OAB Hosts Exclusive Iftar Event for Elite Customers

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OMR 50,000 Hassad ‘Elite’ Draw winner announced at event

Muscat, June 7, 2017: Oman Arab Bank (OAB), in keeping with the spirit of the holy month of Ramadan, recently organised an exclusive Iftar celebration for its Elite Banking customers on June 5 at the Shangri-La’s Barr al Jissah Resort and Spa.

The event was held under the auspices of His Excellency Mohammad Al Zubair, Adviser for Economic Planning Affairs to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said. Welcoming guests was the OAB Chairman, members of the board and senior executives. The event also saw the attendance of over 250 OAB Elite account holders.

Commenting on the Iftar gathering, Amin Al Husseini, CEO of OAB said, “Ramadan is a time of solidarity and tradition, providing us with an ideal opportunity to gather with our most dedicated customers and share the spirit of togetherness in commemoration of the blessed month of Ramadan. We believe that these gatherings are a perfect platform to build on the strong relationships with our customers, as well as to share with them the joys, blessings, and goodwill of Ramadan.”

As part of the evening proceedings, OAB also conducted the special OMR 50,000 ‘Elite’ Draw of the Hassad Savings Scheme for the Month of June under the auspices of Her Highness Sayyida Aliya bint Thuwaini Al Said. The winner of the prize draw was an OAB Elite customer from the Al Khoud branch. The remainder of the Hassad Savings Scheme Draws for the month will be focused on the Bank’s branches in the Batinah region, will be conducted at a dedicated event to be held shortly in Sohar.

Congratulating the winner, Basil Al Lawati, Head of Elite Priority Banking said, “Our Elite Accounts are by far the most exclusive accounts available from the Bank; offering its members the broadest spectrum of products and services available within the Bank’s portfolio. As part of the benefits we have an exclusive draw of OMR 50,000 for the half yearly and year end draws, reserved for our ‘Elite’ customers as part of the Hassad Savings Scheme. Given the focus of this event, we felt it was the perfect opportunity to conduct our Elite Draw for half year. As such, on behalf of the Bank, I would like to offer our congratulations to our Hassad ‘Elite’ Draw winner.”

OAB’s Elite membership is reserved for exclusive customers, offering a best in class banking experience. All esteemed Elite customers enjoy unique banking services including dedicated relationship managers available at all times, premium service centres and lounges to conduct banking transactions privately, 24 hour call centre support, and free SMS and Internet Banking. In addition to the dedicated Hassad Elite Draw, Elite customers receive a number of other benefits including a free for life Elite Visa Infinite Credit card and Elite Debit card, preferential pricing on Deposits and Loans, special discounted tariffs for Bank Charges, unlimited complimentary lounge access for over 500 International Airports, complimentary chauffeur service, and a personalized concierge service. The Bank also offers its Elite customers a number of wealth management services including tailor made portfolios, subscription access to IPOs, financial planning services, and bancassurance options. The Bank currently operates three dedicated ‘Elite’ Lounges – one at its head office in Muscat and the other two in the newly opened Nizwa and Al Hail branches respectively.

Oman Arab Bank is one of the first banks to be established in Oman, with a rich and proud history. Today, the bank operates a nationwide network of 66 branches and offices and over 135 ATMs spread across the Sultanate. OAB provides the complete range of financial products and services for personal banking, corporate and investment clients.

OAB Introduces Child Education Savings Plan

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Muscat, July 03, 2017: Oman Arab Bank (OAB), aiming to foster youth development and the savings habit, has recently introduced a new savings plan targeted at children. The new savings plan helps parents save for their children and build up a brighter educational future for them via a completely automated monthly transfer standing order; one that also offers high Interest rates and a number of other attractive benefits.

As part of new Savings Plan, parents with accounts at OAB can now open an account for their children under the plan, following which a predefined amount will automatically be transferred from the parent to the child’s account at monthly intervals. The monthly savings amount can range from as low as OMR 25 to a maximum of OMR 5,000 and can be amended by the parent at any time without any additional charge. Under the plan the account will benefit from a high interest rate of 1.75% per annum on the monthly deposit balance. As a further value added benefit, the plan offers bonus interest, calculated at 1.25% per annum, once every three years. This bonus is applied above the existing interest rate and is automatically awarded following regular monthly deposits for 36 consecutive months.

