Kuwait, May 31, 2007: Gulf Bank management and staff are celebrating the bank's unprecedented award of "Best Retail Bank in the Middle East" for the third year in a row by Banker Middle East, the region's leading banking industry magazine.

The award was presented to Gulf Bank at the recent Banker Middle East Industry Awards 2007 ceremony at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Qatar. Gulf Bank staff are also on a high after winning the "Best Bank in Kuwait" award from Global Finance and "Best Retail Bank in Kuwait" in the prestigious Asian Banker awards.

"Gulf Bank is the region's most awarded retail bank," said Mr. Nazem Al-Qenae, General Manager, Retail, for Gulf Bank. "It's a great achievement by everyone in the team and it recognizes the real success of our customer-focused strategy."