OAB Announces Winners of its May Hasaad Savings Draw

OAB Announces Names of 131 Winners of its October Hasaad Savings Draw

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Muscat, Dec 7, 2020: Oman Arab Bank (OAB) has announced the names of the 131 winners of its monthly Hasaad Savings Scheme for October. This included 94 winners of the monthly branch draws of OMR 1,000 each, ten winners of the Children’s Account draw (OMR 100 each), twenty winners of the Youth Account draw (OMR 100 each), five winners of OMR 500 of the Bank’s Salary Transfer draw and two winners of OMR 10,000 of the Elite draw from the Al Dhahira and Muscat branches.

Commenting on the draw, Rashad Al Shaikh, Acting Head of the Retail Banking Division at OAB, said, “We are delighted to note the continuously increasing number of savings, especially as we enter into the last quarter of the year. We will continue to offer several exciting prizes for all the remaining draws until the end of 2020.”

The Hasaad scheme sees 95 lucky winners, with a minimum of one winner per month per branch, receiving a prize of OMR 500 and OMR 1,000 at the quarterly draws. In addition, ten winners are selected from the Children’s Account holders (aged 18 and below) and receive OMR 100 each. Twenty winners are selected from the Youth Account holders (aged between 18 and 27), each receiving a prize of OMR 100. There are also two Elite winners of OMR 10,000 each per month.

The monthly Elite draw is replaced by a Grand Prize draw of OMR 50,000 for one lucky Elite customer, and occurs twice a year, in June and December. Oman Arab Bank also conducts a special ‘Big Prize’ draw of OMR 25,000 for one winner across its expansive branch network at the end of every quarter.

The Salary Transfer draw was introduced in 2020, which sees 5 winners per month receiving a prize of OMR 500 each, as well as a guaranteed gift to both children and youth (up to 27 years old) once a year. Oman Arab Bank is the only Bank providing a guaranteed gift to its youth customers.

“On behalf of OAB, I warmly congratulate all of the winners of our October draw. I encourage each and every one of our customers to continue in their efforts to save, to further increase their chances of winning in the upcoming draws. I wish everyone the best of luck,” Rashad added.

Oman Arab Bank has a rich and proud history as one of the first financial institutions to be established in the Sultanate. Today, the bank operates a nationwide network of 55 branches and representative offices with 160 ATMs spread across Oman. OAB provides a complete range of financial products and services for personal banking, corporate banking and investment clients.

OAB Announces Winners of its May Hasaad Savings Draw

Oman Arab Bank launches Second Series of Online Workshops to Further Upscale Youth and Entrepreneurs’ Skillsets

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  • Free interactive workshops on important developments and modern technological solutions
  • A variety of topics aimed at developing the skills of budding entrepreneurs and the Omani youth to prepare them for the future

Muscat, November 22, 2020: Oman Arab Bank has announced the launch of its second series of educational workshops. The Learning Hub platform specialises in accelerating the skills and knowledge of entrepreneurs and the youth, to ensure their readiness to meet the demands of the future. The workshops commenced on Sunday, November 22, and will run until February 2021. They comprise of several topics of interest, presented by local and international experts. Speakers will be announced every month on OAB’s social media platforms.

Commenting on the upcoming workshops, Adil Al Rahbi, Head of Human Resources Division at OAB, said, “Fresh graduates and budding entrepreneurs require a wider set of skills, in addition to what was taught during their academic studies, for them to be able to achieve success. As a leading local financial institution, and in line with our social responsibility strategy, we have taken it upon ourselves to provide these specialised educational workshops, free-of-cost, to aspiring youths and entrepreneurs within the Sultanate. The upcoming workshops will shed light on several interesting topics, innovation, modern technological trends and programmes, paving their way in a world that is becoming increasingly competitive day-by-day.”

The new workshops follow the incredible success of the first comprehensive set of Learning Hub workshops, launched earlier this year alongside the digital learning hub. The platform saw over 700 participants taking part in over 20 specialised workshops that were organised over the course of two months.

