Manama, 6 April 2012: The new Board of Directors of Al Salam Bank-Bahrain held its first meeting at Bank's premises yesterday to discuss the agenda and elect a new Chairperson of the Board.

The Directors elected HH Shaikha Hessa bint Khalifa bin Hamad Al Khalifa as the Chairperson of the Board and Mr. Hamad Tariq Al Humaizi as the Vice Chairman for a term of 3 years. At the Annual General Meeting held on 20 March 2012, the Bank's shareholders elected a new Board comprising of 11 members for the next term of three years.

Bio of H.H. Shaikha Hessa bint Khalifa bin Hamad Al Khalifa

An active member of the royal family of the Kingdom of Bahrain, Shaikha Hessa gained her Bachelor's degree in Management (1998), and her Masters degree in Social Policy and Planning (2002) both from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Subsequently, gained a master's degree in Development Finance in 2010 from the University of London. She joined the Supreme Council for Women in 2001 as a member of the Social Committee and she has been a Permanent Member of the Council's Board since 2004. In 2005, she founded "inJAz Bahrain", an international organization to inspire and prepare young Bahrainis to succeed in a global economy and is presently its Chief Executive. With her experience and active role in enterprise education and developing skills of young women, she has been invited as speaker and panelist at various occasions including at the UN, and the World Economic Forum.

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Headquartered in the Kingdom of Bahrain, Al Salam Bank-Bahrain (B.S.C.) is a dynamic, diversified and differentiated Islamic bank.

Key factors that contribute to the Bank's distinct market differentiation include:

•          Strong paid-up capital base;

•          Pre-eminent founding shareholders;

•          High-caliber management team;

•          State-of-the-Art IT infrastructure;

•          Universal business model covering deposits, financing and investment services;

•          Innovative, tailor-made Shari'a-compliant solutions;

•          Firm commitment to corporate and social responsibility;

Incorporated on 19 January 2006 in the Kingdom of Bahrain and commenced commercial operations on 17 April 2006, the Bank operates under Shari'a principles in accordance with regulatory requirements for Islamic banks set by the Central Bank of Bahrain.

Al Salam Bank-Bahrain was listed on the Bahrain Stock Exchange on 27 April 2006, and subsequently on the Dubai Financial Market on 26 March 2008. The Bank's high caliber management team comprises highly qualified and internationally-experienced professionals with proven investment expertise in key areas of banking, finance and related fields; all supported by a world-class Information Technology (IT) infrastructure and the latest 'smart' working environment. In 2009, the Bank acquired a 90.31% stake in Bahraini Saudi Bank BSC. Established with a paid-up capital of BD120 million, the

Bank's total equity has crossed circa BD202 million (US$540 million) with total assets crossing the US$2 billion mark.

Al Salam Bank-Bahrain adopts internationally recognized standards and best practices in Corporate Governance and operates with highest levels of integrity, transparency and trust.

The Bank is committed to its role as a concerned corporate citizen, actively seeking ways to contribute and add value to the social and economic well-being of the local communities in which it invests and operates.

For further information, please contact:
Adnan Alshaikh
Head, Corporate Communications & Investor Relations Dept.
Tel: +973 39336900
Email: a.alshaikh@alsalambahrain.com

© Press Release 2012