Muscat: ahlibank’s resilient fourth quarter performance for the year 2022 received a thumping response from branch managers at its recently concluded Retail Banking Meeting, held to review the Bank’s retail performance and explore newer avenues to enhance customer experience. 

The meeting underscored the significant all-round growth witnessed by the Bank during the last quarter, with the net profit for the period ending 31st December 2022 growing by 19.9% to reach RO 33.1 million, compared to the corresponding period in 2021. This growth has been commensurate with the sustained growth witnessed by the Bank’s branches throughout the year. 

Branch managers, partaking in the retail meet, highlighted their joint efforts to augment the growth parameters and achieve the set targets for the year. Retail performance discussions also explored the importance of enhancing customers’ experiences by meeting their everyday banking needs with convenience and ease through the network of branches established in all major governorates of the country.

Speaking on the sidelines of the meeting, Muneer Al Balushi, AGM – Head of Retail Distribution, ahlibank, commended the role played by individual branches in shaping the outcome of the fourth quarter results. He said, “Our exemplary retail performance will set the tone for the current year, as we expect to make good on our initiatives and plans with our team of professionals helming the network of 23 branches in the country. We have established our enhanced presence through our branches, which are engaged in implementing ahlibank’s mission of exceeding customer expectations and delivering outstanding shareholder value through a suite of retail, commercial, investment banking solutions.”

He threw the spotlight on the Bank’s e-channels, which have shaped, in no small way, the changing tide of the banking sector in the country and helped drive the government’s Vision 2040 for a digital society. Explaining further, he said: “We will continue to forge ahead with our robust digitalization journey, engaging with our savvy customers to exceed their expectations with newer and innovative products and services. We believe in change management to adapt to the global trends that have brought about newer and more advanced technological solutions into the financial and banking sector. We are assured in the knowledge that the year 2023 will set a new paradigm for growth; we will continue to invest our resources to enhance our customer-centric approach to banking and develop our key performance indicators to lead the industry from the front.”  

The interactive session also analyzed the Bank’s credit risk management as well as complaints management and the attending branch managers discussed operational plans so as to take advantage of the current sustained growth and prep up for any global economic slowdown by delivering innovative products and services. Finally, the meeting culminated with a round of awards for top performing branches.