Leen Al Atassi, Head of Innovation at OAB, stated, “The second series of workshops will introduce new concepts and programmes that are used to develop innovative solutions and platforms. The workshops will discuss topics such as how to apply the principles of design thinking to build a business strategy and develop innovative proof of concepts, an introduction to deep learning, how to build an Artificial Intelligence/Computer Vision MVP and take it to the market, among others. Each workshop will be presented by experts and consultants in their respective fields, and is aimed at enhancing participants’ knowledge.”

“We are delighted to be collaborating with key strategic partners to deliver these workshops. These include GBM, Phazero, ProgressSoft, and NNTC, which are specialised in digital solutions, alongside The Shifting Point and Pentapyramid. I am confident that all participants will be able to benefit from the experience and interaction with experts,” Leen added.

Oman Arab Bank is one of the local financial institutions that support innovation in the banking sector. The Bank also saw the launch of its unique Innovation Lab in the first quarter of this year, which is the first-of-its-kind facility in the Sultanate. This initiative is in line with the vision of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik – may the Almighty preserve him – and the strategic objectives of Oman Vision 2040, to promote innovation, establish an innovative culture and support the development of young talents in this field. The Innovation Lab will provide a range of services that include specialised workshops and direct guidance from experts. This will be catered towards students and Fintechs based locally, regionally and globally, as well as to the Bank’s staff, to develop and enhance their skillsets and knowledge, enabling them to turn their innovative ideas into value-added solutions.

Oman Arab Bank has a rich and proud history as one of the first financial institutions to be established in the Sultanate. Today, the bank operates a nationwide network of 54 branches and representative offices and 160 ATMs spread across Oman. OAB provides a complete range of financial products and services for personal banking, corporate banking and investment clients.

Oman Arab Bank Launches Debt Exemption Initiative for Defaulting Borrowers

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Muscat, November 18, 2020:

On the occasion of the 50th National Day, Oman Arab Bank (OAB) has written off over 150 defaulting loans. This initiative is part of the bank’s social responsibility towards society and was prompted by the special circumstances of the account holders which include the elderly, widows and people with disabilities.

Rashad Al Musafir, CEO of the Bank said, “Since our establishment, Oman Arab Bank has been, and continues to be, a financial institution that takes care of its customers and strives to build closer relations with the community. Since the passing of 50 years marks a significant milestone for the country and all its people, we decided to share in the joy and celebration of our customers. For this reason we are launching this debt exemption initiative to help people in need, especially those who are facing difficult circumstances brought about by the current challenges. This way, we can enable them to move forward with their lives without having to worry about their existing loans with the Bank. This initiative stems from our commitment to social responsibility and is our way of giving back to the Omani society.”

Commenting on the criteria to select the beneficiaries for this initiative, Asma Al Zadjali, Head of Banking Operations Group at OAB, said, “The debt exemption initiative includes a wide range of stringent criteria to ensure that it benefits and supports those most in need. Accordingly, more than 150 customers have been provided exemptions, including elderly customers who do not have sufficient pensions to pay off debts, widows, people with disabilities or chronic diseases, and several others. Additionally, debts of deceased customers that were not covered by insurance companies were also given exemptions, in order to prevent creating a financial burden on their families.”

Hilal Al Siyabi, Head of Corporate Communication at OAB, stated, “With the completion of our strategic vision for sustainability earlier this year, we are working towards a number of primary pillars: the environment, community partnerships and financial inclusion. This vision allows us to place Oman Arab Bank on the right path to maximise social impact, alongside our commercial activities. This overall goal is to position OAB as more than a banking partner for all its customers.”

Oman Arab Bank has a rich and proud history as one of the first financial institutions to be established in the Sultanate. Today, the bank operates a nationwide network of 55 branches and representative offices with over 160 ATMs spread across Oman. OAB provides a complete range of financial products and services for personal banking and corporate banking.

