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Egypt: National Bank of Kuwait - Egypt Partners with Mastercard to Launch a Wide Array of Payment Cards

The National Bank of Kuwait – Egypt has unveiled its new partnership with Mastercard, a leading technology company in the global payments industry, launching a range of credit cards and debit cards that cater to the customers’ diverse needs.

Among the newly launched cards is the World Mastercard Credit Card, which offers a range of exclusive benefits and services that meet the needs of distinguished customers, including, but not limited to, free access to over 550 airport lounges in 120 countries around the world. The card also gives customers access to the NBK Miles Points program enabling them to redeem mileage points for airline tickets at more than 800 airlines or in hotel reservations at more than 150,000 hotels around the world.  In addition to the opportunity of using the points when renting cars from major companies, and cash back value given in return to the earned mileage points. Mastercard World cardholders also enjoy several other benefits and travel insurance services.

The bank also introduced the Platinum Mastercard Credit Card that offers a wide range of features and highest levels of security and convenience to its privileged customers. The Platinum Mastercard Card gives cardholders the purchasing power they need both in Egypt and abroad, as well as the privileges of the “NBK Miles Points Program” and free access to the exclusive waiting areas at some airports in Egypt and the Middle East.

On this occasion, Mr. Amr  Elalfy , Chief Business officer at NBK – Egypt, said: “We are very proud with the launch of various kinds of global Mastercard cards, which are deemed among the most popular cards around the world as they carry several advantages for a distinctive segment of bank customers, especially customers who want to travel, whether for tourism or to take advantage of high-end exclusive promotions offered by their unique Mastercard cards, as well as enjoying safe banking transactions with the “smart chip” technology away from the risk of having a card lost or stolen since it is easy to get a replacement card anywhere in the world”.

He added that the launch of NBK – Egypt Mastercard cards comes as part of the Bank's exclusive electronic services designed to meet the needs and requirements of all of the Bank’s customers in line with NBK’s regional and international position.

In turn, Mr. Magdy Hassan, General Manager Egypt and North Africa – Mastercard, said: “In light of the ongoing change in consumers’ behaviors and spending patterns, Mastercard recognizes the importance of providing modern customers with fast, convenient and secure way to pay and that matches their lifestyles. Our partnership with the National Bank of Kuwait not only brings value to cardholders regardless of their location while complementing their bespoke needs, but the newly introduced cards also provide distinct facilities and attractive offers with a view to encourage more individuals to adopt digital payment”.

NBK – Egypt is a subsidiary of NBK Group. It was founded in Egypt in 1980 under the name of the National Bank of Egypt. Its network of branches spreads to key areas in governorates and cities including Cairo, Giza, Alexandria, the Delta, Sinai, the Red Sea and Upper Egypt, as well as industrial areas such as the city of the Sixth of October and the Tenth of Ramadan. It is also one of the few banks in the Egyptian market that has an Islamic license in addition to the conventional license. It has two Islamic branches which allow the Bank to offer Sharia’a-compliant products as well as traditional products.

The National Bank of Kuwait, established in 1952 as the oldest national bank and financial institution in the State of Kuwait and the Arabian Gulf region, is one of the largest and most prominent Arab banks and it has the highest credit rating in the Middle East. The global agencies Moody's, Standard & Poor's, and Fitch unanimously confirm the robustness of its financial indicators, the quality of its high assets, its strong capitalization, the experience of its management, the clarity of its strategic vision and the availability of a stable funding base. The National Bank of Kuwait also maintains its position among the top 50 safest banks in the world for the twelfth consecutive year. NBK Group today has the largest network of local and international branches, reaching 153 branches and subsidiaries covering four continents around the world and spread across the United States of America, Europe, the Gulf States, the Middle East, China and Singapore.

Egypt: NBK–Egypt Reports Net Profit of EGP 8.09 Billion (Equivalent to KWD 51.24 million) for FY2025

National Bank of Kuwait – Egypt (NBK-Egypt) recorded net profit of EGP 8.09 billion (Equivalent to KWD 51.24 million) in FY2025, up from EGP 7.27 billion (Equivalent to KWD 51.87 million) in FY2024, representing year-on-year growth of 11.3%.

Net Operating Income stood at EGP 16 billion in FY2025, representing a significant increase of 18.4% from EGP 13.5 billion in FY2024. Net Interest Income grew by 18.5%, reaching EGP 13.7 billion compared with EGP 11.6 billion in FY2024. Net Operating Income (excluding interest) rose to EGP 2.3 billion in FY2025 from EGP 1.9 billion in FY2024, an increase of 18%. Income from financial investments increased to EGP 53 million from EGP 31 million in the prior year, marking growth of 70%, while the Cost-to-Net Operating Income ratio stood at 25.4% in FY2025. 

