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SNB Begins Transferring Customers’ Accounts to New Bank

Saudi National Bank (SNB) (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi National Bank (SNB) (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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SNB Begins Transferring Customers’ Accounts to New Bank

Saudi National Bank (SNB) (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi National Bank (SNB) (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Samba Financial Group, which recently merged with the National Commercial Bank, began transferring customers' accounts to the new National Bank of Saudi Arabia, sources told Asharq Al-Awsat.

The transfer will be done gradually, and it will not affect the customer’s operations, as all clients will be contacted regarding their accounts and the monthly wages of employees.

Asharq Al-Awsat learned that Samba Financial Group informed its clients of the procedure. The group will contact them upon the transfer completion to start activating their accounts following simple steps online or by visiting the nearest SNB branch. They will then receive a ‘Mada” card which will be activated via SMS.

Last year, the Saudi National Commercial Bank (NCB) and Samba Financial Group (Samba) announced the completion of the biggest merger in the Middle East to create a new Saudi banking champion and a regional powerhouse, Saudi National Bank (SNB).

Saudi National Bank is the largest bank in Saudi Arabia with a 30 percent market share across all metrics. It has over $239 billion in total assets, $34 billion in shareholders’ equity, and a combined net profit of $4.2 billion.

The new bank began trading as a single listed entity on the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul) on April 1, while Samba shares had been de-listed, and all its assets, liabilities, and operations transferred into the Saudi National Bank, which will continue to honor Samba’s obligations going forward.

It is noteworthy that the Saudi National Bank appointed Ammar al-Khudairy as chairman and Yazeed al-Humied as vice chairman of the new company’s board.

The decision also included the appointment of Saeed al-Ghamdi as Managing Director and CEO of the Bank.

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World Bank Warns of Long-Term Fallout from Regional Conflict

 A man walks carrying shopping bags in a local market in downtown Riyadh (AFP). 
 A man walks carrying shopping bags in a local market in downtown Riyadh (AFP). 
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World Bank Warns of Long-Term Fallout from Regional Conflict

 A man walks carrying shopping bags in a local market in downtown Riyadh (AFP). 
 A man walks carrying shopping bags in a local market in downtown Riyadh (AFP). 

Amid mounting geopolitical tensions and growing economic uncertainty, the World Bank has warned that any conflict in the Middle East, particularly between Israel and Iran, could have far-reaching and negative consequences for the region and beyond.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat on the sidelines of the launch of the World Bank’s latest economic update for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Safaa El Tayeb El-Kogali, the Bank’s Regional Director for the GCC, stated: “Any conflict, especially in this region, can have long-lasting and adverse effects.” She noted that the fallout is not limited to energy markets alone, but also includes rising shipping costs, heightened inflationary pressures, and increased investor uncertainty.

While the World Bank’s latest report, which was released on June 1, does not reflect the most recent escalation in the region, El-Kogali emphasized that it is “still too early to fully assess the impact of the ongoing conflict.” She warned, however, that in such volatile conditions, investors tend to adopt a “wait-and-see” approach, delaying decisions until clarity and stability return.

Despite challenges in the energy market, El-Kogali highlighted the resilience of the Gulf economies, thanks to sustained efforts toward economic diversification. In 2024, while the oil sector contracted by 3% due to OPEC+ production cuts, non-oil sectors grew by 3.7%, helping drive overall GDP growth to 1.8% — a notable recovery from 0.3% in 2023.

The World Bank projects the GCC economies will grow by 3.2% in 2025 and 4.5% in 2026, supported by easing oil production cuts and continued strength in non-oil sectors. However, El-Kogali stressed that these projections remain vulnerable to global trade volatility, oil price swings, and the evolving regional security landscape.

To mitigate risks, she urged Gulf countries to accelerate structural reforms, reduce dependency on oil, and boost intra-regional trade. Growth, she added, will also benefit from steady contributions from exports, investment, and domestic consumption.

El-Kogali emphasized that short-term risks include reduced export demand, oil market fluctuations, and regional instability affecting tourism and investor sentiment. Over the long term, threats such as low productivity growth, slow economic transformation, and over-reliance on fossil fuels could hinder progress.

She concluded by recommending fiscal diversification, tax reforms, and stronger regional trade links to create more resilient and adaptive Gulf economies.