ila News

Manama, Bahrain: ila Bank, the region’s fastest growing, digital, mobile-only bank, powered by Bank ABC, has been named ‘Best Mobile Banking App in the Middle East’ at Global Finance’s Best Digital Bank Awards 2025, which was held in London. In addition to this prestigious recognition, ila earned a record haul of 11 awards across Bahrain and the Middle East, securing wins in every national category - further cementing its position as one of the region’s most innovative and customer-focused digital banks.

Sael Al Waary, Group Chief Executive Officer of Bank ABC, said: “We are proud to see ila Bank recognized on the global stage by Global Finance, one of the industry’s most respected publications. These results reflect the strength of our strategy and the talent across both ila and Bank ABC. Our vision was to build the Middle East’s leading digital bank, and these wins reflect the significant progress we’ve made toward that goal. We remain focused on advancing innovation, excellence and delivering a new kind of banking experience that truly serves our customers and communities.”

Since its launch in 2019 as the region’s first exclusively cloud-based digital retail bank, ila Bank has evolved through more than 140 app updates—each designed to simplify, personalise, and enhance the customer experience. The bank’s unwavering focus on innovation, trust, and financial empowerment has helped it achieve nearly 40% customer growth since 2023, consolidating its leadership in digital banking across Bahrain and the wider region.

Mohamed Almaraj, CEO of ila Bank and Group Chief Retail and Digital Banking Officer at Bank ABC, commented: “These achievements are the result of visionary leadership, dedicated teams, and trusted partners working together to push the boundaries of digital banking. I extend my sincere thanks to Global Finance for this recognition and to everyone across ila and Bank ABC who contributed to this success. As we celebrate, we remain focused on driving innovation and creating banking experiences that truly reflect our customers’ evolving lives.”

ila Bank’s awards at the Global Finance Best Digital Bank Awards 2025:

Regional Awards (Middle East)

1. Best Mobile Banking App

2. Best Open Banking APIs

National Awards (Bahrain)

3. Best Consumer Digital Bank

4. Best Digital-Only Bank

5. Best Online Payments Solution

6. Best Online Product Offerings

7. Best User Experience (UX) Design

8. Best Mobile Banking App

9. Best in Social Media Marketing and Services

10. Most Innovative Digital Bank

11. Best Open Banking APIs

Senior management of Bank ABC and ila Bank attended the awards ceremony in London on October 7, 2025, celebrating alongside leading financial institutions from around the world.