The Banker Middle East Magazine, renowned in the fields of finance, business and banking, granted Bank of Palestine, for the sixth year in a row, the Best Bank of the Year award for 2017 as part of its annual classification of banks in the Middle East. This award is a culmination of the leading role that the bank played last year, and its persistence to develop and expand banking services that respond to the needs of its customers on a local and regional level as part of a unique and continuous process for development that brings together the achievements realized by the bank during previous years.
The earning of this award coincides with the achievements realized by the bank following the smooth, flexible and successful merge with the Palestine Commercial Bank, which assisted Bank of Palestine in achieving a qualitative leap in its expansion plans in all fields related to financial services. In addition, Bank of Palestine purchased additional shares in the Arab Islamic Bank to reach 52% of owned shares, which was a successful step that enabled the bank to provide Islamic banking services in Palestine, thus marking a leap in financial inclusion and sustainability and expansion at the level of financial and banking services.
Mr. Hashim Al Shawa, the Chairman and General Manager of Bank of Palestine, made a statement regarding the Banker Middle East Award and expressed his confidence in the bank’s intention to continue to realize quality achievements that promote the name of Palestine on a local, regional and international level. At the same time, he pointed out that the bank continuously provides new, distinctive and innovative services to its customers, partners and shareholders, stressing that the receipt of this award for the sixth year in a row, marks a continuation of achievements that enabled the bank to work at the level of global banks and represent itself in the most prominent economic and banking world forums.
Al Shawa clarified that the bank launched several programs that address the empowerment of Palestinian women in various fields under the umbrella of the Felestineya Program. He looks forward to continuing to support all efforts that contribute to the empowerment of women through the development of financial tools that respond to their needs, promote their role, and encourage them to practice business and open productive projects that generate income for them and their families, which forms part of the bank’s belief in equality, diversity and gender equality in the workforce, and develop several electronic services that facilitate payments and banking transactions, as well as new technologies that contribute to achieving financial inclusion.
Al Sahwa also addressed the large campaigns that were launched by Bank of Palestine to encourage citizens to save money for their children through Al Barraem Savings Account, which allows parents to put aside a small amount of money every month and deposit it in their children’s accounts, and return, the bank grants a monthly percentage on the amount saved, and at the end of the savings period, or after 10 years, this percentage could be up to 30%. Al Barraem program is considered among the unique programs provided to children on a national scale.
The bank launched another large campaign to encourage its customers to use their BoP credit cards while making their purchases and shopping at supermarkets, commercial centers, clothing stores, restaurants, hotels, electronic appliances stores, gas stations and other places. Cards that are qualified to enter the campaign for winning prizes include, the VISA Debit Card, the Cash Card, the Visa Credit Card, and the Master Card. All BoP card users are able to benefit from the aforementioned cards and enter the lottery to win the grand prize at the end of the campaign period, which is a 2017 Mercedes GLA250, in addition to daily prizes on the value of purchases made.
Al Shawa stressed that the path followed by the bank is proof of its right long term vision to establish a major national economic powerhouse that makes every Palestinian proud. He pointed out that the main basis upon which the bank relied was the confidence of its customers and their appreciation support of its products and services, not to mention the loyalty of the bank’s employees and their support and determination to achieve success. Al Shawa reiterated the bank’s resilience and determination to build and achieve true development of financial products that promote the tools for financial inclusion.
In conclusion, Al Shawa expressed his gratitude towards all those who contributed and continue to contribute to the success of Bank of Palestine: the bank’s family, staff, and customers, not to mention the Palestinian Monetary Authority, which never failed to support the bank’s efforts to achieve distinctiveness.