Excellent capital adequacy ratio at over 19%

Customer deposits grow to USD 1.47 billion; Flagship product - Ayadi grows by 16% during the quarter

May 4th, 2013, Manama, Bahrain: Bahraini retail and commercial banking institution, BMI Bank today reported a net profit of USD 0.9 million (BD 0.34 million) for the first quarter of the year ended 31 March 2013, an increase of 125% as compared to a net profit of USD 0.4 million (BD 0.15 million) recorded over the corresponding period in 2012, mainly due to improved recoveries against impaired loans. The total income for the quarter was USD 15.2 million (BD 5.7 million) representing an increase of 5.6% as compared to USD 14.4 million (BD 5.4 million) reported during the corresponding period in 2012, primarily driven by a 15% increase in net interest income which grew to USD 12.1 million (BD 4.6 million) during the quarter as against USD 10.5 million (BD 4 million) during the first quarter of 2012. Total assets and total loans and advances as at the end of the period stood at USD 2 billion (BD 0.75 billion) and USD 1.3 billion (BD 0.49 billion), respectively, at the same level as of end of 2012. Customer deposits grew from USD 1.41 billion (BD 0.53 billion) as at the end of 2012 to USD 1.47 billion (BD 0.55 billion) at an annualized growth rate of 15%.

Announcing the profit for the quarter, Jamal Al-Hazeem, Chief Executive Officer of BMI Bank said:

"Equipped with excellent shareholder support, strong liquidity and guided by a refreshed strategy that was implemented in 2011, we embarked on transforming BMI Bank into a stronger retail and commercial banking business with a clear focus on Bahrain. Our commitment to deliver on an enhanced and rewarding customer experience was realized through the launch of several refreshed and new customer-centric product and service initiatives that has helped us to significantly increase our market share within Bahrain over the past few years whilst maximizing our shareholders' returns. 

We began 2013 with a continued emphasis on product and service innovation as well as stronger levels of customer service and I am pleased to report a net profit of USD 0.9 million (BD 0.34 million) for the first quarter of the year representing our seventh straight quarter of net profits. 

During the quarter we strengthened our network through the inauguration of our 10th full service branch at Salmabad helping us to effectively reach out to our customers across all key districts of Bahrain by catering to discerning financial requirements. Following the unparalleled success achieved by our flagship retail product Ayadi Savings Scheme in the previous years, we rolled out a new revamped prize structure with an increased prize pool of US$ 1.8 million in 2013. Ayadi now offers its customers 4 Diyar Homes Villas as Grand prizes in addition to 416 monthly winners and 24 special cash prizes introduced to specifically benefit students, to be given out throughout the year. The product has grown by nearly 150% since it was re-launched in 2011 and has seen a resounding 16% growth in portfolio during the first quarter of 2013. 

We also recently announced the launch of Prestige our premier service proposition, catering to the affluent individual looking to receive personalized attention and tailored financial solutions from their banking partner. Through all the various customer-centric initiatives undertaken during in the recent past as well as some that are currently underway, I strongly believe that BMI Bank is now well placed to solidify its position as a leading retail bank in Bahrain. 

At BMI Bank, we continue to maintain an excellent Capital Adequacy Ratio of over 19% with strong liquidity and a portfolio of unique and innovative products and services and will continue to focus on growing our business along with customer numbers during the year."

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. The Bank offers its 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 eChannels including its corporate website www.bmibank.com.bh have been honored with various prestigious awards over the past few years helping in consolidating both its position as well as perception within the country as a key retail Bank. The Bank posted a profit of USD 1.3 million for the year ended 31st December 2012, marking its sixth straight quarter of profit as well as its full-year return to profitability for the first time in the last five years. The Bank maintains an excellent Capital Adequacy Ratio of over 18% with very strong liquidity as reported during the year ended 2012.

BMI Bank operates an international branch in Qatar, owns and operates the Diners Club cards franchise in Bahrain, has a 21.33% shareholding in Gulf African Bank - Kenya, and has an equal stake in an Offshore Bank in the Seychelles (a joint venture with Nouvobanq). 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. BankMuscat has the largest network of 134 branches, 409 ATM, 141 CDM's and 4500 POS terminals in Oman.

BMI Bank currently offers its local customers a range of retail products and services including regular savings and current accounts, Visa gold and classic credit cards, a Diners Club credit card and La Carte, a co-branded Visa credit card in partnership with Geant Hypermarket Bahrain. A newly introduced Platinum credit card offers customers the advantage of earning miles on everyday purchases that can be directly redeemed towards Gulf Air's Falconflyer program (FFPas well as a complimentary Falconflyer Silver membership. During 2013, the Bank enhanced its flagship savings scheme "Ayadi" with the introduction of an increased prize pool of USD 1.8 million, 4 Diyar Homes Villas as Grand Ayadi Prizes as well as a new "Ayadi for Students" account exclusively for students with 24 prizes to be awarded during the year. The Bank also offers customers fixed deposits, the Salaf range of personal, auto and mortgage loans and a new phone banking service that enables its customers to carry out most of their regular banking transactions in a safe and secure environment using their phones. The Bank has a strategic and exclusive service agreement with CrediMax to utilize their Point of Sales (POS) machines as well as payment gateways to accept and authorize the Bank's Diners Club cards thereby giving the brand stronger 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 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. BMI Bank also recently unveiled "Prestige" its premier service proposition, catering to the affluent individual looking to receive personalized attention and tailored financial solutions from their banking partner.

In line with its ongoing commitment towards building a stronger CSR program and giving back to the community, BMI Bank has donated over BD 80,000 in 2012 towards various local charities including annual commitments to the Al Sanabel Orphans Care Center, Royal Charity Organization, American Mission Hospital's (AMH) Community Outreach Program, the Island Classic Charity Golf Tournament and Think Pink Bahrain, Bahrain Red Crescent Society, Bahrain Disabled Sports Federation, Al Noor Charity Welfare and the Children & Mother's Welfare Society amongst others.

In addition to Retail Banking BMI Bank also offers Wholesale, SME, Private and Islamic Banking as well as Financial Institutions Group (FIG) and Treasury services.

For further information, please contact:
Gordon Andrade; Head, Corporate Communications
BMI Bank - Bahrain
E-mail: gordon.andrade@bmibank.com
Cell: +97339782225 

© Press Release 2013