Best bank 2025: Bank of Palestine
Bank of Palestine (BoP) stands as the leading financial institution in Palestine, renowned for its resilience, innovation and commitment to inclusive economic development.
With a 35% market share and the largest banking network in the country, BoP leads in SME lending, digital banking and financial inclusion. Despite significant challenges, including the ongoing Gaza conflict, BoP maintains robust liquidity, high asset quality and consistent operational performance.
Established in 1960, BoP has evolved into a forward-thinking institution with a diversified shareholder base that includes global entities such as the International Finance Corporation, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and regional investors.
It operates with strong governance principles – demonstrated by 50% gender equality on its board – and a firm commitment to ESG and sustainability. The bank is also the largest provider of financial services to underserved populations, with pioneering initiatives in youth, women’s inclusion and the unbanked, including Gaza.
BoP’s digital leadership is evident through its fintech ventures, e-wallet services, and partnerships with international organisations, including the UN. It is the first bank in the region to provide end-to-end digital solutions aimed at economic empowerment, particularly in post-conflict recovery.
The bank’s regional expansion into the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan showcases its strategic vision to serve the global Palestinian population of 20 million with an estimated net worth of up to $1 trillion. Its venture capital support, innovation hubs and youth empowerment programmes further distinguish it as a catalyst for Palestine’s digital future.
BoP’s award-winning performance, including recognition by the Financial Times for digital and financial inclusion, reinforces its leadership status.
Best bank for corporate responsibility 2025: Bank of Palestine
Bank of Palestine has demonstrated exceptional corporate responsibility in 2024 through its substantial humanitarian response to the crisis in Gaza, implementing targeted relief programmes while leveraging its financial infrastructure to maximise impact.
The bank’s flagship initiative, launched in partnership with Taawon Foundation, is the Noor Orphans Programme, which supports 20,000 children orphaned by the conflict. Bank of Palestine has committed $1.75 million annually to this programme, with a long-term investment of $31.5 million over 18 years, contributing to a total programme budget of $377 million.
Beyond this cornerstone commitment, the bank has delivered a comprehensive portfolio of humanitarian interventions addressing urgent needs. These include providing winterisation support for 1,135 families, distributing hearing aids to 300 children with disabilities, and delivering cash assistance to 350 families through the bank’s own Palpay platform. Additionally, 386 patients from Gaza receiving treatment in West Bank, East Jerusalem and Jordanian hospitals benefited from direct financial support.
Bank of Palestine’s response extends to improving living conditions in displacement centres, with the installation of 20 water, sanitation and hygiene units serving approximately 800 families, and the distribution of 1,200 hygiene kits to internally displaced persons. Recognising the importance of psychosocial wellbeing, the bank supported recreational activities benefiting 17,000 children and women across seven UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) schools in Rafah and Khan Younis.
The scale of the bank’s food security interventions is particularly notable, with the distribution of 13,000 food packages and drinking water supplies, alongside the provision of over 1.45 million hot meals for people in non-UNRWA shelters. Approximately 75,000 individuals benefited from drinking water interventions.
Looking beyond immediate relief, Bank of Palestine has maintained its commitment to economic resilience by supporting 37 startups and entrepreneurs through its Rise and SAFE programmes, with a particular focus on Gaza’s innovation sector.
The bank has effectively leveraged partnerships to extend its impact, collaborating with international organisations including the UN World Food Programme, Save the Children and American Near East Refugee Aid, contributing $2.3 million to joint initiatives that reached approximately 1.74 million beneficiaries. Bank of Palestine also harnessed its digital banking platform, enabling clients to make direct donations totalling over $73,000 to organisations operating in Gaza’s relief sector.
This comprehensive approach to corporate responsibility, combining substantial direct investment, strategic partnerships and innovative use of banking infrastructure, demonstrates Bank of Palestine’s commitment to addressing both immediate humanitarian needs and supporting longer-term recovery efforts.
Best digital bank 2025: Arab Bank
Arab Bank has distinguished itself through exemplary leadership in weaving digital technology into every facet of its service, elevating both customer experience and financial inclusion in Palestine.
By simplifying once cumbersome procedures, the bank’s transformation agenda has created smooth, intuitive journeys for customers. New digital platforms emphasise speed and accessibility, drawing strong adoption across the region and presenting a full spectrum of services – from everyday transactions to sophisticated financial operations – through sleek, state-of-the-art interfaces.
Security underpins this progress. Continuous upgrades to cybersecurity frameworks underscore Arab Bank’s commitment to safeguarding customer data, reinforcing trust and setting an industry benchmark.
Equally forward-looking is the deployment of artificial intelligence, which not only streamlines internal processes but also tailors interactions to individual needs, further enhancing service quality and positioning the bank as a regional trailblazer.
Beyond commercial success, Arab Bank channels its digital investments into socially focused programmes, crafting innovative solutions for underserved communities and broadening the reach of digital banking.
