UBL's NRP banking now brings overseas Pakistanis closer
United Bank Limited (UBL) is a full-fledged commercial bank with a proud legacy of serving its customers for the last 57 years. Established in 1959, UBL was the second international bank to start banking operations in Abu Dhabi in 1967. Currently, it has eight branches in the UAE - three in Abu Dhabi, one in Al Ain, three in Dubai and one in Sharjah. All branches provide full banking services during extended evening hours until 9pm on all seven days of the week.
The bank has an asset base of approximately $10 billion, a global workforce of almost 18,000 people and a diversified client base of over five million covering a broad spectrum of segments and industries across the globe. UBL provides a complete array of services in wholesale and retail banking through its network of more than 1,350 branches and presence across 11 countries including the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Yemen, UK, Switzerland, China, Oman, US, Tanzania and Pakistan.
Following UBL's
privatisation in 2002, a professional management team, supported by an independent board of directors succeeded in positioning the bank as a progressive and proficient player in its targeted markets. UBL is owned by the Bestway Group of UK with Sir Mohammed Anwar Pervez, OBE HPk as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the bank. While corporate banking is its mainstay in the UAE, UBL's wholesale banking ambit includes a strong focus on financial institutions business, investment banking and treasury services as well as holding strategic interests in Insurance, Asset Management and SMEs.
Its corporate slogan "where you come first" speaks for itself and is the underlying principle based on which it strives to build its internal and external service culture. UBL endeavours to proactively maintain pace with the rapid changes and demands of the industry, and continuously invests in its people, infrastructure and technology. In an effort to provide convenience and extended banking support to its customers, the bank has recently taken the initiative to open all of its eight branches in the UAE from 5pm till 9pm, all days of the week - its journey to achieve excellence in various aspects of business and service quality continues.
One achievement that UBL is particularly proud of is its pioneering initiative of financial inclusion in Pakistan, a country of 180 million people. This has been achieved through its branchless banking service called Omni, which won the Global Mobile Award (GSMA) in 2012. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation was impressed by UBL's use of mobile banking technology in distributing aid to flood victims in Pakistan. It extended a grant of $6.9 million to further scale up its UBL Omni electronic service platform. Asiamoney, a prestigious financial publication, declared UBL as the best Domestic Bank of Pakistan for two consecutive years in 2011 and 2012, while The Banker magazine, another widely read and notable financial publication, awarded it the "Bank of the Year 2012 Pakistan", and at the 16th Asian Brand Congress, UBL received the Brand Leadership Award for brand excellence in its international network.
In 2013-14, UBL achieved the coveted ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management System Certification for its management and support offices, branches and operations in the UAE, Bahrain and Qatar. The UKAS certification was awarded by M/s. Intertek, a world-renowned ISO certification body. Over the years, UBL in the UAE has been sponsoring a significant number of young Emiratis at EIBFS. After the completion of their diplomas, UBL integrates and inducts young Emiratis in its mainstream banking activities. This bears testimony to the bank's commitment towards local and international communities in geographies in which the bank operates.