Muscat, 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.

Muscat, September 27, 2020: Oman Arab Bank has opened its new branch in Sinaw, in North A’Sharqiyah, after reallocating to the entrance of the Wilayat, next to the Shell Petrol Station. Strategically positioned, the branch will allow easy access for OAB’s customers to conduct their banking transactions.

Highlighting the importance of the branch transformation, Rashad Al Shaikh, Acting Head of the Retail Banking Division at OAB, said, “The Bank’s strategy focuses on the development and transformation of our branch network to create a unique banking experience for all our customers and to enhance our share in the market with unparalleled level of services. We believe that our customers in Sinaw and the surrounding towns will be able to benefit from the location of the new branch.”

Similar to the other transformed branches, the Sinaw branch features an enhanced brand identity, with a refreshed look and feel and contemporary design. The branch transformation is further complemented by several facilities and systems that are a part of the Bank’s transformation strategy. The new branch seeks to provide an exceptional, integrated customer experience, starting from entering the waiting area to conducting the required banking transactions. The branch also features screens that promote OAB’s latest products and services, moving monitors to allow for more private advisory spaces, as well as signature pads and ID card readers.

The new branch also features a dedicated reception desk, Majlis, and RM offices for “Elite” customers to provide them with an exclusive, private and memorable banking experience. The objective is to bring together distinct designs and meet the Bank’s transformational goals, which revolves around enriching customer experience based on the high-level of offered services.

The design is inspired by the ‘Omani Skyline’, with the colour white representing Omani architecture, brown symbolising desert sands, grey a reflection of the mountains, and blue glass overhangs resembling the sky. A key aspect of the Bank’s transformational goals, this unique design emphasises the importance we give to elevating the customer experience by providing a high-level of services. “In addition to our branch transformational strategy, OAB has extensively invested in its digital infrastructure over the years, to provide efficient solutions for customers who prefer to carry out their banking requirements digitally. Today, we can confidently say that we have successfully met our customer needs all across the Sultanate, and we continue to exceed their expectations on both our digital and traditional channels,” Rashad added.

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 54 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 clients.

Muscat, September 15, 2020: Oman Arab Bank has announced the establishment of a new change and development department, a move that further positions the Bank at the forefront of the local banking sector. The department will primarily be responsible for overseeing the implementation of OAB’s change and development strategy, which has been undertaken over the last few years. This strategy is based on the Bank’s four main pillars, which focus on innovation, strategic partnerships, talent development, and the continuous improvement of the customer experience.

Commenting on the decision to set up the new department, Adil Al Rahbi, Head of Human Resources Division at OAB, said, “The Bank has made remarkable progress enhancing banking operations over the last years by employing the latest technologies to create new and advanced solutions. This is complemented by our efforts to build an effective and highly qualified team and the provision of a suitable work environment. This, in turn, enables OAB staff to utilise modern practices in project management, ensuring added value when innovative strategic initiatives are implemented. To expand on this objective in the future, a specialised division was established to oversee all developmental efforts across different fields. Our colleague Omar Abdulaziz Al Kharusi, who has over 19 years of experience in project management, has been appointed as the head of this strategic department.”

Omar Al Kharusi holds an MBA from Franklin University in the United States and has a proven record in project delivery and transformation strategies. Embodying strong leadership skills, he has extensive experience in managing people, systems and change management at major local banks.

“OAB’s executive management relies on the Human Resources division to provide other departments with skilled personnel. To achieve this, we rely on a talent management approach that aims at developing and enriching the work environment to enhance its attractiveness, enabling us to attract highly qualified people at the sector level. An example of this is the addition of our colleague Omar Al Kharousi, as one of the young Omani competencies with qualified experience in the banking sector. We wish him success in his new position as the Head of Change and Development Department,” Adil 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 152 ATMs spread across Oman. OAB provides a complete range of financial products and services for personal banking, corporate banking and investment clients.

Muscat, September 06, 2020: To commemorate the International Day of Charity, celebrated on September 5, Oman Arab Bank launched a special competition on its social media platforms for all its followers. The competition aimed at increasing awareness of the need to contribute to charitable foundations and organisations, which in turn will have a positive impact on society.

Commenting on the launch of this competition, Hilal Al Siyabi, Head of Corporate Communications at Oman Arab Bank, said, “We believe that individuals play an integral role in helping out people who are in need. This is why the Bank has tied up with several active charities and charitable associations over the years to instill a culture of giving. With the OAB App customers can easily make donations to their local charity of choice within seconds. This competition reaffirms our efforts to encourage and promote a spirit of charitable contribution among all members of the OAB family.”

To enter the competition, followers will have to answer the question, “How many charities and funds can you donate to via the OAB Online App”. Those who answer correctly will be entered into a draw, with the Bank donating OMR 500 on behalf of the winner to the charity of their choice from those listed on the mobile application.

“Through this competition, we aim to bring people together who believe in the need for carrying out charitable work while simultaneously raising awareness within the community about the importance of donations. We are confident that the response from our customers and social media followers will be a testament to this cause.” Hilal 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 and 152 ATMs spread across Oman. OAB provides a complete range of financial products and services for personal banking, corporate banking and investment clients.

Muscat, August 25, 2020: Oman Arab Bank (OAB) has announced the names of 132 winners from its June monthly Hasaad Savings Scheme. This included 95 winners from the monthly branch draws of OMR 1,000 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, one winner of OMR 25,000 from the Big Prize draw at the Al Waqaibah branch and one winner of OMR 50,000 from the Elite Draw at the Al Rustaq branch.

Commenting on the results of the June draw, Rashad Al Shaikh, Acting Head of the Retail Banking Division at OAB said, “Following the announcement of the Hasaad winners for June, we have completed half of this highly successful scheme that was launched at the beginning of this year. However, we still have several incredible prizes for subsequent draws in the upcoming month. The June draw was very exciting since it included the Big Prize Draw, bringing the total value of cash prizes to OMR 175,500 for the month. The winners of these prizes are our customers who continue to maintain a savings culture, ensuring their financial stability for the future.”

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.

“I would like to congratulate all the winners of the June draw and look forward to seeing more in the remaining draws for the year. Once again, I encourage all our valued customers to maximise their saving efforts and increase their chances of winning in the months to come,” 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 152 ATMs spread across Oman. OAB provides a complete range of financial products and services for personal banking, corporate banking and investment clients.