Bahrain retail banking,  National Bank of Bahrain (NBB) - CEO, Abdul Razak Al Qassim

The ideas of Bahrain retail Banking are deeply embedded in the culture of Bahrain. National Bank of Bahrain has  focused on Bahrain retail Banking and personal banking which is the backbone of National Bank of Bahrain. The challenge in  Bahrain retail Banking is delivering the service and delivering the product to customers and being better than the rest.  National Bank of Bahrain has continuously strived to meet the needs of our customers in the shortest possible time.

 Gulf Finance House Investment Bank in Bahrain, Head of Private Equity at Gulf Finance House, Nabeel Kazerooni

We have a very good brand name, in the past we have been very good to our customers and have had fantastic results that, compared to other institutions, are far better.

Gulf Finance House Investment Bank in Bahrain, Head of Asset Management at Gulf Finance House, Alan Durrant

We don't just want to put capital into companies in the west; we also want to bring know-how and technology to benefit the people of the region.

  Ithmaar Bank, Islamic Investment Bank in Bahrain, CEO, Michael P. Lee

I think that because of the past experiences of some of our investment professionals at Ithmaar Bank that have been involved in infrastructure funds and the Islamic development bank infrastructure fund (the first fund for this region) that both this group as an investor and then some of the people actually at the fund manager before coming to Ithmaar bank.

Elaf Bank, New Islamic Investment Bank in Bahrain, CEO, Dr. Jamil El Jaroudi

First of all, Elaf Bank is lucky that we are a new bank, so Elaf Bank's portfolio was fresh and most of it happened to be in new products. We are not affected. But our problem would be that we have so many good projects in the pipeline and if I cannot place it then like anybody else I will face a recession in my operations and business. Placing these deals is how we make our profits and revenue. If this persists as a long-term economic slowness, Elaf Bank, like any other bank, would be affected.   

BNP Paribas Bahrain, Regional Director, Jean-Christophe Durand

We are one of the few international banks to have its headquarters for the Middle East here. That was a decision made years ago because BNP Paribas was in the region for 35 years.

First Leasing Bank in Bahrain CEO, Greg Brinkerhoff

First Leasing Bank (“FLB”) closely monitors its lender liabilities and lessee assets for positive signs from either side of our balance sheet – the bank has neither seen a total meltdown nor clear signs of recovery. 

Dr. Ala’a Al-Yousuf, Chief Economist of Gulf Finance House
Bahrain economy is expected to slow sharply in 2009 to 3% after growing by 8.1% and 5.7% in 2007 and 2008 respectively, as regional growth moderates and government finances are squeezed.

Vahan Zanoyan, CEO of 1st Energy Bank
The time for an energy-focused bank, investment or financial institution especially is definitely the best time right now.