OAB Opens Financial Souq in Salalah

Muscat, October 08, 2018: Highlighting its commitment to offer the best financial solutions and customer experiences across the Sultanate, Oman Arab Bank (OAB) has announced the opening of its newly relocated flagship branch in Salalah. The new customer-focused branch is conveniently located at the Salalah Commercial Centre, and is the first of its kind ‘Financial Souq’ in the region, with U-capital and National life housed in the same building. It will deliver the highest levels of convenience and enhanced banking facilities to the Bank’s customers in Salalah.

The branch opening took place on October 03 and was held under the auspices of HE Sheikh Salim bin Oufiet Al Shanfari. The event was attended by Rashad bin Mohammad Al Zubair, the Chairman of OAB, together with Rashad Al Musafir, CEO of OAB, and other senior members of the Bank management and staff. Also in attendance were several of the Bank’s VIP customers from the region.

Commenting on the launch of the new branch, Rashad bin Mohammad Al Zubair said, “Over the course of the past five years, OAB has been successful in executing its transformational strategy that aims at positioning the Bank among the top preferred banks by the customers. Our ongoing branch transformations across the country are a part of this strategy, one that is aimed at providing our customers with a unique banking experience focused on convenience, comfort, fast response times, efficiency, and optimal use of the very latest in banking technology. These new transformed branches are thoroughly unique and unlike anything found elsewhere in Oman.”

“This event marked the second transformed branch that we have opened this year, the first being the Sur branch that we opened a few months back. As with the other branches that have undergone this change, this revamped flagship Salalah Branch features our new design philosophy, with beautiful yet subtle colours and a stylish modern design. It also features the very best in technology and products, together with personalised levels of service, generous size, spacious layout, and a large parking area. That being said, this is the very first branch that has been designed as a ‘Financial Souq’ with several features and facilities never before seen in any of our branches to date. As a result, this new branch will elevate the banking experience for our customers in Salalah to an entirely new level,” added Rashad Al Musafir.

As with the previous relocated branches, the new Salalah branch features OAB’s enhanced brand identity with a refreshed look and feel; identical to the two flagship branches opened last year by OAB, in Qurum and Barka respectively, and the one launched in Sur earlier this year. Aesthetically, its design inspiration has been taken from the ‘Omani Skyline’, wherein the white symbolises Omani architecture, browns denote the sand deserts, grey referencing the mountains, and the blue glass overhangs representing the sky.

The sleek, modern, and streamlined look is augmented by a number of features and systems introduced as part of the new transformed branches. This includes the introduction of a new meet and greet facility with a streamlined queuing system, private advisory spaces with moving monitors for more personal interaction, together with digital signature pads and ID card readers within the advisory station design.

The new Salalah branch, however, is amongst the largest branch transformation projects OAB has undertaken and is also a first of its kind of ‘Financial Souq’ with U-capital and National life soon to be housed in the same building. The main branch area has six tellers and 11 customer care advisories with a seating capacity of 80 customers. It has a dedicated Corporate Services area, with capacity for three relationship managers and eight back-end staff, together with a corporate lounge area.

Commenting on the upgraded Elite facilities at the new Salalah Branch, Al Musafir said, “With the Salalah Branch we are elevating our elite services to an entirely new level. To begin with, the branch features a dedicated ‘Elite’ section with two Majlis with a total capacity of 25 customers. The ‘Elite’ section also has a dedicated coffee-lounge with restaurant-style seating, three RM Offices, and a 20-seat Elite Board Room. There is even a dedicated basement parking area for Elite customers, with a VIP lift that leads directly to the ‘Elite’ section. Together these features will provide the Bank’s VIP customers with a one-of-a-kind elegant and private experience that remains memorable.”

Lastly, the branch also has a multi-purpose space for training, entertainment, and future expansion purposes. As a result of all these changes, the branch transformation combines elements of design, form, and function and aims to elevate the customer experience as a whole resulting in better service. Furthermore, U-capital and National life will soon be opening their doors to customers in the same building, completing the Salalah branch’s transformation into a one-of-a-kind ‘Financial Souq’ in the region.

“This marks the third of a series of branches we plan on transforming and opening this year across the country. As one of our flagship branches, the new Salalah branch is amongst the largest in the country; helping us transform the banking experiences of our customers in Salalah. Given the size and capabilities of the branch, I am confident that the new branch will not just meet, but exceed our customer’s expectations; taking us one step closer to our ultimate goal of being their bank of choice in the country,” added Al Musafir.

Oman Arab Bank is one of the first banks to be established in Oman, with a rich and proud history. Today, the bank operates a nationwide network of 65 branches and representative offices and 148 ATMs spread across the Sultanate. OAB provides the complete range of financial products and services for personal banking, corporate and investment clients.