Doha, 21 June 2010 – IBQ announced today the start of its summer internship programme open to high school and undergraduate students in Qatar. Students will be enrolled across the different divisions of the bank and will be mentored in the different activities including retail, corporate, treasury, credit, corporate communications and HR.

IBQ’ summer internship programme underlines the bank’s commitment to the education of young people in the country by offering the opportunity for students to gain and master first-hand, real work experience in banking and finance.

IBQ has been successfully running the summer internship programme for 5 consecutive years in line with the bank’s other education and training commitments including its home-grown Qatari Development Programme, further education scholarship funds in addition to a range of in-house training programmes in leadership and other business skills.

The 2009 season of IBQ’s summer internship programme attracted over 40 eager students from across the nation who rotated the various departments of the bank.

Amal Al Sada, Head of HR at IBQ said: “As a leading institution in Qatar, IBQ is pro-actively focused on spearheading and spreading long-term educational and awareness programmes for the welfare of the community and with a particular interest in young people. At IBQ, we are determined to build tailor-made programmes that will fill an educational need and boost the well-being of the community through engagement with its members. Our yearly summer internship programme, together with other internally developed programmes, is an example of the plethora of efforts and initiatives led by the bank to harness the enthusiasm and educational aspirations of young people in Qatar.”

“As a conscious corporate citizen, we have a vested interest in building a productive and a knowledge-based economy as we firmly believe that nurturing young talent is the cornerstone of success for our business and other corporate organizations. At IBQ, we aspire to be not only the Bank of Choice in Qatar but also an Employer of Choice.”

Doha, May 12, 2010: The International Bank of Qatar (IBQ), a leading private bank that has been operating in Qatar since 1956, confirmed today that it is in very preliminary discussions with Al Khaliji (QE: KCBK), regarding a potential merger of the operations of the two Doha-based financial institutions.

Any agreement in this regard is subject to approval from the relevant government and regulatory authorities in Qatar, as well as the shareholders of both banks.

A senior IBQ spokesperson confirmed that the discussions remain at a very preliminary stage and that there is no guarantee that the merger will take place.

Further information in this regard will be provided as and when it becomes available.

Doha, April 10, 2010: IBQ announced today a unique promotion in partnership with Qatar Airways, the world’s 5-star airline, which will allow IBQ customers the opportunity to travel to the destination of their choice around the world.

In keeping with the bank’s objectives of being the Bank of Choice in Qatar and guaranteeing its customers the very best in service and rewards, all customers who transfer their salary to IBQ and also take one of three products – either a credit card, vehicle loan or personal loan – will be rewarded with a Qatar Airways ticket to some of the most exciting destinations around the world. The promotion will start on 11th April and run until the 31st of May and is the first time that IBQ and Qatar Airways has joined hands in a unique experience which combines banking and airline excellence.

“Our innovative promotion means that our customers – both existing and new – are given choices and rewards at every moment they are with IBQ, making it a unique and rewarding banking experience,” said Philip King, Assistant General Manager of Retail Banking at IBQ. “This partnership with Qatar Airways is a remarkable asset to our customer service experience, and these travel tickets offer something which no one in the marketplace is able to match. We are proud to be the bank of choice in Qatar, helping serve our customers here and beyond.” 

Customers who transfer their salary during the promotion period and opt for a credit card will have the choice of a ticket to anywhere in the GCC region. Meanwhile, a salary transfer plus vehicle loan option means a ticket to the Middle East, India and the Subcontinent with 30 destinations to pick from. A salary transfer with a personal loan will offer customers an incredible opportunity to fly to Europe, the Far East or Africa covering over 70 routes.

Each customer has the option of nominating a family member or a friend to avail of this offer. Terms and conditions include the salary transfer above QAR 10,000 per month, a vehicle loan above QAR 75,000 and a personal loan of QAR 100,000 and above.

Furthermore, existing customers who only hold one product may take on a new product from the above and be entitled to the offer. While, existing customers with a salary transfer already at the bank who take on one of the 3 products will be entered into an automatic draw to win one of ten fully paid travel packages including airfare and hotel accommodation.

