International finance magazine, Euromoney, recently named National Bank of Kuwait (NBK), "Best Bank in the Middle East", and “Best Bank in Kuwait” for 2010 as part of the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2010. The awards were presented to NBK CEO, Isam J. Al Sager, at an award ceremony held recently in Beirut.

Commenting on the occasion, Al-Sager said that the prestigious awards of "Best Bank in the Middle East” and “Best Bank in Kuwait" for 2010 were a source of immense gratification and pride, and noted that these awards marked a new recognition of NBK's unique and leading position in the market as well as its impressive achievements and management expertise.

NBK was selected for the awards because of the leading position which it enjoys both in the domestic market and regionally, and in view of its impressive recent growth, further evidence of the Bank’s remarkable performance and ability to maintain its leading position in spite of current difficulties for regional and international financial markets.

In addition to boasting Kuwait’s largest local branch network comprising more than 70 branches in Kuwait, NBK currently has the largest and widest overseas banking network encompassing 175 branches, representative offices and subsidiaries strategically located in 17 countries spread over four continents, including 10 countries in the Middle East.

NBK has consistently been awarded the highest credit ratings of all banks in the region by the major international rating agencies: Moody's, Standard & Poor's, and Fitch Ratings. NBK was also named twice in 2009 as one of the top 50 safest banks in the world.