Rashad Al Shaikh- رشاد الشيخ

OAB partners with Shukran Introduces New Feature to Convert OAB Rewards Points into Shukrans

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Muscat, 09 November, 2020: Oman Arab Bank recently announced the signing of an agreement with the Landmark Group in Oman, which allows its customers to convert their OAB Rewards points into Shukrans. Customers who pay using their credit cards will be able to redeem these points for Shukrans and shop from a wide range popular, homegrown Landmark Group brands, including Centrepoint, Home Centre, Max, Shoexpress, Emax and more.

Commenting on this new signing, Rashad Al Shaikh, Acting Head of the Retail Banking Division at OAB said, “At OAB, we always strive to provide more value-added services to customers by establishing key partnerships with renowned brands. In line with this commitment, we entered into an agreement with the Landmark Group, which represents several diverse range of brands in the Sultanate. Our customers can now convert their points received from our OAB Rewards programme into Shukrans, allowing them to receive incredible discounts and shop more.”

To convert OAB Rewards points, customers can simply visit http://www.oabrewards.com/ or log onto the OAB Rewards App and submit a Shukran conversion request. A notification will be sent to confirm the process completion, after which they can redeem Shukrans against purchases at Landmark Retail brand stores.

“We chose ‘Shukran’ as it is one of the most popular retail loyalty programmes in the Sultanate and it benefits our customers by allowing them to use their well-earned points at a majority of retail stores across the country. We are confident that our credit card customers will appreciate this new feature, which offers them more retail store options to spend their points on.,” Rashad added.

Saikat Mishra, Country Head, Landmark Group, Oman, said, “We are extremely pleased to partner with Oman Arab Bank, and expanding our offerings to more people in this region. With a variety of value driven brands under our Group’s portfolio, we are certain that this partnership will further strengthen our commitment of offering endless possibilities. With Shukran, our aim is always to deliver personalized experiences by providing people the option to choose from a diverse category of brands and establish a lasting connect with them.”

Oman Arab Bank has a rich and proud history as one of the first financial institutions to be established in the Sultanate. Today, the bank operates a nationwide network of 55 branches and representative offices with over 160 ATMs spread across Oman. OAB provides a complete range of financial products and services for personal banking and corporate banking.

 

OAB Partners with DAA for World Food Day

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Muscat, November 4, 2020: Oman Arab Bank has partnered with Dar Al Atta’a again this year to commemorate World Food Day which took place on October 16, 2020. The World Food Day campaign is an annual food drive that sees individuals and entities such as OAB donate food items to those in need.

Commenting on the importance of this initiative, Hilal Al Siyabi, Head of Corporate Communications at OAB, said, “Now, more than ever, it is crucial to support each other and lend a hand to those in need and that’s what makes World Food Day so important. We are grateful to the team at Dar Al Atta’a for coordinating and partnering with us for this important cause once again. The staff at Oman Arab Bank have been doing their part by donating food to help make a difference.”

Oman Arab Bank has participated in and initiated a number of charity initiatives since the start of the year, all of which underline its dedication to sustainability, which remains a fundamental pillar in the Bank’s operational strategy. Under the umbrella of the #OABistidama, the Bank seeks to give back to society through projects focused on environmental responsibility, community partnerships and financial inclusion.

“Our participation in the World Food Day campaign is something that is close to our hearts. Just as we hope to make a difference in the life of our customers, we aim to create value for the communities we are a part of. By collecting more than 1,017 kgs of food and donating them to Dar Al Atta’a for distribution, we know that we can make a difference and reach those most in need”, Hilal Al Siyabi added.

World Food Day is an initiative launched by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and is celebrated internationally on October 16 each year, commemorating the founding day of the Organization in 1945. On this day, more than 150 countries around the world organise events that promote worldwide awareness and action for those in need. The initiative is also an opportunity to demonstrate commitment towards sustainable development and the achievement of FAO’s goal of ending world hunger by 2030.

Oman Arab Bank has a rich and proud history as one of the first financial institutions to be established in the Sultanate. Today, the bank operates a nationwide network of 55 branches and representative offices with 152 ATMs spread across Oman. OAB provides a complete range of financial products and services for personal banking and corporate banking.