Commenting on the new Child Education Savings Plan, Fahad Amjad; General Manager of Retail Banking at OAB said, “Opening a child education savings plan with OAB is a great way to helps you save for your son or daughter; to build up a brighter educational future for them. This new plan has been designed specifically for that purpose. Offering the ability to easily set a monthly debit instruction free of charge and operating completely autonomously, the plan offers both simplicity and convenience; offering our customers a hassle-free savings plan to secure their child’s future.”

In addition to the high interest rate and bonus interest awarded every three years, the plan offer several other benefits. For starters, the account is entitled to take part in the Hassad Savings scheme with a chance to win cash prizes every month as part of the special draws for children. The plan also comes with free life insurance which covers up to OMR 50,000 in case of any unforeseen incident that may occur to the parent. This allows parents to rest assured of the continuity of monthly payments to the account.

Oman Arab Bank is one of the first banks to be established in Oman, with a rich and proud history. Today, the bank operates a nationwide network of 57 branches and 8 representative offices across and over 150 ATMs spread across the Sultanate. OAB provides the complete range of financial products and services for personal banking, corporate and investment clients.

OAB CONDUCTS HASSAD SAVINGS SCHEME DRAW FOR JUNE AT AVENUES MALL

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Muscat, July 9, 2017 – Oman Arab Bank (OAB) recently held its sixth monthly draw of this year’s ‘Hassad’ Savings Scheme live at the Avenues Mall in Muscat. The draw event was held under the auspices of Fatma Al-Nabhani, the famous Omani tennis player, and was attended by Amin Al Husseini, the Chief Executive Officer of the Bank, together with other senior members of the Bank’s Retail Department. Totaling 100 winners, the draw saw 25 winners receive OMR 500 together with 28 winners receiving OMR 1,000 and ten winners of the OMR 250 child account draws. The draw also saw one customers win Bumper Draw of OMR 25,000, as well as an Elite Draw winner of OMR 25,000. In addition, the Bank also held a special Eid draw where 35 winners received OMR 300 each.

Rashad Al Sheikh, DGM of Retail Banking at OAB said, “This year’s scheme focuses on rewarding customers through two kinds of monthly draws. The main draw alternating between each of our different regions of operation and the Nation each month as it offers greater opportunities for our customers to win. This month’s draw was focused on the nation as a whole with winners being selected from across each of our 57 branches across the country.”

The draw event, which was held at the Avenues Mall in Muscat, saw a number of fun activities being held for children including face painting, games, contests, and even dedicated drawing areas. There were also some special prize draws conducted for attendees of the event.

“On behalf of OAB, I would like to congratulate each of the 100 winners of our ‘Hassad’ savings scheme draw for the month of June. As well as wish all our customers the best of luck for the remaining draws which will continue until the end of 2017,” added Rashad.

Launched earlier in the year, the new Hassad savings scheme ensures customers from every region and branch have an equal opportunity to win, with OAB conducting prize draws every month alternating between regions and nationwide draws. Each of the draw will ensure a minimum of two winners of OMR 1,000 per branch in that respective region, together with multiple winners of OMR 500 across all branches and one Bumper draw of OMR 25,000 per month. OAB customers need only open a ‘Hassad’ account with a minimum balance of OMR 100, in order to be eligible for these prize draws. The Bank will also be conducting region and nationwide draws for children’s accounts with 10 winners of OMR 250 per month.

Oman Arab Bank’s banking proposition ‘Elite’ for High Net worth customers will also benefit from the revised Hassad scheme. Elite customers will now be participating in a dedicated monthly draws with a prize pot of OMR 25,000 monthly, and the upcoming year-end prize draw in December of OMR 50,000.

Oman Arab Bank is one of the first banks to be established in Oman, with a rich and proud history. Today, the bank operates a nationwide network of 57 branches and 8 representative offices across and over 150 ATMs spread across the Sultanate. OAB provides the complete range of financial products and services for personal banking, corporate and investment clients.

