United Arab Emirates, Dubai- 22nd May 2008: Emirates NBD, the Dubai-based banking group announced its extended banking hours at more branches. Following the introduction of extended hours at Emirates Bank branches, National Bank of Dubai branches at Mall of Emirates, Deira City Center, Dubai Festival City will now operate from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and NBD branches at Emirates Towers, Al Mizhar, and Muhaisnah will be operational from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. throughout the week.  All NBD branches offer Money Exchange Services; Money Transfer Services; Customized Banking Services and Facilities; ATM Machines; Automated Instant Cash Deposit Machines and Automated Cheque Deposit Machines during the extended shift.

Emirates NBD General Manager- Retail Banking, Mr. Suvo Sarkar commented on the extended banking hours saying, "Emirates NBD considers its customers convenience a top priority.  For that reason we have many branches now opening right through the day until 8 p.m., or 10 p.m to give customers the luxury of banking even after office hours.  We are confident that these extended banking hours are in tune with our customers' hectic lifestyles and will make banking easier for them.  We constantly aim to be a step ahead of our customers' requirements and we continue to modify, develop and enhance our services to encompass their needs and enhance their daily routines. " 

Mr. Mohammed Al Falasi , Emirates NBD Head of Alternative channels commented, "We listened to our customers feedback, and we realized that many of our customers are facing difficulties in attending to their banking needs during traditional banking hours due to work and family commitments. In response to that we decided to offer them extended banking hours at selected branches. Emirates NBD continues its plans of further expanding its network of branches across the UAE , in order to ensure that customers are never too far from their money and our services. "

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About Emirates NBD
Emirates NBD (DFM: ENBD) is a Dubai-based banking group resulting from the merger of Emirates Bank Group and National Bank of Dubai Group.  It is the biggest banking group in the GCC by assets and the biggest banking group in the UAE by market capitalization.   The Group has a leading retail banking franchise in the UAE, with over 100 branches and over 430 ATMs.  It is a major player in the UAE corporate banking arena, with a combined market share of almost a fifth of corporate loans.  It also has strong Islamic banking, investment banking, private banking, asset management and brokerage operations.  The Group has operations in the UAE, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Kingdom and Jersey (Channel Islands), and representative offices in India, Iran and Singapore.

About Emirates Bank
Emirates Bank offers a full range of retail banking products and services under the 'me' brand name.  These include: Current & Savings Accounts, Tiered Saving Accounts, Term Deposits, Personal Loans, Car Loans, Credit Cards, Insurance Products, banking products for Indian and Lebanese Expatriates, as well as well as Credit Card Loyalty Programme. In addition, Emirates Bank offers its customers priority banking services through Al Shaheen.

Emirates Bank offers its customers the convenience of banking across a range of channels (on-line, phone banking) and through visiting one of the wide network of branches across the UAE. Emirates Bank has been awarded the coveted status of a 'Superbrand' for the past four consecutive years. For more information on Emirates Bank, kindly visit: www.emiratesbank.ae.  

About National Bank of Dubai
Founded in 1963, National Bank of Dubai is the oldest, locally incorporated bank in the Southern Gulf. Known as the bank with a performance that is second-to-none, NBD has built a reputation of stability and strength much appreciated by shareholders and customers alike. Recognizing this leading performance, NBD has been awarded with the Dubai Quality Award for the year 2005.

Offering diversified financial services, NBD is a leader in corporate banking. Its portfolio covers a wide range of services including transport, real estate, construction, manufacturing, tourism and service industries throughout the region. In addition, NBD's 'Private Office' provides private banking services, offering highly tailored solutions to preserve and protect the personal wealth of its customers.  Along with supplying customers with a variety of exclusive service based products, secured facilities, Credit Cards, personal loans, , auto loans and home loans, National Bank of Dubai also offers a variety of treasury products and services, advising customers on exchange markets and interest rate outlook. NBD, also launched Suhail Priority Banking Services, a premier banking service offering customers personalized relationship management and a host of exclusive products and services. Furthermore, NBD offers customers automated banking services, which consist of an internet service (NBD Online), a telebanking facility (NBD Telebank), an SMS based service (NBD Mobile) and an online brokerage trading in UAE shares through its subsidiary, NBD Securities.

NBD also recently established NBD Investment Bank which is its' investment arm operating from DIFC.  With a comprehensive card portfolio that provides an array of benefits, NBD has, over the years, built a wide ATM network as well as Point of Sale terminals in select locations throughout the UAE.

National Bank of Dubai currently has an extensive branch network that includes 39 branches throughout the UAE. In addition, NBD also has a branch in London and Qatar as well as a representative office in Tehran.

For more press information please contact: 
Zeina El Haj  
Head of Marketing,
Communication & Events
For Consumer Banking & Wealth Management
Emirates NBD
Tel: 04 209 2669
Fax: 04 2329147

Email: ZeinaH@emiratesbank.ae
Email: shimaa@tamra-c2.com
Shimaa Elsayed
Senior Account Manager- PR
Tamra-C2
T: 04 295 1177
F:04 295 1188

© Press Release 2008