OAB Announces Winners of its May Hasaad Savings Draw

OAB Announces Names of Winners of its September Hasaad Savings Draw

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Muscat, November 01, 2020: Oman Arab Bank (OAB) has announced the names of the 132 winners of its monthly Hasaad Savings Scheme for September 2020. This included 94 winners of the monthly branch draws of OMR 1,000 each, ten winners of the Children’s Account draw (OMR 100 each), twenty winners of the Youth Account draw (OMR 100 each), five winners of OMR 500 of the Bank’s Salary Transfer draw, two winners of OMR 10,000 of the Elite draw from the Rustaq and Buraimi branches and one winner of OMR 25,000 from Big Prize draw for the third quarter from Barka branch.

Commenting on the results of the September draw, Rashad Al Shaikh, Acting Head of the Retail Banking Division at OAB, said, “We are delighted to see even more lucky people who have joined the long list of Oman Arab Bank winners in the Hassad Savings Scheme, since the beginning of the year. We look forward to the start of the fourth and final quarter of the draw, which will see our valued customers receive 50 prizes of OMR 500 each in the National Day draw, in addition to the remaining monthly draws.”

The Hasaad scheme sees 94 lucky winners, with a minimum of one winner per month per branch, receiving a prize of OMR 500 and OMR 1,000 at the quarterly draws. In addition, ten winners are selected from the Children’s Account holders (aged 18 and below) and receive OMR 100 each. Twenty winners are selected from the Youth Account holders (aged between 18 and 27), each receiving a prize of OMR 100. There are also two Elite winners of OMR 10,000 each per month.

The monthly Elite draw is replaced by a Grand Prize draw of OMR 50,000 for one lucky Elite customer, and occurs twice a year, in June and December. Oman Arab Bank also conducts a special ‘Big Prize’ draw of OMR 25,000 for one winner across its expansive branch network at the end of every quarter.

The Salary Transfer draw was introduced in 2020, which sees 5 winners per month receiving a prize of OMR 500 each, as well as a guaranteed gift to both children and youth (up to 27 years old) once a year. Oman Arab Bank is the only Bank providing a guaranteed gift to its youth customers.

“On behalf of OAB, I would like to extend my warmest congratulation to all of the winners of our latest draw. I encourage everyone else to continue saving so that they can maximise their chances of winning in the upcoming months. I wish everyone the best of luck for the remaining draws of 2020,” Rashad added.

Oman Arab Bank has a rich and proud history as one of the first financial institutions to be established in the Sultanate. Today, the bank operates a nationwide network of 55 branches and representative offices with 160 ATMs spread across Oman. OAB provides a complete range of financial products and services for personal banking, corporate banking and investment clients.

OAB Announces Winners of its May Hasaad Savings Draw

OAB Announces Winners of its May Hasaad Savings Draw

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Muscat, July 9, 2020: Oman Arab Bank (OAB) has announced the names of 132 winners from its May monthly Hasaad Savings Scheme. This included 95 winners from the monthly branch draws of OMR 500 each, ten winners of OMR 100 from the Children’s Account draw, twenty OMR 100 winners from the Youth Account draw, five winners of OMR 500 from the Bank’s Salary Transfer draw and two winners of OMR 10,000, from the Elite Draws at the Al Khuwair and Al Mintareb branches.

Commenting on the results of the May draw, Rashad Al Shaikh, Acting Head of the Retail Banking Division at OAB said, “Given the prevalence of the current pandemic, we have noticed our customers’ spending reduce considerably over the past few months. This has resulted in creating a positive effect since the level of savings has increased in the same period. As the market gradually re-opens, we encourage our customers to continue this savings culture to be able to be financially stable in the days to come. At OAB we continue to support our customers’ efforts to save and spread awareness about its importance. On behalf of everyone here at OAB, I wish you all the best of health and the strength and patience to persevere as we all go through these challenging times together.”

