BBK releases 2025 Sustainability Report, reinforcing its leadership in governance, sustainable finance and community impact

02 Jun 2026

BBK, a leader in retail and corporate banking in the Kingdom of Bahrain, has announced
the release of its 2025 Sustainability Report, marking continued progress in embedding
environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles across its operations. The report
reflects BBK’s long-term approach to building a more resilient, responsible and
sustainable banking model.
The report outlines BBK’s performance across its core sustainability pillars: Good
Corporate Governance, Responsible and Responsive Employer, Long-Term Positive
Customer Relationships and Experiences, and Social Responsibility Mindset, alongside
its continued focus on environmental responsibility and climate-related initiatives. It
also highlights the Bank’s efforts to evolve its operations in line with the changing
expectations of customers and society, while supporting Bahrain’s national
development priorities. The report further reinforces BBK’s position as a leading
institution in sustainable banking in the Kingdom.
Commenting on the report, BBK Group Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer,
Mohamed Alaali, said: “This year’s Sustainability Report reflects the progress BBK has
made in embedding sustainability into its core operations. Over the past year, we
strengthened governance practices, enhanced information security, invested in our
people, expanded digital capabilities and introduced our Sustainable Finance
Framework. These efforts reinforce our commitment to building trust, delivering long-term value and supporting the communities we serve.”
Key highlights from the report include BD188 million in sustainable finance assets, a
39% reduction in paper consumption, and BD2.4 million in community investments.
In Good Corporate Governance, BBK continued to strengthen its oversight framework
and institutional practices. Independent directors represented around 60% of the
Board, which also included three female directors. The Bank achieved 100% employee
acknowledgement of its Code of Conduct in 2025 and continued to respond to data
subject rights requests, reinforcing its commitment to information security and data
privacy as key pillars of trust. BBK also maintains an advanced Information Security
Management System certified to ISO/IEC 27001, supported by robust governance

practices and oversight by relevant committees to ensure effective management of
cyber and data-related risks.
Under the Responsible and Responsive Employer pillar, the report highlights BBK’s
commitment to fostering an inclusive workplace that enables employee growth and
development. During 2025, the Bank completed the integration of employees
supporting retail banking operations previously managed by HSBC Bank Middle East,
Bahrain Branch, ensuring service continuity while strengthening operational capabilities
and institutional expertise. Women represented 42% of the workforce, while the Bank’s
nationalization rate reached approximately 95%, demonstrating BBK’s strong focus on
developing Bahraini talent and supporting national workforce priorities.
As part of its efforts to support female leadership and career progression, BBK
celebrated the graduation of 20 employees from its Women in Leadership program,
delivered in collaboration with Harvard University and Cornell University. The Bank also
continued to enhance its learning and development programs, including the third
edition of GROW, delivered in partnership with Lumofy, an AI-powered talent
management platform. The program provides advanced tools to assess employee
capabilities and design personalized development pathways, supporting workforce
readiness for the future.
In addition, BBK strengthened its work-life balance framework through a range of
employee-focused benefits, including maternity and paternity leave, nursing hours,
parent-child leave and phased return-to-work arrangements, fostering a more inclusive
and flexible working environment.
Within the Long-Term Positive Customer Relationships and Experiences pillar, BBK
recorded several achievements in 2025. The Bank received the “Most Trusted Digital
Banking Services Provider in Bahrain 2025” award from World Business Outlook, the
“Customer Experience 2025” award for excellence in customer experience and was
named “Best Retail Bank in Bahrain 2025” by Global Banking & Finance Review for the
third consecutive year. These achievements reflect BBK’s continued focus on
enhancing customer experience through more accessible, efficient and innovative
banking solutions.
BBK also advanced its digital transformation agenda through streamlined lending
processes, automation of customer services, enhanced mobile banking capabilities
and the establishment of a dedicated innovation center to expand AI-driven solutions.

Under its Social Responsibility Mindset, BBK continued to support the local economy
and wider community. The Bank engaged 640 local suppliers during 2025, while its
community investments reached BD2.4 million. BBK also maintained its Platinum
sponsorship of the Crown Prince’s International Scholarship Program through a BD1
million contribution and upgraded its sponsorship in Isa Bin Salman Education Fund
while continuing its support to 50 scholarships at the University of Bahrain and Bahrain
Polytechnic.
BBK also commenced construction of its new health center in Galali, marking the
second healthcare facility funded by the Bank following the BBK Health Centre in Hidd.
The facility will enhance access to healthcare services and support broader community
development objectives in the Kingdom.
In line with its environmental and climate commitments, BBK achieved a 39% reduction
in paper consumption and expanded its greenhouse gas emissions measurement to
include additional Scope 3 categories, including financed emissions. This marks an
important step in aligning with global best practices and provides a more
comprehensive view of BBK’s indirect environmental impact across its value chain. It
also enhances the Bank’s ability to assess climate-related risks and opportunities,
supporting more informed decision-making and future target setting. The Bank also
launched its Sustainable Finance Framework during the year, marking a significant
milestone in aligning its financing activities with international ESG standards. By the
end of 2025, BBK’s sustainable finance portfolio reached BD188 million, supporting
projects across key sectors such as renewable energy, energy efficiency and
sustainable infrastructure. This progress reinforces BBK’s growing role in mobilizing
capital towards environmentally and socially responsible investments and strengthens
its contribution to Bahrain’s sustainable economic transition. In addition, BBK issued its
first Climate Risk Position Statement aligned with regulatory guidance and collected
755 kilograms of electronic waste through an internal campaign.
Alaali added: “We believe banks play a vital role in enabling inclusive and sustainable
economic growth. At BBK, we continue to translate this responsibility into tangible
action across sustainable finance, climate initiatives, social investment and talent
development, supporting Bahrain’s Vision 2030 and contributing to a more resilient
future.”
The full report is available on BBK’s website at [www.bbkonline.com/sustainability].