OAB Holds Professional Development Workshop

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Muscat, July 25, 2017: Oman Arab Bank (OAB), with a continued focus on professional development, recently conducted a specialised audit workshop at the OAB Head office in Al-Ghubra. The workshop, which was held in collaboration with Ominvest and Oman LNG, witnessed the participation of 13 staff from the three different organisations.

Commenting on the importance of conducting professional development in the workplace, Salah Abdullah Al Sharji, Head of Internal Audit said, “We place a great emphasis on developing the skills and capabilities of everyone within OAB. Holding workshops such as these is an important part of our professional development process for team members. The themes of this workshop highlighted risk analysis, international audit standards and methodologies, proper utilisation of audit tools, and improving overall efficiency and techniques when finalising audit reports. In a financial environment, professional audit capabilities are critical for organisational transparency.”

Organised by the Internal Audit Team at Oman Arab Bank, the workshop was sponsored by the Bank and conducted in collaboration with Ominvest and Oman LNG. Heading the workshop were trainers from US-based PEF Associates, Inc, who focused on best practice techniques to strategize and draft audit reports based on risk-based auditing techniques.

“The workshop was a great success, providing the participants with much more effective report writing strategies and auditing techniques. Given the overwhelmingly positive response we have received from participants, we will most definitely look into conducting similar collaborative workshops in the future” Salah Al Sharji added.

PEF Associates, lnc. is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA). They have been providing training and consulting services to audit departments for twenty-five years. Their highly interactive workshops focus on report development and root cause analysis. They are also pre-qualified by the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) and Information Systems Audit & Control Association (ISACA).

Oman Arab Bank is one of the first banks to be established in Oman, with a rich and proud history. Today, the bank operates a nationwide network of 57 branches and 8 representative offices across and 148 ATMs spread across the Sultanate. OAB provides the complete range of financial products and services for personal banking, corporate and investment clients.

OAB Organizes Staff Blood Donation Drive

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Muscat, July 30, 2017:  As part of its commitment to community, Oman Arab Bank (OAB) organised an internal Staff Blood Donation Drive at its head office on July 17. The event was organised by the Social Committee of OAB in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and saw a good number of OAB employees volunteer to donate blood.

Commenting on the Blood Donation Drive, Hilal O. Al Siyabi, Head of CSR at OAB said, “At OAB we believe that we have a responsibility towards the local community, which has to be expressed through both our values and actions. This Blood Donation Drive is a clear reflection of this ideology; one that is aimed at raising awareness on the importance of blood donation, as well as providing an avenue through which our staff can donate; especially for those whose otherwise tight schedules would not allow them to participate.”

“Many do not realise the importance of blood donations and the fact that a single unit of blood donated can save multiple people’s lives. Furthermore, the need is constant for a healthy and reliable blood supply. As such, on behalf of OAB, I would like to thank each and every employee who donated blood on the day as well as the staff at the Ministry of Health and members of our Social Committee who helped in hosting such a successful event,” added Hilal.

OAB is engaged in various initiatives, such as this Blood donation drive, throughout the year; each of which is intended to enhance the social wellbeing of the community in which it operates. Some of these social projects involve direct support from its employees, through invaluable work done by the Social Committee at OAB.

Oman Arab Bank is one of the first banks to be established in Oman, with a rich and proud history. Today, the bank operates a nationwide network of 57 branches and 8 representative offices across and over 150 ATMs spread across the Sultanate. OAB provides the complete range of financial products and services for personal banking, corporate and investment clients.

OAB Partners with OUE for Affordable Remittances

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Muscat, July 30, 2017: Oman Arab Bank (OAB), one of the first banks to be established in the Sultanate, recently signed a new partnership with Oman United Exchange Company (OUE) to make it even more convenient for customers to transfer remittances abroad for lower services fees. The signing ceremony for the partnership was held at Oman Arab Bank head office. Representing OAB at the ceremony was Rashad Al Shaikh, DGM Retail Banking, while Mr. Syed Faraz Ahmed, General Manager represented the exchange company.