“We at IBQ continue to provide our customers with a unique IBQ banking experience. In this promotion, air tickets and travel packages further enhance our customer service focus. We will continue to work towards upgrading this experience each time and offering the best rewards in the market,” King added. 

A voucher will be presented by IBQ to customers who fulfill the promotion criteria, which can then be taken to any Qatar Airways office to redeem the ticket to the destination of choice.

Doha, April 3, 2010: Football fans in Qatar will be offered the fantastic opportunity to witness the unrivalled passion and excitement of the FIFA World Cup Finals in South Africa on a live and exclusive basis as IBQ extends its customer service to cover the greatest football event in the world. Continuing to follow the goal of being the Bank of Choice in Qatar, IBQ will offer its Visa credit cardholders the opportunity to win an all expenses paid trip for two to Johannesburg, including match tickets to two World Cup games.

The draw for the winner will take place on May 5, with the promotion running through the entire month of April. IBQ Visa credit cardholders will be automatically entered into the draw for every purchase over QAR 1,000 on an IBQ Visa Platinum and IBQ Visa Infinite card.

“We are very proud of this exclusive opportunity we are offering our credit cardholders to see the greatest football event on the African continent the first time ever,” said Philip King, Assistant General Manager of Retail Banking at IBQ.

“Considering the outstanding football passion across Qatar, we feel this offer is a valuable and touchingly personal opportunity to pay back our customers for the loyalty they have shown to our bank throughout the years. I think it will have a very high resonance with our existing customers as well as with new credit card holders who will be interested in this exclusive opportunity to win match tickets to the World Cup finals. In this process they will get an idea of the exiting rewards of banking with IBQ,” King added.

The agreement between IBQ and VISA to produce a dream opportunity for many football fans across the country will come to a temporary climax on May 7, when the winners of the draw will be announced. There is no limit to the number of entries as every QAR 1,000 and above purchase offers an automatic entry opportunity into the grand draw.

The exciting experience only begins there for the draw winners, who will be flown to South Africa for the World Cup finals, which take place from June 11 to July 11 2010. The 5 day trip includes 4 nights’ accommodation on double occupancy, as well as daily breakfast, 2 pre-paid Visa cards worth $150 each, pre-match hospitality, and of course the tickets to the matches themselves. An optional sightseeing tour or Safari is also included in the package. 

“We will continue to look for new ways to enhance the IBQ customer experience and make your money reach further. In this case, we hope it reaches all the way to South Africa, for the football experience of a lifetime,” concluded King.

• Third phase of highly popular credit card promotion running through to July 31, 2010
• Third promotion in less than 4 months
• Offers of up to 50% across dining, travel, shopping and leisure activities in addition to 5% Cash Back
• New promotion in response to strong customer take up of all new cards

Doha, March 28, 2010: IBQ has today announced the launch of its third promotion under the merchant partner programme, and which comes after the outstanding success of the first two editions and offers impressive discounts and savings on dining, travel and shopping at some of the most exclusive shops and retailers in the country. The bank continues thereby to provide its customers the very best in cardholder experience, offering discounts for every taste and desire.

The promotion titled ‘Spring Festival’ will run from 15 March to 31 July 2010, making it the longest-running yet, whilst also offering some of the most spectacular offers to date. These are made up of exclusive discounts, deals and savings across a range of top brand names including five-star hotels hotels, furniture shops, retail shops, travel agencies, luxurious spas and exquisite restaurants.

“At IBQ, we are deeply committed to providing our customers with the highest and most rewarding returns in the market, and this has been reflected in the success of the merchant partner programme since its launch,” said Philip King, AGM - Retail Banking, IBQ. “In this third promotional phase we have forged exciting new partnerships and we are now offering our customers more valuable discounts so that they can truly enjoy the rewards of being an IBQ cardholder.”