The Hasaad scheme sees 95 lucky winners, with a minimum of one winner per month per branch, receiving a prize of OMR 500 and OMR 1,000 at the quarterly draws. In addition, ten winners are selected from the Children’s Account holders (aged 18 and below) and receive OMR 100 each. Twenty winners are selected from the Youth Account holders (aged between 18 and 27), each receiving a prize of OMR 100. There also two Elite winners of OMR 10,000 each per month.

The monthly Elite draw is replaced by a Grand Prize draw of OMR 50,000 for one lucky Elite customer, and occurs twice a year, in June and December. Oman Arab Bank also conducts a special ‘Big Prize’ draw of OMR 25,000, for one winner across its expansive branch network at the end of every quarter.

The Salary Transfer draw was introduced in 2020, which sees 5 winners per month receiving a prize of OMR 500 each, as well as a guaranteed gift to both children and youth (up to 27 years old) once a year. Oman Arab Bank is the only Bank providing a guaranteed gift to its youth customers.

“We are extremely pleased with the outcome of the May draw and look forward to the next one, set to take place in June. This will include the Grand Prize of OMR 50,000 for one lucky Elite customer. I would like to congratulate all the winners of this month’s draw and hope to see many more in the remaining draws for the year. Once again, I encourage all our valued customers to continue in their efforts to save, so that they can increase their chances of winning,” Rashad added.

Oman Arab Bank has a rich and proud history as one of the first financial institutions to be established in the Sultanate. Today, the bank operates a nationwide network of 65 branches and representative offices with 152 ATMs spread across Oman. OAB provides a complete range of financial products and services for personal banking, corporate banking and investment clients.

Oman Arab Bank Launches ‘Step to the Future 3.0’ Digital Initiatives

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  • A wide range of new digital solutions, including digital onboarding facility
  • An artificial intelligence system to approve instant loan top-up requests
  • An exclusive savings account programme with attractive interest rate ROIOman Arab Bank Launches ‘Step to the Future 3.0’ Digital Initiatives

Muscat, October 20, 2020: As part of its ongoing efforts to enhance its digital services and improve its overall customer experience, Oman Arab Bank (OAB) announced the launch of a wide range of advanced digital solutions set to provide superior customer experience within the banking industry in Oman. Introduced at a conference yesterday, these new services emphasize the Bank’s commitment to technological progress. Entitled ‘Step to the Future 3.0’, this marks the next stage of OAB’s digital evolution, with various AI-driven e-payment solutions and facilities set to make banking for its customers even easier.

Any Omani citizen or resident can now take advantage of a one-of-a-kind simplified and secure online onboarding system via the OAB Online App, which allows the opening of an account in under 5 minutes, without the need to physically visit the branch or sign any printed documents. Additionally, OAB customers with personal loans can instantly top-up their existing loans through the app, receive approval and have the additional amount transferred to their bank account almost immediately. Lastly, customers who open new accounts through the app can benefit from a new Super Growth savings account, which offers a special interest rate of 3% per annum.

Commenting on the launch of ‘Step to the Future 3.0’, Rashad Al Shaikh, Acting Head of the Retail Banking Division at OAB, said, “OAB has continuously endeavoured to strengthen its presence in the digital arena and implement innovative solutions and modern facilities to position itself as a pioneer in the local banking sector. Given the rapid changes brought about by technological advancement, we are aware that businesses across the globe are transitioning into the digital space. Therefore we aim to continuously invest in our digital platforms by introducing first-to-market solutions that provide exceptional customer experience and reinforcing our position as an innovative agile financial institution. We are keen on enhancing our customers’ experience by offering a comprehensive and convenient way to bank, something that has grown in importance especially now, when it is advised to socially distance at every opportunity. By visiting the OAB Online App, customers can take advantage of our products and services, complemented by advanced levels of security and confidentiality features.”

“Furthermore, we have introduced a new functionality for the OAB Online App. As part of our recently launched 50th National Day campaign, existing customers can now submit their referrals in a few simple steps. The campaign is our way of thanking our valued customers by offering them cash prizes in exchange for nominating their friends or family to open a new OAB account,” Rashad added.