The partnership will enable OAB customers to make International Transfers to India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Philippines, and Egypt, at a discounted rate of just OMR 1.500 at any OUE location by using their debit cards at the POS machines installed at each outlet. Furthermore, all POS charges at the branches will be waived for OAB customers.

Commenting on the new partnership Rashad Al Shaikh said, “Our collaboration with OUE allows us to forge a mutually beneficial strategic partnership between our two institutions. It is also in-line with the strategy of the Bank in aiming to reach out to a broader client base; offering them flexible, innovative, and cost effective financial solutions specially designed to cater to their specific needs.”

“As with OAB, we are always on the lookout for opportunities to make our services readily available to a broader spectrum of our customer base, while at the same time making our services even more affordable. This partnership has enabled us achieve exactly this, allowing us to offer bank transfers to the most commonly used countries at a rate unmatched by the market,” added Mr. Syed Faraz Ahmed  the General Manager of OUE.

“The ability to transfer money directly from POS machines located at OUE sites at special rates exclusive to our customers will offer them great value. It will also provide them with total peace-of-mind by not having them worry about withdrawing or carrying large sums of cash from location to location. As such, I am confident this partnership will be a value addition to the services offered by both OAB and OUE,” concluded Rashad.

Additional information can also be obtained at each of the seven OUE branches; located in Ruwi, Salalah, Ghubra, Sohar, Salalah Industrial Area, Barka, and Duqm.

Oman Arab Bank is one of the first banks to be established in Oman, with a rich and proud history. Today, the bank operates a nationwide network of 56 branches and offices and over 135 ATMs spread across the Sultanate. OAB provides the complete range of financial products and services for personal banking, corporate and investment clients.

OAB Launches New Mobile App and Unveils Unified Digital Banking Platform

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Muscat, August 09, 2017: Oman Arab Bank (OAB), at a recent press conference, launched its new unified digital banking platform with an all-new simplified interface used across all digital channels including Internet, ATM, and the new Mobile Banking Application. Following the launch of the new platform, the Bank also announced the launch of its new mobile banking application, which uses the same innovative icon-based design, offering the Bank’s customers an exceptional banking experience.

Commenting on the launch event, Amin Al Husseini, the CEO at Oman Arab Bank noted, “Elevating the customer experience is a key objective and our new unified digital banking platform represents a significant advance in ease-of-use and convenience. In order to ensure the customer experience delivered is best-in-class, our digital banking team have incorporated the very latest digital developments, while maintaining a firm focus on usability and an easy-to-use cross-platform interface.”

“We seek to position OAB as a financial institution that delivers an enhanced customer experience across all touchpoints; either in our branch, via phone banking or online. We are proud to announce the launch of our comprehensive range digital banking services with a new, unified design. This was designed with the aim of offering customers an advanced, yet easy to use, online banking experience regardless of platform and is clearly reflected in the innovative design and interface we use across each of our three digital channels,” Al Husseini added.

OAB’s new digital banking platform offers customers a unique banking experience thanks to its innovative icon-based design. Moreover, the Bank’s customers can now benefit from accessing comprehensive services not just at ATMs and on their computers, but also on their mobile phones and tablets at their convenience. As a unified platform, the Bank’s customers will utilise the same interface when conducting their electronic banking transactions. They will also be able to access their OAB accounts through any platform using the same verified user information, while having their preferences and beneficiaries for transactions and bill payments remain the same.

The new OAB Mobile Phone Application ‘OAB Online’, which is now available for iOS and Android users, is the latest and most comprehensive update of the Bank’s digital banking channels, and together with the unified digital banking platform, is also one of most significant innovations by the Bank to date.

“The new digital banking platform utilises the same icons and processes, which offers customers the same experience regardless of which channel they use. This simplified approach will make each of our digital banking services much more accessible to our customers, allowing them to simply switch between them at their convenience. The launch of the new mobile application, for iPhone and Android users, rounds off the trifecta of digital banking channels at the Bank, offering customers a comprehensive online banking experience,” Al Husseini noted.

