NBK named 'Best Bank in the Middle East' for 3rd consecutive year

National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) has been named the 'Best Bank in the Middle East and Kuwait 2012' by the prestigious international financial publication, Global Finance for the third consecutive year, according to a press release on Saturday.

In its exclusive annual survey of the world's best banks, Global Finance chose the winners based on growth in assets, profitability, strategic relationships, customer service, competitive pricing, and innovative products in consultation with bankers, corporate financial executives and analysts around the globe. NBK ranked among major global banks such as JP Morgan Chase, Santander and Standard Chartered.

"We recognize these banks for their outstanding accomplishments," says Global Finance's publisher, Joseph D. Giarraputo. "Global financial markets are extremely difficult and conditions in each market may have differed, but the winning banks were all noteworthy in their dedication to satisfying their customers' needs."

NBK was also recently named among the 'World's 50 Safest Banks' for the fifth consecutive time, illustrating the success of the bank's conservative strategy, prudent risk management dedication excellent customer service.

"Leading banks that may not be the largest, the oldest or the most diversified in a given region, but rather the best- the banks with which companies around the world would most likely want to do business," the magazine said.

NBK enjoys the highest credit ratings among all the banks in the Middle East and North Africa region by international rating agencies Moody's, Standard & Poor's, and Fitch Ratings.