Kuwait Finance House (KFH) has been named the MENA’s Most Innovative Private Bank for 2025 at MEED's MENA Banking Excellence Awards 2025 - Wealth & Private Banking. This award recognizes KFH's leadership in private banking and wealth management and the outstanding customer experience it successfully provides through a business model based on innovation.

While receiving the award at the ceremony held in Dubai, Executive Manager - Private Banking and Wealth Management at KFH, Naser Abdullah Al-Sanousi expressed his pride in the accolade. He emphasized that the award acknowledges the significant achievements of the bank and, specifically, the Private Banking and Wealth Management team, whose dedication and efforts were crucial to this success.

Al-Sanousi explained that KFH is the optimal choice for the private banking and wealth management as the bank offers diverse package of high-quality banking services and products in corporate banking, private banking, housing financing, real estate financing, in addition to investment and treasury solutions, and other various modern solutions in the investment management.

He added that, in providing these unique solutions, KFH relies on its extensive experience managing regional portfolios, international equity and real estate funds, leasing, and trade finance. This is complemented by its extensive network, which provides clients with global investment opportunities in local and international markets, all in compliance with Islamic Sharia principles.

Award Criteria

MEED selected KFH for its award based on several factors, including the successful introduction of the Wealth App, a key feature for its high-net-worth clients. The app gives clients real-time portfolio access and monitor, and secure advisory interaction that enable them to make the best investment decisions. Clients also can use the embedded (eKYC) service to update personal details, minimizing branch visits for data updates or new account openings. KFH's broader commitment to digital solutions is evident in cutting turnaround times by 35 percent, achieved through robotic process automation. With more than 70 percent of private clients now digitally active, KFH has embedded innovation into every layer of its wealth offering.

The judging process for selecting eligible banks also focuses on the bank's success in adopting digital solutions, developing its operating and investment model, and fostering a culture of innovation that places customers first.

MEED evaluates award applicants based on their submitted evidence, supporting documents, and public data. The criteria are client-centric: rather than focusing solely on innovation, the assessment measures how much the innovations benefit private banking clients. This includes reviewing measurable results and confirming the innovation supports long-term wealth management goals.

The 2025 MENA Most Innovative Private Bank Awards highlight institutions that understand and meet the complex needs of high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients, positioning the MENA region as a global leader in wealth management. The rising number of high-net-worth individuals and family offices in the MENA region is driving the demand for tailored services for these clients.

MEED

Established in 1957, MEED is a prestigious international magazine specializing in analysis of various economic sectors in the Middle East. In partnership with Retail Banker International and Private Banker International, both published by GlobalData Financial Services, the magazine presents the Middle East and North Africa Banking Excellence Awards to institutions that provide the most innovative banking and financial services and outstanding customer experiences.