Ajman, UAE; December 18, 2011: Ajman Bank announced today that its Mahra ladies banking division has won the “Best Branding” award at the Islamic Business & Finance Awards. The accolade was presented to Asad Batla, Group Head of Retail Banking, and Maryam Al Shorafa, Head of Ladies Banking at Ajman Bank, during a ceremony in Dubai.

 

Now in its sixth year, the Islamic Business & Finance Awards highlight, encourage and reward the exceptional performance and growth of the international Islamic business and finance community, and is widely considered as a benchmark of excellence in the industry.

 

Ajman Bank was recognised for its innovative Mahra ladies banking concept. Launched in June 2011, Mahra, which is Arabic for filly, is designed to meet the professional requirements and lifestyle needs of women across the UAE.

 

Mahra customers receive a range of benefits, including a Mahra Debit Card, which provides discounts at high-end retail outlets, restaurants, hotels and resorts; unlimited access to health and fitness facilities at Ladies Clubs in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah; and free valet parking at leading venues across the UAE. Beyond these instant rewards, Ajman Bank has dedicated sections to serve female customers in exclusive areas of select branches.

 

Mubashar H. Khokhar, Chief Executive Officer, Ajman Bank, said: “Mahra is a further example of Ajman Bank’s commitment to changing the experience of Islamic banking in the UAE. We identified a clear need in the market for financial services that recognise the changing role of women in our society. Mahra meets the need by offering women a world of benefits and rewards, supported by a world-class customer service experience.”

 

Maryam Al Shorafa said: “The Mahra brand takes full account of the increasingly dynamic role of women in the UAE, who are now fully empowered financial decision-makers. As the role of women continues to evolve, Mahra is the perfect partner in their journey, whether it is handling their transactions or rewarding them through benefits and discounts.”

 

The Islamic Business & Finance Award is the latest accolade received by the bank in 2011. In March, the bank’s home finance product was named the region’s best at the 2011 Banker Middle East Product Awards. This was followed in October by being named the “Best Small Bank” at the 2011 Bank Benchmark Index Awards.

 

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Ajman Bank is a young, agile Islamic commercial bank built on the values of integrity, trust and transparency. The bank provides a wide range of value-driven banking services in the UAE for individual, business and government clients, all in compliance with Shariah principles. Ajman Bank seeks out the market’s best products, people and technology in order to deliver what customers want, how they want it, delivering real value and recreating that human touch lost in modern banking.

 

Headquartered in Ajman and strongly supported by its government, Ajman Bank is the keystone of the emirate’s economic development strategy and is in a position to benefit from its growth and potential like no other. Ajman Bank is committed to becoming a sustainable organisation in its truest sense, balancing care for the community and employees with the business of delivering value to its shareholders and customers.