Emirates NBD, a leading bank in the region, announced today that it will soon launch customised banking services via WhatsApp in the UAE.

The bank, a front-runner in digital banking innovation, is the first in the region to integrate its core systems with the WhatsApp Business solution, which will allow customers to seamlessly carry out their daily banking activities such as checking account balances and temporarily blocking or unblocking an existing card, enhancing its suite of digital channels. The initial phase of services are being piloted currently for the bank's employees and will be rolled out to customers shortly following successful trials.

Abdulla Qassem, Group Chief Operating Officer, Emirates NBD said: "Following the launch of the initial phase, we look forward to progressively expanding our range of WhatsApp based services to deliver a unified, digital experience for our customers. In doing so, the new offering will complement our existing digital and social media channels in a secure and convenient way."

Suvo Sarkar, Senior EVP & Group Head, Retail Banking and Wealth Managementat Emirates NBD said: "Our integration with the WhatsApp Business solution builds on our commitment to make banking easy and intuitive. WhatsApp is a simple, reliable and private way to talk to anyone in the world, which will lend further simplicity and ease to banking with Emirates NBD." 

Evans Munyuki, Senior Vice President, Chief Digital Officer, Emirates NBD said: “With the continued execution of our digital strategy, this represents another innovative way for Emirates NBD to reach our growing customer-base. We are excited about offering and rapidly expanding our WhatsApp services to further enable continuous, immediate and safe conversations with our customers.”

All messages on Emirates NBD's verified WhatsApp Business account are encrypted, ensuring safety and security.

Emirates NBD's digital transactions are growing 30 per cent year on year with over half of the bank's customers actively using mobile and online banking regularly. With close to a million and half followers on social media, including being the most followed bank on Facebook in the UAE, Emirates NBD remains the only financial institution from the Middle East to claim a spot in the top 20 ranking in the 'Power 100 Social Media Rankings' compiled by The Financial Brand.

Emirates NBD's relentless efforts to drive multichannel transformation has received global recognition, with the bank being adjudged the Most Innovative Financial Services Organization of the Year at the BAI Global Innovation Awards last year as well as providing the Best Internet Banking Application at the Asian Banker International Excellence in Retail Financial Services Awards earlier this year.