Press Release
           26 November 2007

For the First time in Kuwait

NBK Launches first Brokerage Trading Hall at Shamiya Branch

Aly Shalaby: NBK continues to be committed to delivering highly convenient and distinctive services to our Private Banking and Thahabi Clients.

Al Fulaij: This is the first step in introducing this service throughout most branches in cooperation with Kuwait Financial Brokerage Company

National Bank of Kuwait’s (NBK), in cooperation with Kuwait Financial Brokerage Company, today announced the opening of its first KSE brokerage trading hall of its kind in Kuwait within the premises of NBK branch at Shamiya area.

The new and distinctive service will provide NBK clients and particularly Private Banking and affluent Thahabi clients with a convenient platform for a full-fledged and real-time trading of listed shares at Kuwait Stock Exchange, in addition to placing orders via brokers available at the branch from the comfort and privacy of NBK's exclusive Al Thahabi lounges.

NBK clients can also watch live quotes, open trading accounts via Kuwait Financial Brokerage Company, obtain statements of their trading accounts as well as take receipt of cheques related to their trades.

**A Mini Stock Exchange

General Manager Consumer Banking, Aly Shalaby said that the initiation of this highly convenient service aims at offering our clients a difference that could only come from NBK, whereby through NBK's cooperation with Kuwait Financial Brokerage Company, clients are capable of fast and convenient stock trading, without the hassle of having to travel to the Stock Exchange headquarters in Kuwait City.

Dubbed by Aly Shalaby as a sort of Mini Stock Exchange inside NBK branches, the new service will allow the client to perform all the regular transactions associated with the official stock exchange with the only difference being the  privilege of an exclusive service offered only to NBK clients.

** Plans to launch more centers

Commenting on the terms and conditions of using this distinctive service, Group General Manager Investment Services & Treasury and Chairman of the Kuwait Financial Brokerage Company, Salah Yousif Al Fulaij stated that there are no specific conditions, except that the trader should be an NBK client and holds  a trading account with Kuwait Financial Brokerage Company.

"This step is another testament of NBK's continual commitment and endeavor to provide its clients with the best banking and investment products and services" Al Fulaij added.

Al Fulaij went on to say that similar centers will be launched soon at several NBK branches, including Al Fahahail, South Surra and Al Jahra, with the aim of providing this sort of services for NBK clients in different parts of the country.

He explained that a special and fully equipped hall has been allocated for  first equity trading center within the comfortable surroundings of Al Thahabi lounge at NBK branch in the locality of Al Shamiya to facilitate the fast and convenient  shares trading procedures and transactions with utmost comfort and peace of mind.

Earlier in 2007, NBK has concluded the acquisition of a 86.67% share of  Kuwait Financial Brokerage Company for a total amount of about K.D 21 million with the aim of furthering the spectrum of  the banks operations and activities in the realm of financial brokerage and provide more distinctive services for the NBK clients.