BBK and ARRAY Innovation to pilot Google Cloud Universal Ledger in core banking

09 Jul 2026

BBK, a leader in retail and corporate banking in the Kingdom of Bahrain, has announced a pilot project to explore the integration of Google Cloud Universal Ledger into its core banking infrastructure, in collaboration with ARRAY Innovation, the Bahrain-based AI and cloud-native digital solutions firm and a portfolio company of Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company.

The initiative follows ARRAY Innovation’s appointment by Google Cloud as an implementation partner for Google Cloud Universal Ledger, a multi-currency, programmable distributed ledger platform designed specifically for financial institutions. Through the pilot, BBK will assess how the platform can support smart contract-enabled transactions within its core banking environment, positioning the Bank among the early regional adopters of next-generation digital ledger technologies for tokenized finance.

The project reflects BBK’s continued investment in advanced financial technologies and its focus on building greater readiness for the future of money and digital assets. It also underscores ARRAY Innovation’s growing role as a trusted technology partner for regulated financial institutions, supported by its expertise across payments, banking systems, artificial intelligence and cloud computing.

By combining Google Cloud’s neutral, globally scalable ledger infrastructure with ARRAY Innovation’s local engineering and financial-sector implementation capabilities, the pilot builds on BBK’s market leadership, regulatory standing and customer base developed over more than five decades. The initiative is expected to help lay the groundwork for tokenized payments, programmable settlement and new digital asset services as financial services continue to evolve.

Commenting on the announcement, Mr. Yaser Alsharifi, Group Chief Executive Officer of BBK, said: “The collaboration with ARRAY Innovation reflects our commitment to adopting solutions that create meaningful value for customers and keep pace with their expectations. Through Google Cloud Universal Ledger pilot, we are exploring how our core banking infrastructure can evolve to support smart contract-enabled transactions and strengthen our readiness for the future of money and digital assets. Faster, more cost-efficient and always-on settlement can open the door to a more efficient and responsive banking experience.”

Mr. Alsharifi added: “This project is an important step in our journey to apply advanced financial technologies in a practical and measured way. BBK has consistently played a leading role in introducing digital payment innovations that improve speed, convenience and trust for customers, and this pilot reflects our ambition to keep raising the standard for banking in Bahrain. By exploring programmable settlement, tokenized payments and next-generation ledger capabilities, we aim to help take the Kingdom’s banking sector to the next level, supporting Bahrain’s ambition to strengthen innovation across financial services and reinforce its position as a leading hub for digital banking.”

Mr. Alaa Saeed, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of ARRAY Innovation, commented: “We are proud to work with BBK on this significant pilot, which reflects the Bank’s forward-looking approach to modern financial technologies and its interest in the potential of next-generation digital ledgers in banking. The project gives us the opportunity to apply our technical expertise in a leading, regulated banking environment and contribute to practical solutions that support the continued development of financial services in Bahrain. It also reflects the ability of Bahraini talent to deliver world-class technology solutions for the financial sector and strengthen the Kingdom’s competitiveness in digital financial innovation.”