatives whereas overcoming business challenges.

    Panel Dialogue

    Throughout his participation within the panel dialogue titled “Capitalising on the Nice Wealth Migration,” Mr. Faisal Al-Hamad, CEO of NBK Wealth Group, highlighted that know-how has advanced from a mere benefit to an absolute necessity. He additional famous that the wealth switch course of isn’t monolithic however varies considerably throughout consumer segments. On the one hand, some shoppers prioritize private relationships and direct engagement in managing their property, whereas on the opposite, a rising section is more and more inclined towards leveraging know-how. This generational shift calls for that asset administration companies innovate and tailor their companies to satisfy the distinct wants of their numerous clientele.

    Concerning the affect of wealth migration to the area on the asset administration and personal banking sectors within the Center East, and notably within the GCC international locations, Al-Hamad emphasised that each present wealth and the inflow of recent capital would have a constructive impact on the quantity of property managed by wealth administration companies within the area. He highlighted that many companies would wish to refine and increase their companies to remain aggressive and appeal to new shoppers. That is very true as world asset administration corporations additionally search to safe a stake in managing the prevailing wealth and the numerous capital flowing within the area.

    Al-Hamad famous that corporations with a legacy of wealth administration experience, distinguished competencies within the area, and a various vary of companies that cater to the various wants of shoppers are greatest positioned to draw new clients from the inflow of wealth into the area. He additional emphasised that companies with a worldwide presence and strategic partnerships with specialised worldwide entities could be notably well-equipped to capitalise on these alternatives.

    “At NBK Wealth Group, our model derives its energy from the distinguished status of NBK Group, a regional and world chief. As the biggest wealth administration agency in Kuwait and one of many foremost within the area, we’re uniquely positioned to offer unparalleled experience and repair within the wealth administration sector,” Al-Hamad stated.

    “We don’t supply one-size-fits-all options. We imagine within the significance of completely understanding every consumer’s distinctive wants and monetary objectives as a way to craft a bespoke wealth administration technique. Our core philosophy facilities round inserting the consumer on the coronary heart of every part we do, striving to foster sturdy, long-term relationships constructed on belief and personalised service,” he added.

    Al-Hamad highlighted the intensive expertise of the NBK Wealth group, stating: “We provide our shoppers a variety of remarkable advantages that assure an unparalleled expertise, together with personalised companies designed to satisfy their distinctive wants and monetary objectives, all delivered by a devoted group of wealth administration specialists.”

    He emphasised that NBK Wealth aspires to be the perfect companion and the foremost, trusted selection in wealth administration by providing specialised, complete options that ship added worth, create an enduring constructive affect, and construct a legacy for shoppers throughout generations. He additionally famous that the group helps its shoppers in navigating challenges via sound funding methods, diversified monetary portfolios, and offering funding recommendation grounded in an intensive evaluation of present financial situations.

    Moreover, Al-Hamad highlighted that NBK Wealth presents a complete vary of companies, together with asset administration, buying and selling, lending, deposits, and different tailor-made, progressive options for high-net-worth people and institutional shoppers. He identified that the group has expanded its world presence with a sturdy community of built-in operations throughout 9 cities in 5 international locations. Moreover, NBK Wealth has shaped strategic partnerships with outstanding world asset administration companies, similar to JPMorgan Asset Administration and Intervest. These partnerships improve the group’s advisory companies and contribute to the event of recent, cutting-edge funding options, additional strengthening its place within the wealth administration sector.

    Looking forward to the way forward for NBK Wealth, Al-Hamad emphasised: “We perceive that change is a continuing available in the market, and buyer wants are at all times evolving. As such, we place nice significance on adapting to those shifts and delivering progressive funding options that align with the long run aspirations of our shoppers.”

    Al-Hamad defined that the inflow of worldwide wealth into the area requires native experience, as it’s uniquely positioned to grasp the regional markets and successfully handle this wealth. He emphasised that the GCC international locations proceed to be a market the place relationships are paramount, taking part in a vital function in wealth administration.

    He underscored the vital significance of native partnerships, noting that world asset administration companies aspiring to enter the GCC markets should forge alliances with strategic regional companions. That is particularly important in sectors similar to asset administration, personal credit score, and actual property funding, because it permits these companies to navigate the area’s distinct market dynamics with experience and precision.

    Al-Hamad emphasised that new entrants to the area from asset administration companies should develop a transparent, targeted technique, focusing on a selected buyer base whereas establishing a stable native basis. This method is important earlier than they will efficiently increase their operations throughout the area.

    He additionally famous that billionaires from outdoors the Center East, with well-established monetary buildings, might not prioritize establishing new monetary relationships within the area. He additionally highlighted that asset managers range within the buyer bases they aim, with many seeing their true alternative in catering to mid-net-worth traders and tapping into the native wealth pool.

    The panel dialogue, that includes Mr. Al-Hamad, included distinguished individuals similar to Ms. Rasha Badawi, CEO of Barclays Non-public Financial institution UAE, Mr. Richard Elston, Group Head of Institutional at CMC Join, and Mr. Amer Malik, Senior Government Officer at Lombard Odier Center East. It was moderated by Mr. Baptiste Aboulian, Group Managing Editor at FT Specialist US. The dialog centered on the affect of the wealth inflow into the Center East on the worldwide wealth panorama, in addition to the transformative function of digital options, particularly robo-advisory companies, in reshaping personal banking within the area.

    Contributors additionally explored how personal banks within the Center East can combine cultural and spiritual elements into their wealth administration companies to cater to the distinctive features of philanthropy within the area, together with practices like waqf.