Manama, Bahrain, February 9th, 2011: Bahraini retail and commercial banking institution, BMI Bank, today inaugurated its 9th full-service branch to cater to the fast growing corporate clientele in Hamala. The inauguration was  conducted by Khalid Hamad, Executive Director Banking Supervision at the Central Bank of Bahrain, Jamal Al-Hazeem Chief Executive Officer of BMI Bank as well as other bank officials, guests and members of the media.

Speaking at the launch, Jamal Al-Hazeem, the Chief Executive Officer of BMI Bank said:

"In line with our commitment to make banking convenient and centered around our customers' needs, I am pleased to roll out our 9th full-service branch in Bahrain that further strengthens our network while bringing us closer to our customers. We understand that local businesses are the lifeline of our economy and identified Hamala as a key location within the country with a higher concentration of Small to Medium Enterprise (SME) businesses.  With a new branch in the rapidly developing and growing area of Hamala, we are now well positioned to cater to the diverse financial requirements within the catchment with a clear focus on both the retail and (SME) customer segments. 

We continue to invest in our business recognizing the need for excellent customer service, a wide range of customer centric products and a strong network to support future growth. We would like to sincerely thank the Governor of the Central Bank of Bahrain and our stakeholders for their continued support."

The new branch will offer a full array of banking services tailored to offer flexibility to customers and is backed by a team of professionals who will be able to provide personal, helpful and responsive customer service. The range of retail products and services on offer includes loan and overdraft facilities, credit cards, deposit products, savings accounts, the recently launched Ayadi Savings scheme with a prize pool of USD 1.66 million, net banking, and remittance services. The bank will also offer an innovative bouquet of products and services that support the SME sector including overdrafts, loans and trade finance products.

The BMI Bank Hamala branch will be open to customers Sunday to Thursday from 7:30 am to 1:30 pm and in the evenings on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm. In addition, a dedicated cheque and cash deposit ATM, two cash withdrawal ATMs, and a 24/7 self-service customer workstation will be available to access net banking in a secure environment.

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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 offering a full range of retail and commercial banking services. BMI Bank operates in Bahrain through a network of 9 branches and 26 ATMs with net banking for easy access to services. The online platforms offered by BMI bank were awarded the prestigious Bahrain e-Content Award 2009 in the e-Banking category, recognizing ease of use of its comprehensive e-banking services in a safe and secure environment in which to conduct personal and business transactions.

BMI Bank also operates an Offshore Bank in the Seychelles, a branch in Qatar and has a 21.33% shareholding in Gulf African Bank in Kenya. BMI Bank owns the Diners Club Services Bahrain W.L.L 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. BMI Bank is rated as Investment Grade.

BMI Bank currently offers its customers a range of retail products and services including savings and current accounts, Ayadi savings account, Sapphire, its Premier Banking service, credit cards including Diners Club and La Carte, a co-branded credit card in partnership with Geant Hypermarket Bahrain, consumer and vehicle loans, mortgages and fixed deposits. In addition to Retail Banking, BMI Bank offers full SME Banking, Premier Banking, Private Banking, Corporate Banking, Islamic Financial Services, 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 2011