Oman Arab Bank is one of the first banks to be established in Oman, with a rich and proud history. Today, the bank operates a nationwide network of 57 branches and 8 representative offices across and 152 ATMs spread across the Sultanate. OAB provides the complete range of financial products and services for personal banking, corporate and investment clients.

OAB CONDUCTS HASSAD SAVINGS SCHEME DRAW FOR JULY AT SALALAH GARDENS MALL

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Muscat, August 22, 2017 – Oman Arab Bank (OAB) recently held its seventh monthly draw of this year’s ‘Hassad’ Savings Scheme live at the Salalah Gardens Mall. The draw event was held under the auspices of Khalid Ahmed Al Rawahi, director general of manpower in Dhofar Governorate, and was attended by Ahmed Al Kharusi, Head of Regional Management and Branches Support department of the Bank together with other senior members of the Bank’s Retail Department. Totaling 100 winners, the draw, which was focused on the Dhofar region for the month of July, saw 23 winners from each of the Bank’s four branches located in Dhofar receive OMR 1,000 each together with a further 30 winners from across the Bank’s branch network receiving OMR 500 each and ten winners of the OMR 250 for the Bank’s child account holders. The draw also saw one customers from the Dhofar region win the Bumper Draw of OMR 25,000, as well as an Elite Draw winner of OMR 25,000. In addition, the Bank also held a special Khareef draw where 35 winners received OMR 300 each.

Fahd Amjed, GM of Retail Banking at OAB said, “With the Khareef season now in full swing in Dhofar, we felt that hosting our Region-focused Hassad Saving Scheme Draws in Dhofar would be a perfect fit. Better still, we also held a special Khareef draw to complement the festivities.”

The draw event, which was held at the Salalah Gardens Mall, saw a number of fun activities being held for children including face painting, games, contests, and even dedicated drawing areas. There were also some special prize draws conducted for attendees of the event.

“With this, our draw for July, we have passed the half way mark of our Hassad Savings Scheme for 2017. There are still hundreds of cash prizes to be won however. So on behalf of OAB, I would like to first congratulate each of the 100 winners of our ‘Hassad’ savings scheme draw for the month of July; and also wish all our customers the best of luck for the remainder of the draws will continue until the end of 2017,” added Fahd.

The Hassad savings scheme for 2017 ensures customers from every region and branch have an equal opportunity to win, with OAB conducting prize draws every month alternating between regions and nationwide draws. Each of the draw will ensure a minimum of two winners of OMR 1,000 per branch in that respective region, together with multiple winners of OMR 500 across all branches and one Bumper draw of OMR 25,000 per month. OAB customers need only open a ‘Hassad’ account with a minimum balance of OMR 100, in order to be eligible for these prize draws. The Bank will also be conducting region and nationwide draws for children’s accounts with 10 winners of OMR 250 per month.

Oman Arab Bank’s banking proposition ‘Elite’ for High Net worth customers will also benefit from the revised Hassad scheme. Elite customers will now be participating in a dedicated monthly draws with a prize pot of OMR 25,000 monthly, and the upcoming year-end prize draw in December of OMR 50,000.

Oman Arab Bank is one of the first banks to be established in Oman, with a rich and proud history. Today, the bank operates a nationwide network of 57 branches and 8 representative offices across and 152 ATMs spread across the Sultanate. OAB provides the complete range of financial products and services for personal banking, corporate and investment clients.

OAB Appoints New Head of Treasury, Investment and Government Relations

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Muscat, September 17, 2017: Oman Arab Bank has announced the appointment of Sulaiman Ali Al Hinai as GM- Head of Treasury, Investment and Government Relations. As a result of this appointment, the Government Banking Services Department will be reporting to Mr. Al Hinai to maximise the efficiency of the two functions; given the business overlap in managing the relationships in the public and government sectors.

Commenting on his appointment, Amin Al Husseini, Chief Executive Officer of OAB said, “On behalf of the management and staff at OAB, I would like to wish Sulaiman the best of luck in his new role. I am confident, his excellent relationships with a wide network of government entities and his specialised expertise in Treasury and Investment management will enable us to develop our business further.”