Total assets expanded to EGP 225 billion by the end of FY2025, representing growth of 14.7% from EGP 196 billion at year-end 2024. Total loans and credit facilities increased to EGP 121 billion, rising 17.4% from EGP 103 billion. Customer deposits also recorded solid growth, reaching EGP 180 billion compared with EGP 160 billion in the prior year, an increase of 12.7%.  In the meantime, The ratio of operating income to total net income stood at 85.4% in FY2025, compared to 85.6% in the corresponding period of 2024.

Profitability indicators remained robust, with Return on Average Assets (ROAA) at 3.8% and Return on Average Equity (ROAE) at 30.7%.

Commenting on the financial results announced by NBK-Egypt, Ms. Shaikha Al-Bahar, Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer, National Bank of Kuwait, and Chairman of NBK-Egypt, said: “The strong growth in NBK-Egypt’s profitability and business performance at the end of 2025 reflects the resilience of our financial position and the flexibility of our business model to generate earnings and deliver sustainable growth, despite ongoing operational challenges.”

Al-Bahar explained that the financial results achieved by NBK-Egypt in 2025 once again validate the Group’s strategic vision since entering the Egyptian market in 2007, while highlighting the substantial opportunities and long-term potential offered by this promising market.

“NBK Group views the Egyptian market as a long-term strategic investment. Egypt represents one of the largest economies in the region and a core growth market in which we remain committed to expanding our presence. We regard it as the Group’s second domestic market,” Al-Bahar added.

She emphasized that NBK-Egypt continues to rank among the most profitable operations within the Group, delivering some of the strongest returns on equity and assets.

Furthermore, Al-Bahar highlighted that NBK-Egypt, the largest Kuwaiti investment in Egypt, has established a clear footprint within the country’s banking sector, positioning itself among the fastest-growing banks. She added that financial indicators confirm the Bank remains on the right trajectory toward further expansion and strengthening its market share.

Al-Bahar underscored that Egypt’s economic landscape continues to strengthen, supported by far-reaching reform initiatives and resolute policy actions advanced by both the government and the Central Bank of Egypt. These measures are reinforcing macroeconomic stability and unlocking compelling avenues for investment, expansion, and long-term value creation. She expressed firm conviction in the Egyptian economy’s resilience and its promising trajectory.

Meanwhile, Vice Chairman, CEO, and Managing Director of National Bank of Kuwait-Egypt, Mr. Yasser El-Tayeb, said: “Nothing illustrates the Bank’s strength more clearly than its robust financial results and performance metrics, underscoring its capacity to sustain growth and deliver solid outcomes in 2025 despite a challenging local and global operating environment.” 

El-Tayeb noted that NBK-Egypt continues to achieve balanced growth across all business segments while maintaining efficiency levels and risk metrics consistent with both growth objectives and long-term sustainability. He attributed this performance to the Bank’s prudent strategic approach and its disciplined business model, which enables it to respond to client needs with a high degree of flexibility.

El-Tayeb noted that the majority of NBK–Egypt’s income is derived from credit operations within the Corporate Banking segment, alongside Retail Banking, with its role expanding significantly in recent years. The Bank’s credit portfolio demonstrates broad diversification across its corporate client base, encompassing large, medium, and small enterprises, while its retail portfolio similarly spans a wide spectrum of customer segments. This diversification underscores the resilience and depth of the Bank’s income streams. 

He affirmed that the Bank aims to further strengthen its position in the retail banking sector in the period ahead by offering advanced products and services tailored to the needs of diverse customer segments, reinforcing its positioning as a comprehensive financial partner capable of meeting their full range of financial requirements. The Bank also continues to expand its Islamic banking services to serve a broad client base, consistently enhancing its product offering. NBK-Egypt remains among the leading institutions in the Egyptian market providing Islamic banking services and products alongside its conventional banking solutions.

El-Tayeb further noted that, in recognition of the pivotal role technological tools and electronic channels play in the banking sector, and their importance in strengthening competitive positioning, NBK-Egypt has actively accelerated the expansion of its digital banking services, committing substantial investments to this domain. These efforts aim to deliver a distinctive banking experience that enables customers to conduct most of their transactions anytime and anywhere. More broadly, the Bank continues to encourage clients to expand their use of electronic payment channels, in alignment with the public policy direction of the Egyptian government and the Central Bank of Egypt.

He added that NBK-Egypt is committed to supporting the global shift toward sustainable finance and the transition to a green economy by backing environmentally responsible projects that promote sustainability and greater reliance on renewable energy. The Bank also evaluates solutions designed to mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change and reduce carbon emissions, recognizing sustainable finance as a critical mechanism for safeguarding long-term financial stability.

