ila News

Manama, Bahrain: ila Bank, Bahrain’s leading digital mobile‑only bank powered by Bank ABC, has been awarded ‘Best Retail Digital Bank in MENA’ at the MENA Banking Excellence Awards for 2026, organised by the Middle East Economic Digest (MEED). This remarkable achievement reaffirms ila’s position as a leading digital banking innovator and disruptor, which has redefined the consumer banking landscape across the region.

MEED’s MENA Banking Excellence Awards recognises financial institutions in eleven countries in the Middle East and North Africa, highlighting excellence across retail, digital, and SME banking. Through an independent, expert-led judging process, this year’s winners were identified for excellence in innovation, customer experience, market impact, and industry contribution.

Through its mobile-only platform, ila offers customers a comprehensive range of innovative conventional and Islamic banking solutions, including automated saving tools, instant investment solutions, multi-currency accounts, seamless payments and transfers, and tailored lifestyle and travel rewards. Since its inception, the bank has consistently co-created with customers and deployed innovative solutions and app enhancements that address evolving market needs.

Commenting on the achievement, Mohamed Al Maraj, Chief Executive Officer of ila Bank, said: "This recognition represents an important milestone in ila Bank’s journey to redefine consumer banking across the region. Since day one, our focus has been on building a digital bank that challenges traditional methods by combining simplicity, innovation, and a deep human understanding. We are grateful to MEED for celebrating our success in delivering an inclusive banking experience built around our customers’ unique needs, passions, and aspirations.”

“This award is a testament to the strength of our vision and our exceptional team’s relentless pursuit of digital innovation excellence. I sincerely thank every member of the ila team for their hard work, passion and dedication, which enabled this win. As the industry continues to evolve, we remain committed to delivering a banking experience that is not only technologically advanced, but consistently relevant, intuitive, and tailored to our customers’ everyday lives,” added Mr. Al Maraj.

Beyond Bahrain, ila’s innovative banking model has played a key role in shaping Bank ABC’s broader digital transformation strategy across multiple markets. Building on ila’s advanced digital capabilities, Bank ABC launched the ila banking app in Jordan in 2022. Since then, the app has gained significant traction by delivering tailored financial solutions that make banking more accessible, seamless, and personalised for customers across Jordan.

Building on the success of the ila model, Bank ABC introduced a tailored mobile banking app in Egypt in 2025, enhancing the customer experience and strengthening financial inclusion in one of the region’s largest economies. As a result, Bank ABC Group was awarded the ‘Best Mobile Banking App in the Middle East’ by MEED in 2026.

Continuing its digital expansion across the region, Bank ABC also launched ‘ABC Clic’ in Tunisia in 2026, extending its innovative digital banking capabilities to this important network market. A similar offering is planned for launch in Algeria later this year, further reinforcing the Group’s commitment to advancing digital banking and financial inclusion across the region.