Kuwait - 27 March 2011: Gulf Bank today announced that it has been awarded the coveted 'Best Retail Customer Service' and 'Best Phone Banking Service' awards by the Banker Middle East, the region's leading banking industry magazine. The awards were announced at a gala dinner and ceremony at the Emirates Tower Hotel, Dubai on 23 March 2011. Winners were chosen by a judging panel of international industry experts drawn from international rating agencies and some of the region's leading financial centers. The 'Best Retail Customer Service' builds upon Gulf Bank's superior financial services, the relationship it has built with its customers and the expansion of the Bank's branch network, which now reaches to 53 operating branches throughout Kuwait. The 'Best Phone Banking Service' reflects on Gulf Bank's iPhone application which was the first of its kind in the region, and is a further enhancement to its already well established mobile banking services, which are accessible through mobile networks across the world. The Bank's iPhone applications allows customers a number of services through their phones such as transferring money, verifying the last five transactions, checking credit card balance and making credit card payments. Aly Shalaby, General Manager, Consumer Banking Group at Gulf Bank's said: 'We are extremely proud to accept these prestigious awards and the recognition they represent. At Gulf Bank, excellence in customer service and developing innovative and relevant banking solutions, have long been among the core values of our organization in Kuwait.

We try very hard to listen to, and please our customers, and our highly motivated and experienced customer contact centre combines superb teamwork to consistently deliver the best possible sales and service as well as the best product range.? The Banker Middle East Awards, which are held each year, recognize businesses in the region that have excelled in providing exceptional levels of customer service and innovation across a range of sectors, from basic banking products to high-end investment services. They were established to set the highest benchmarks for the industry. The award?s panel of judges nominates banks and financial organizations that have shown outstanding improvement and success over the past 12 months.