Established in 1957 as Bahrain’s first locally owned Bank, NBB has grown steadily to become the country’s leading provider of retail and commercial banking services.With a major share of the total domestic commercial banking market and the largest network of 24 branches and 51 ATMs, the Bank plays a key role in the local economy.

At the same time, the Bank continues to diversify and develop capabilities to capture business opportunities in the Gulf region and international markets. Our Abu Dhabi and Riyadh branch lead the way in this initiative.

Publicly listed on the Bahrain Stock Exchange, the Bank is owned 51% by private shareholders, mainly Bahrainis, and 49% by Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company, which is 100% owned by the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Market driven and customer led, the Bank harnesses the latest technology to people skills, enabling its 593 employees to deliver highly professional services for retail and corporate customers, financial institutions and government organizations.

In 2008, Capital Intelligence upgraded NBB’s Long Term Foreign Currency rating to ‘A’ and Short-Term Foreign Currency rating ‘A1’. The Financial Strength Rating was confirmed at ‘A’ and the Support Rating at ‘1’. These rating are set at the country ceiling for Bahrain. Earlier in 2007, Moody’s upgraded the Bank’s Long-Term Foreign Currency rating to A2 and the Short-Term Rating to P1 and reaffirmed the Financial Strength Rating of ‘C-’ Outlook as Negative. During 2007 Fitch too upgraded the Bank’s Long-term (IDR) to ‘A’ & Short-term IDR to ‘F1’. Individual rating affirmed at ‘B/C’, Support ‘1’ & revised Support Rating Floor to ‘A’, Outlook as Stable. These ratings for NBB are among the highest for banks in the Gulf region.

Awards and International Recognition:
In 2008, for the 8th consecutive year, JP Morgan Chase presented their Quality Recognition Award to NBB for achieving a consistently high standard of operational efficiency.

Award for Nationalisation by the Executive Bureau of the Council of Ministers of Labour and Social Affairs of the GCC states and Yemen.