Digital onboarding:

Customers looking to join OAB today are not required to visit the nearest branch and go through the application process. By downloading the OAB Online App, they can initiate the digital account opening process and upload and submit copies of their ID card (for citizens), residence card and passport (for expatriates), plus fill in their personal data and submit a picture in the form of a selfie. Upon completion, they will receive an SMS with an OTP code to acknowledge their agreement with the Bank’s terms and conditions. In under 5 minutes, the digital onboarding process will be completed and all account details shared with the customer so that they can begin their journey with OAB.

Super Growth scheme:

Customers who open a digital account with OAB can benefit from the Super Growth account, a limited-time savings deposit scheme with a special interest rate of 3% per annum, which will be paid to their account every month. Additionally, customers depositing a minimum amount of OMR 5,000, will receive a guaranteed cash prize of OMR 50 by simply maintaining it for at least a month.

Instant loan top-up:

OAB customers who have personal loans can now submit a request to instantly top-up their loan amounts through the OAB Online App. If they are eligible, the request will be processed in under 5 minutes, with the additional loan amount being transferred to their account almost immediately. This sets a new bar for the level of service within the local banking sector by implementing the use of advanced technology and analytical models to accelerate a process, which normally takes longer by visiting a branch.

“The recent restrictions on mobility to ensure everyone’s health and safety has resulted in the need for a reliable digital infrastructure. Regardless of these developments, we at OAB believe that to keep pace with rapid technological changes, we must adapt accordingly. This is why we took the decision to invest in modern technology, several years ago, which has led to the launch of our ‘Step to the Future’ initiative.  A part of our long-term strategy includes the digital transformation of our products and services, alongside the introduction of innovative new offerings that enhance the overall customer experience. We believe that these developments also tie-in to one of our key transformation strategy pillars and future direction of the Bank, which is to turn our customers into lifelong customers. We are confident we are on the right path towards creating a more prosperous future for the banking sector in Oman, as well as enriching our customers’ experiences with state-of-the-art digital offerings.” Rashad concluded.

OAB has a rich and proud history as one of the first financial institutions established in the Sultanate. Today, the bank operates a nationwide network of 55 branches and representative offices over 160 ATMs spread across Oman. OAB provides a complete range of financial products and services for personal banking and corporate banking clients. On July 2020, after the completion of the merger between Oman Arab Bank and Alizz Islamic Bank, the bank has turned into a public joint stock company and its shares were listed on Muscat Securities Market.

Oman Arab Bank Congratulates Mazoon Dairy on One Year of Operation

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Muscat, October 26, 2020: Oman Arab Bank recently commended Mazoon Dairy Company SAOC, on its completion of one year of operation. The Bank had extended financing to the company in November 2019, for the creation of a state-of-the-art dairy manufacturing facility, with the confidence that it will bring about several advantages and new prospects for the local economy.

Commenting on the importance of the partnership, Alsalt Al Kharusi, Head of Corporate & Institutional Banking at OAB said, “Over the last few years, Oman has been working towards localising food industries and reducing its dependence on imports to fulfil the objectives of the National Food Security Strategy. This was the reason behind establishing Mazoon Dairy, which commenced production in October 2019. Since then, the company has been able to position itself at the forefront of the industry, achieving its sustainable development goals in record time. We are proud to be the strategic financial partner for this pioneering project, which will contribute greatly towards the Sultanate’s economic diversification efforts.”

“Our reason to finance this project was based on the economic and social value it would bring on a short-term and long-term basis, at both the regional and international levels. It is also in line with our strategic pillar, which is focused on building fruitful partnerships that will positively impact the national economy as a whole. In this way, we can reinforce our vision of being more than just a financing institution for similar industry-leading national projects such as Mazoon Dairy, but a strategic partner as well,” Alsalt added.

Established in 2015, Mazoon Dairy is a closed joint-stock company and the first 100% Omani dairy brand at its scale in the Sultanate. It is primarily engaged in manufacturing and distributing a wide range of dairy products and juices from its facility in the As’Sunainah in the Al Buraimi Governorate. It hosts a state-of-the-art dairy farm and processing plan, alongside an action unit, which was completed in October 2019.