Addressing the Bank’s corporate social responsibility, El-Tayeb stated that since NBK Group’s entry into the Egyptian market in 2007, NBK-Egypt has remained dedicated to fulfilling its role in serving the community through contributions, donations, and support extended to a wide range of charitable initiatives. The Bank has also established partnerships with credible and active civil society organizations, empowering them to serve as effective implementation partners in advancing its community development agenda.

Egypt: NBK Egypt Provides $115 Million Financing for Safaga Terminal Project

Reinforcing its leadership in advancing Egypt’s sustainable economic development agenda, National Bank of Kuwait – Egypt (NBK-Egypt) continues to strengthen its role as a leading financial partner in the financing of strategic national projects. In this context, the Bank has entered into a $115 million financing agreement in collaboration with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to support the development of Noatum Ports – Safaga Terminal in Egypt.

This financing aligns with the Bank’s commitment to supporting national projects that deliver sustainable long-term economic impact. These initiatives are instrumental in advancing logistics infrastructure, improving the efficiency of Egypt’s port network, and consolidating the country’s strategic position as a regional hub for global trade and supply chains.

This financing was supported by IFC, with participation from NBK – Egypt through a long-term syndicated loan with a tenor of up to 15 years. This reflects the confidence of international and regional financial institutions in the strength of the Egyptian economy, the quality of project execution, and their capacity to generate sustainable economic and developmental returns. It also underscores confidence in the operational capabilities of AD Ports Group and highlights Egypt’s strategic role within global trade and supply chain networks.

The financing has secured all required approvals, and financial close is expected during the first quarter of 2026.

Egypt’s Economic Growth

Mr. Yasser El-Tayeb, Vice Chairman, CEO and Managing Director of NBK – Egypt, stated that the Bank’s participation in this significant financing reflects its strategic commitment to its role as an active development partner in supporting the national economy, emphasizing that financing major national projects represents a central pillar of the Bank’s strategic direction.

He added that port development and logistics infrastructure projects constitute a key driver of economic growth due to their direct impact on stimulating foreign trade activity, enhancing the competitiveness of the Egyptian economy, and creating sustainable employment opportunities. Ports in particular represent one of the most critical components of such projects, given their contribution to expanding external trade flows and supporting the state’s plans to maximize the benefits of Egypt’s unique geographic location as one of the most important logistics hubs along the Red Sea.

Moreover, El-Tayeb emphasized that long-tenor financing extended by the banking sector serves as a decisive catalyst in translating development strategies into operational projects with real economic impact, reflecting the approach embraced by leading international banking institutions in advancing national economic development.

The Bank’s Strength and Expertise  

In the meantime, Mr. Walid El- Seyoufi, Deputy Managing Director of NBK – Egypt, affirmed that the Bank’s success in arranging and participating in financing of this scale reflects the strength of its financial position and its proven expertise in funding major strategic projects, as well as its ability to deliver integrated financing solutions aligned with national priorities and development plans.

He noted that the project represents a qualitative addition to the Bank’s financing portfolio given its contribution to supporting Egypt Vision 2030 through enhancing infrastructure efficiency, stimulating investment, improving productivity, and generating direct and indirect employment opportunities, thereby contributing to inclusive and sustainable economic growth.

El-Seyoufi added that the Safaga Terminal constitutes a strategically significant project due to its role in supporting trade flows across the Red Sea and connecting regional and international markets. This aligns with the direction of global financial institutions toward supporting infrastructure initiatives that deliver broad economic impact.

He further noted that the Noatum Ports – Safaga Terminal project is valued at approximately $200 million. The terminal is located on Egypt’s Red Sea coast and represents the first international maritime terminal in Upper Egypt, providing additional developmental significance from both economic and geographic perspectives.

Sustainable Finance

Mr. Ahmed El-Shall, Head of Corporate and Syndication at NBK – Egypt, stated that the Bank’s participation in this financing underscores its confidence in the project’s economic viability, as well as its commitment to supporting projects that incorporate environmental and sustainability considerations, in line with global banking best practices.

El-Shall explained that the Bank follows a clear strategy focused on financing infrastructure and sustainable development projects, which international experience has shown to be among the most important drivers of long-term economic growth. He further noted that this transaction is not the first of its kind, as the Bank has previously participated in financing several major national projects across multiple sectors, including the expansion of Damietta Port, the Tahya Misr multipurpose terminal at Alexandria Port, Abu Qir Port, the Max Port breakwaters, and the development of Sokhna Port, in addition to other infrastructure projects in the electricity, energy, roads, and related sectors. He added that several additional large-scale projects are currently under review, which the Bank is seeking to finance.

Furthermore, El-Shall affirmed that the banking sector plays an increasingly critical role in directing investments toward sectors with the greatest developmental impact, a role undertaken by leading global financial institutions through supporting strategic projects that contribute to inclusive development and improvements in quality of life.