Kuwait, April 15, 2007: Global Finance, the world's most influential finance publication, has named Gulf Bank as Best Bank in Kuwait in 2007 in its exclusive World's Best Banks Awards survey.

Gulf Bank is one of 83 Best Banks in Emerging Markets to be named in a special May 2007 edition of Global Finance. The Best Bank Award was judged by Global Finance editors with input from industry analysts, corporate executives and banking consultants.

Gulf Bank was chosen as Best Bank in Kuwait on the basis of its profitability, customer service, asset growth, competitive pricing and product innovation.

"This award is well-deserved recognition of Gulf Bank's remarkable success," commented Mr. Bassam Yusuf Alghanim, Chairman and Managing Director of Gulf Bank. "Gulf Bank is Kuwait's fastest-growing bank with seven consecutive years of record growth and profitability.

"Gulf Bank a market leader in product and service innovation and is an award-winning Kuwaiti employer. The Bank has grown to exceed KD 4 billion in assets and is one of the highest-rated banks in the region, reflecting the strength of its financial performance.

"The Global Finance Best Bank Award demonstrates the progress Gulf Bank has made in becoming Kuwait's preferred local bank," Mr. Alghanim said.

Gulf Bank will be presented with the 'Best Bank in Kuwait' trophy by the President of Global Finance at an awards ceremony during the IMF/World Bank meetings in Washington DC later this year. The awards ceremony will be attended by Central Bank Governors, Finance Ministers and senior banking executives from around the world.

"This award is only presented to a select few banks in the world," said Mr. Lou Myers, CEO and Chief General Manager of Gulf Bank. "The Bank is setting new standards of excellence in service and performance and the Global Finance Best Bank Award is a tribute to the Board, management and all the staff of Gulf Bank."

Global Finance has more than 250,000 readers in more than 158 countries and is an authoritative source of information for CEOs, CFOs, Treasurers and other financial officers responsible for making investments and strategic business decisions for global companies and financial institutions.