Emirates NBD, a leading financial institution in the Middle East, has won global recognition for its retail banking leadership at the 33rd annual Retail Banker International (RBI) Global Awards.

At a ceremony held recently in London, the bank was adjudged the Middle East Retail Bank of the Year for an exceptional 2017. The bank’s retail banking division registered robust double-digit growths in revenues and profits in 2017, gaining market share across most retail products and segments. Emirates NBD was also recognised for the Best Use of Online Banking, providing customers with a rich frictionless user interface, widgets to track finances, a digital store as well as FaceBanking video banking enabling them to chat face to face with a banking advisor and sign up for a personal loan at any time.

In addition, Suvo Sarkar, Senior Executive Vice President & Head – Retail Banking & Wealth Management, Emirates NBD was recognised as the 2018 RBI Retail Banker of the Year globally, citing his inspirational leadership and vision in driving the division’s regional and global achievements in retail banking and digital innovation. Sarkar was also recently named Digital Leader of the Year at the 2018 Seamless Awards held in Dubai for leading the division’s digital transformation.

Emirates NBD continued to strengthen its market leadership with first-to-market innovations and pioneering digital banking solutions. Among the bank’s significant retail launches last year were Liv., the UAE’s first digital bank for millennials that is today the fastest growing bank in the country, SkyShopper e-commerce portal offering online shopping across categories with the convenience of a single check out, EVA™ (Emirates NBD Virtual Assistant), the region’s first English and Arabic enabled voice-based virtual chatbot powered by artificial intelligence, paperless personal loan and card applications and opening of fully digital branches offering self-service and assisted banking solutions.

Commenting on the win, Suvo Sarkar, Senior Executive Vice President & Head - Retail Banking & Wealth Management, Emirates NBD said: “We are truly honoured to be recognized on a global platform such as the RBI Global Retail Banking Awards and winning three awards, the most for any bank at the forum. I would like to thank the incredible team at Emirates NBD that works hard to keep us at the top of our game as we continue to make banking easy and accessible for all.”

All winners were selected by an independent judging panel. The RBI Awards were established more than three decades ago and continue to set a benchmark for recognizing world class retail banking institutions that set new standards in terms of innovation and outstanding performance.

Emirates NBD recently signed a Premier Partnership agreement with Expo 2020 Dubai to become its official banking partner, and will offer a range of innovative financial products and services to visitors, participants and organisers of the global event.