OAB continues to position itself as a partner for economic development and as a trusted corporate banking partner, through its corporate objectives entitled, “Synergies and Partnerships”. The Bank is also looking to provide ATM and CDM facilities at Mazoon Dairy’s plant site, ensuring all employees can take full advantage of all OAB products and services, thereby enriching the employees banking experience.

Oman Arab Bank has a rich and proud history as one of the first financial institutions to be established in the Sultanate. Today, the bank operates a nationwide network of 55 branches and representative offices with 152 ATMs spread across Oman. OAB provides a complete range of financial products and services for personal banking, corporate banking, and investment clients.

New Age Banking Summit

OAB Receives Notable Accolade at New Age Banking Summit

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Asma Ali Ramadhan Al ZadjaliMuscat, October 13, 2020: Oman Arab Bank recently participated in the New Age Banking Summit, held on October 6, 2020. The event was held at Hotel Sheraton Oman and saw the Bank take part in discussions around the theme of “The Future of Banking and Fintech”. During the summit, OAB was bestowed with the ‘Leadership in Agile Banking’ award, reinforcing its dedication to the provision of high-quality customer experience.

Highlighting the importance of the event, Asma Al Zadjali, Head of Banking Operations Group, said, “Finding means to incorporate or implement FinTech innovations as part of our services is an integral part in our efforts to help accelerate the e-commerce industry and bring about a new age of digital banking. This is why we are and have always been keen on holding workshops catered to delivering value-added skill sets, experiences and networking opportunities to FinTechs, so that they may play a role in creating a thriving innovative banking eco-system. With key programmes and initiatives to develop innovation, local talent and entrepreneurship in place, we will be able to contribute significantly towards building the Sultanate’s knowledge-based economy and create value for the community at large.”

Business agility is a necessity for the long-term survival of any organisation in today’s rapidly changing times. OAB has established itself as a pioneer in the region, especially when it comes to adopting Agile practices. With a core focus on simplifying processes for its customers and enhancing their digital experience, the Bank needed to restructure how the internal IT and Operations facilities functioned. OAB looked to implement the best-in-class practices in Agile to ensure a robust foundation for its step towards digitisation. While Agile is easier to implement within smaller teams, it was a huge challenge to upscale it at an enterprise level. OAB began with around 3 teams, rapidly resulting in a growth of over 170 people that are grouped in Agile release trains today. The Bank continues to collaborate in self-configuring and self-managing teams, to produce predictable results every quarter at a sustainable pace. OAB continues to invest and grow Agile internally, maintaining its lead in the region through the participation and creation of a community around this philosophy.

Our Agile methodology and approach has helped us to stay committed to developing and promoting digitalised products and services to enrich overall customer banking experience. By doing so, the Bank seeks to position itself as a pioneer within the local banking industry, offering a variety of AI-driven technology that boosts convenience for all users. The Bank has also focused on an omni-channel approach, with a majority of its services available online and through the OAB Online App. Over the years, OAB has successfully contributed to accelerating the sector’s digital transformation journey by delivering an unrivalled customer experience. This also stems from its implementation of a strong Agile culture, which is primarily focused on cross-functional collaboration.

“I would like to thank OER for presenting us with the ‘Leadership in Agile Banking’ award, which is a testament to our long-term transformational strategy, allowing us to evolve from a traditional bank to a state-of-the-art banking institution that is a life partner to all our customers. In line with our Agile strategy, we have placed more emphasis on a customer-centric approach, especially when it comes to business strategy and direction. Therefore, we can continue offering added-value and innovative solutions to our customers, enhance efficiencies and empower our staff to play key roles in realising the Bank’s strategic objectives.” Asma concluded.

Oman Arab Bank has a rich and proud history as one of the first financial institutions to be established in the Sultanate. Today, the bank operates a nationwide network of 55 branches and representative offices with 152 ATMs spread across Oman. OAB provides a complete range of financial products and services for personal banking and corporate banking.