In a new confirmation of the banks leadership in the field of electronic banking, the National Commercial Bank (NCB) recently won the Middle East award for the best bank in Electronic Banking Services in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for 2005.
Maria Rebenson, the former Irish President, and the delegated international president of Human Rights presented the award to Taha Al Kuwaiz, Deputy General Manager Central Sector & Support Sector, during a commemorative celebration held at the Bustan Rotana Hotel in Dubai organized by the Middle East Award Institute corresponding to Data Matrix related to Gitex Dubai 2005.
Anwar Ibrahim, the former Malaysian Vice Prim Minstar, and a number of senior officials from the banking and financing sector, Ambassadors, Conciliates, business men and women and media figures attended the event.
Taha Al Kuwaiz, indicated that this award confirms the banks progress in the development of electronic banking service sector. Winning an award presented by such a prestigious institution objectively reflects the special position occupied by the bank among Saudi banks in the field of banking in general and in the area of electronic banking services in particular.
Al Kuwaiz added that the bank having been selected for the fifth time as the best bank providing electronic banking services in the kingdom is considered a new confirmation of the banks excellence in the area of electronic banking and its ability to execute more than 80% automated operations daily. He concluded his address by stating that the NCB had placed a complete plan to employ the latest banking technologies within a practical basic system which began by launching an online AlAhli service (www.alahlionline.com) in July of 2000. The NCB became one of the first domestic banks to offer its banking services via the World Wide Web which represents the peak of technological development in finance for clients.
Ali Al Kamali, the stated during a speech he presented that the award aims to encourage banks and financial institutions in the Middle East to use information technology and latest communications instead of conventional dealings in order to keep up with the advanced technology as well as support the national economy.
He added that the Middle East Award Institute honors banks which have taken great strides in the electronic banking field by employing the latest and best technologies in this field to set an example in the Middle East, and be a distinctive provider of better and more successful electronic banking services for clients.
The NCB is the first bank in the kingdom to launch credit cards. And the first bank to provide electric and telephone bill payment in addition to financial transfers to other banks within and out of the kingdom via four optional channels which were ATM’s, telephone banking, internet and Al Ahli banking mobile. The NCB was also the first bank in the Middle East to launch bill payment via short messages and the first bank to launch the B2B service and STP for corporations, and AlAhli E Corp concerned with facilitating the process of corporate clients accessing their accounts and complete transactions in a speedy manner.
