Kuwait – 11 May 2017: Gulf Bank is proud to have won 'Best Mobile Banking Experience in the Middle East' at the Arabian Business Kuwait Awards. The ceremony took place on 7 May 2017 at the Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel.

Ms. Laila Al-Qatami, Assistant General Manager for Corporate Communications at Gulf Bank said: "Recognition of Gulf Bank's innovative and easy to use mobile banking app continues with another Middle East regional recognition, this time at the Arabian Business Magazine's Kuwait Awards. Our 'Blinking to Bank' app is the first combination fingerprint / facial recognition to be launched in the Middle East and one of the few available worldwide. This innovation underlines the Bank's strategy for moving its customer base over to digital, while also exceeding our customers mobile banking expectations."

Ms. AlQatami continued: "When we designed our mobile banking app, we paid great attention to simplicity and efficiency of movement coupled with world-class biometric security features.  The Bank's customers can access their personal accounts and any number of services by logging into the App through one of two methods: by blinking their eyes at their smartphone camera 'Blinking to Bank' following their fingerprint recognition (Touch ID), or through the use of a traditional password registration. The app ensures that customer is never more than 3 clicks away from their desired transaction. This combination of functionality, simplicity, and security make our mobile banking app experience unique in the Middle East region."

This year's Arabian Business Kuwait Awards had 13 award categories, but only one of which was excellence at the Middle East regional level. Winners were selected through a rigorous judging process with shortlists of nominees in each category created by the ITP Executive editorial team based on business activity over the past 12 months. This shortlist was then assessed before the winners' announcement.

The services included in the Mobile Banking App and Online Banking are: checking account details; making ad-hoc transfers; biometric verification for transfers; automatic IBAN data population; creating a standing order; setting future-dated transactions; and adding and managing beneficiaries. Transferring funds is also simplified since the application will populate the remaining IBAN Beneficiary Bank details automatically. Customers can also use the App to securely share information including IBAN number and account holder name sharing, IBAN certificate sharing and printing, transaction confirmation sharing, and statement sharing; and much more.

Additionally, Gulf Bank's credit card customers can check their Gulf Rewards point balances, as well as instantly redeem their Gulf Points for free travel and hotel stays. They can also pay their credit card bills; receive cash advances from credit cards; apply for new ATM and debit cards; activate new credit cards; as well as report and block stolen or lost cards (debit and credit).  Furthermore, the new App allows customers to review their Al Danah chances, view and share their Al Danah certificate, or even open an Al Danah account.

Arabian Business is the Middle East's leading weekly business title - focusing on the English speaking and Arabic speaking business community. Arabian Business provides weekly in-depth analysis of the latest regional and international news and its influence on business in the Gulf. The magazine is renowned for its high profile interviews with some of the world's leading businessmen, extensive features from around the Middle East and respected commentary on the issues of the day. Arabian Business Kuwait Awards was launched in 2010 to celebrate the vibrant and highly influential Kuwait business community by recognizing accomplishments in a variety of categories.

Nominations are received through the magazine's website, and the winners are selected by an independent panel of judges to ensure integrity of the awards and to acknowledge only those who truly deserve the accolade.

To find out more about Gulf Bank's latest, innovative and easy to use Online and Mobile Banking services, customers can visit the bank's bilingual website at www.e-gulfbank.com, call the Customer Contact Center on 1805805, visit its social media accounts, or visit one of Gulf Bank's 56 branches in Kuwait.