Amana Bank bags ‘Best Islamic Bank’ award for second consecutive year

Sri Lanka’s flag bearer for Islamic banking, Amana Bank was honoured with the title ‘Best Islamic Bank in Sri Lanka’ for the second consecutive year at the recently-concluded Islamic Finance News Awards held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The awards, which are based on a global poll held in 2012, was conducted by the Malaysia-based RedMoney Group and recognises the best providers of Islamic financial services across the global markets which also includes ‘World’s Best Islamic Bank,’ ‘Best Islamic Bank by Country,’ ‘Best Central Bank’ and ‘Best Islamic Banking Deals for the Year’. The poll takes an unbiased, transparent and all-encompassing approach in selecting the best Islamic banking service providers in the world.

Commenting on this achievement, Amana Bank’s Managing Director/CEO Faizal Salieh said: “This win confirms our steadfast commitment and leadership in growing the Islamic banking industry in Sri Lanka. The global award comes at a time when Amana Bank is expanding and strengthening its country-wide presence and service offerings. Amidst many financial institutions entering the industry, we continue to receive strong local and international acclamation. I would like to sincerely thank all our customers, strategic shareholders and employees for supporting the growth of the bank which has enabled us emerge winners at the Islamic Finance News poll.”

Bank Islam Berhad of Malaysia won the ‘Best Islamic Bank in Malaysia’ award. Bank Islam is a strategic shareholder in Amana Bank and is its main technical partner in Sri Lanka.

Amana Bank is the first Licensed Commercial Bank in Sri Lanka which fully functions on the principles of Islamic banking. Powered by the stability and the support of its strategic shareholders Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad, the Islamic development bank based in Saudi Arabia and AB Bank in Bangladesh, the bank is making an aggressive journey in the Sri Lankan banking industry.

While already being the market leader in Sharia-based banking, Amana Bank is focused on capitalising on the growing market potential for this unique banking concept among all communities in the country.