First Abu Dhabi Bank branches close for system overhaul

All branches of a UAE bank formed after a merger between two of the country’s biggest financial institutions are to close for several days to allow a system overhaul to be completed.

First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) branches – created from the link-up between First Gulf Bank and National Bank of Abu Dhabi – will be closed from Friday, November 30, reopening on Tuesday, December 4, while a service integration is completed.

Most banking services will be unavailable during this period – but people will be able to use credit and debit cards to make purchases and cash withdrawals, the bank said in a message sent out to customers.

All incoming and outgoing payments, remittances and standing orders due during this time will be processed after the integration work has been completed.

Customers who will need to make payments during this period – such as the payment of bills – are urged to make them by November 29.

The bank has revealed that there will be some changes made to customer accounts after the integration has been completed, which will be shared with those affected after December 4.

They will include a new customer ID, account numbers and IBAN and, for some customers, there may be a change to how their name is shown on their account.

Customers with queries or concerns can call the bank on 800 40000.

FGB and NBAD combined to become First Abu Dhabi Bank after the completion of a long-awaited merger in April.

First Abu Dhabi Bank has assets in excess of Dh670 billion – making it the UAE’s biggest bank and the second largest in the Middle East.

Changes may include new account numbers, IDs and a change to how a customer’s name is shown on the account