Sulaiman Al Hinai is a treasury professional with regional expertise and experience spanning twenty three years in commercial banking and treasury with various local and regional banks including, Doha Bank, Qatar; Oman International Bank, Muscat; and Ahli Bank SAOG, Oman. Commenting on his appointment into the new role, Sulaiman said, “I’m extremely pleased to take up my new role as the helm of the Treasury, Investment, and Government Relations at OAB. Together with the talented team already present in each of these departments, I look forward to building on their strong foundation, while maintaining the high standards of customer service and business excellence expected of OAB.”

“The employment of highly qualified Nationals has always been one of the core aspects of our operational strategies at OAB. Furthermore, we strive to open every avenue of growth for our employees within the organisation, facilitating this with regular and comprehensive training workshops and skill development programs,” added Amin.

Oman Arab Bank is one of the first banks to be established in Oman, with a rich and proud history. Today, the bank operates a nationwide network of 57 branches and 8 representative offices across and 152 ATMs spread across the Sultanate. OAB provides the complete range of financial products and services for personal banking, corporate and investment clients.

OAB Appoints New Head of HR

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Muscat, 09 October, 2017 | Oman Arab Bank (OAB) have announced the appointment of Mr. Adil bin Ali Al Rahbi as the new Head of the Human Resources (HR) Division. In his new role, Adil will oversee all strategic HR functions at the Bank in accordance with international best practice. These functions will include talent acquisition and retention, human capital planning, ongoing training programmes, digital learning, organisational culture, and professional development.

Commenting on the appointment, Mr. Amin Al Husseini, CEO of OAB said, “We believe in the skills and capabilities of our national workforce; skills that qualify them to hold senior positions in the Bank. It is through their efforts, and the efforts of everyone within the Bank that we continue to move OAB closer to its ultimate goal of becoming the number one bank of choice for employees and Omani professionals. We value and invest in our staff, in turn ensuring that we provide a consistently high level of service that meets the expectations of our valued customers.”

“On behalf of the management and staff at OAB, I wish Adil Al Rahbi the best of luck for his new position. I am confident that his experience of over 27 years in the fields of staff management and training, will enable us to further enhance the HR capabilities at the Bank; ensuring that our staff benefit from world-class professional development and organisational excellence,” added Amin Al Husseini.

Adil Al Rahbi has over 27 years of experience in his field and began working with OAB in February 2015 as the Head of Employee and Organisational Development. He cooperated with the team in order to create a paradigm shift in the role human resources plays; establishing it as a strategic partner in achieving bank targets and managing the change in order to ensure continuous development of the staff. He joined the bank with a long track record of experience, having worked with numerous organizations spanning several sectors. He began his career as the Head of Training at a governmental body. Following which, he moved to Qatar taking up a position as the Administrative Services Manager in one of the biggest international companies in the country. He then returned to Oman joining the private sector for eight years.

Al Rahbi holds MSc in Human Resource Management and Training from the University of Leicester, UK. He also holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Maritime Management from Australia and a Diploma in Police Sciences from the Sultan Qaboos Academy for Police Sciences.

This assignment comes as part of the Bank’s strategy in the field of developing human resources and providing the best possible opportunities towards career progression. This was clearly reflected in the number of young staff that recently qualified and were assigned to senior positions in various departments and fields within the Bank, following their enrolment in the ‘Qiyada’ program. This strategy will be promoted to include all job categories by designing training programs and workshops that satisfy their functional needs. To this end, several new projects and initiatives were launched; including the likes of the ‘Masar’ electronic performance management system and the Competency Matrix project for all jobs. A further reflection of the Bank’s commitment towards providing opportunities for career growth amongst all job categories, it launched the ‘Ta’heel’ program for developing the skills of employees, among other programs.

Oman Arab Bank is one of the first banks to be established in Oman, with a rich and proud history. Today, the bank operates a nationwide network of 57 branches and 8 representative offices across and 148 ATMs spread across the Sultanate. OAB provides the complete range of financial products and services for personal banking, corporate and investment clients.