To offer one of the lowest interest rates in the market on its Salaf personal loan at 6.25% p.a.

Manama, Bahrain, May 19th, 2012: Bahraini retail and commercial banking institution, BMI Bank today unveiled a new personal loan promotion offering customers the opportunity to benefit from free life insurance and zero administration fees in addition to a low interest rate of 6.25% p.a. The Salaf Special personal loan promotion, which runs from the 20th of May 2012 to the 31st of August 2012, is applicable to customers applying for a new loan or looking to transfer their existing loans to BMI Bank.

Commenting on the initiative, Jamal Al-Hazeem, Chief Executive Officer of BMI Bank said:

"In line with our motto of better, together, I am pleased to roll out this value added promotion on our Salaf personal loan that provides customers with an opportunity to benefit from one of the lowest interest rates in the market at 6.25% p.a. whilst receiving the highest possible loan amount due to the waiver of both administration and insurance fees. Additionally, customers applying for the Salaf Special will have the option to defer their first installment by up to 90 days.

Moreover, customers looking to transfer their existing loans with other Banks to BMI Bank can do so under the promotion without incurring any additional costs, thereby reducing their monthly obligation. As a responsible local bank, we understand our customers better and recognize the need to tailor our products and services to better suit their requirements. The new promotion is in line with our commitment towards providing our customers with valuable, rewarding and competitive financial solutions that exceed their expectations."

About BMI Bank B.S.C. (c)
Bahraini retail and commercial banking institution, BMI Bank is a retail bank, registered in Bahrain and regulated by the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB). The Bank offers customers a complete range of innovative and unique financial products and services through its extended network of strategically located branches and ATMs. The Bank's multi-award winning online channels including its corporate website www.bmibank.com.bh were recently honored with three prestigious awards at the 3rd Pan Arab Banking Web Awards - 2012. In addition, the Bank also received a J.P. Morgan Chase - Straight Through Processing (STP) award for 2011 recognizing its superior quality and consistently high performance within the area of international money transmissions and diligent processing of payments. This has helped to consolidate the Bank's position as well as perception within the country as a key local retail Bank.

BMI Bank also operates an international branch in Qatar, an Offshore Bank in the Seychelles (a joint venture with Nouvobanq) and has a 21.33% shareholding in Gulf African Bank - Kenya. In addition, BMI Bank owns and operates the Diners Club cards franchise in Bahrain. BMI Bank's shareholders include some of the strongest and most respected financial institutions across the GCC, including BankMuscat (SAOG) the flagship financial institution in the Sultanate of Oman.  With assets worth over USD 18 billion, BankMuscat (SAOG) is the leading financial services provider in Oman with a strong presence in Corporate Banking, Retail Banking, Investment Banking, Treasury, Private Banking and Asset Management.

BMI Bank currently offers its customers a range of retail products and services including savings and current accounts, USD 1.69 million prize-winning Ayadi savings account, credit cards including Diners Club and La Carte, a co-branded credit card in partnership with Geant Hypermarket Bahrain, fixed deposits and the Salaf range of personal, auto and mortgage loans. The Bank recently signed a strategic and exclusive service agreement with CrediMax, the leading credit card acquirer in the Kingdom of Bahrain, to utilize their Point of Sales (POS) machines as well as payment gateways amongst its approved merchants to accept and authorize the Bank's credit card product - Diners Club cards within Bahrain by the end of the year thereby giving the brand 100% acceptance across the country.

In addition to its secure credit card online repayment channel that enables customers of the Bank to pay their credit card bill online using any benefit enabled debit card, customers can also deposit real-time cash into their various accounts with the Bank using special cash and cheque deposit ATMs located at the self-service area within the Bank's branches without the need to be committed to the Bank's working hours.

In addition to Retail Banking the Bank also offers Private Banking, Wholesale Banking, Islamic Banking and Treasury services.

For further information, please contact:
Gordon Andrade
Head, Corporate Communications
BMI Bank - Bahrain
E-mail: gordon.andrade@bmibank.com
Cell: +973 39782225

© Press Release 2012