Some of the most enticing packages on offer include 5% discounts on travel packages, tickets and accommodations, up to 50% discounts at top luxury hotels across Doha for room and weekend packages and across their selected restaurants, food outlets and spas among others. Furthermore, the third edition of the merchant programme has also been expanded to include up to 35% discounts and deals at a wide range of home and furniture shops and up to 30% discounts at brand retail shops. As with the first two promotions, the offers are in addition to the 5% cash back on all purchases.

Driven by its continuing focus on serving diverse customer needs, IBQ’s credit card range, including IBQ Gold MasterCard, IBQ Platinum Visa and IBQ Infinite Visa, has continued to grow robustly in month on month figures, with a huge increase in the uptake of all new credit cards.

“I believe we are well on our way to becoming the credit card of choice in Qatar. We are very encouraged by the strong growth in our customer base and the excellent response of our customers to our full range of credit cards. In this regard, I am also delighted to note that the next 12 months will see a host of exciting rewards and promotions being offered by IBQ, ranging from shopping and travel to Ramadan and summer festivities,” said King.

Full details of the offers are available on the website at www.ibq.com.qa or by calling the Call Centre on 447 8000.

 ‘Schools without Accidents’ campaign continues with new activities
 Significant campaign organised by Government Traffic and Patrols Department and sponsored by IBQ helps promote road safety awareness
 Second phase includes a series of inter-school competitions
 Phase 2 will offer prizes of over QAR 40,000

Doha, 17 March 2010: The second phase of the “Schools without Accidents” campaign kick-started recently with a series of new Traffic Week activities aiming at promoting road safety awareness among the youth of Qatar.

The “Schools without Accidents” campaign is a unique programme targeting secondary school students across Qatar and launched within the framework of the “National Campaign for Road Accidents Prevention.” As the sponsor of the campaign for the second consecutive year, IBQ has pledged QAR 500,000 to support this initiative of the government.

The campaign’s second phase will see one school bagging the prize of QAR 40,000 on the heels of a series of inter-school quiz competitions themed on educational and social topics and relating to the objectives of the campaign. The quizzes will start on 24 March 2010 following a draw ceremony on 15 March. Finals will take place on 15 April 2010 and will see the attendance of several key officials from Qatar Traffic & Patrols department and IBQ. A second prize worth QAR 20,000 will go to the runner-up school. In addition, awards for the ideal school, supervisor and student will be presented.

Brig. Muhammed Saa’d Al Kharji, Director of the Traffic Department said: “According to a recent study we conducted in Qatar, the number of fatalities caused by road traffic accidents has dropped by 3.4 percent last year compared to the figures of 2008. This decline is a positive indication underlying the success of the traffic law in cutting down traffic accidents. We still have to take greater steps in our attempt to minimize road risks and that severe punishment for traffic violations, alone, are not enough to cut down traffic accidents. We firmly believe that parents and schools have an important role to play in raising awareness on the dangers of ignoring traffic rules, hence why we have this country-wide campaign. We’re thankful for IBQ’s contribution and we hope to see other businesses playing a similarly crucial role for the well-being of our youth.”

George Nasra, Managing Director of IBQ, said: “IBQ has long been a keen contributor to a series of socioeconomic activities, including education, sports and entrepreneurship. Our sponsorship of the “Schools without Accidents” campaign is strongly in line with our aim to become a devout supporter of the welfare of our community. We look forward to furthering our role in these areas.”

The first phase of the “Schools without Accidents” campaign was wrapped up on December 31, 2009. It comprised a range of educational seminars held every day. The interactive seminar focused on understanding road risks and safety guidelines and culminated in live demonstrations in cars on a purpose-built circuit.

George Nasra: Our Operating Income grew to QAR 665 million. This performance is testament to our prudent policies as well as the underlying strength of the Qatari economy. 

Doha, February 21, 2010: IBQ announced its financial results for 2009, achieving the second highest growth rate in earnings for Qatar based banks. Net profits increased 12% to reach QAR 342 million as compared to QAR 305 million in 2008 due to a 15% rise in Annual Operating Income. This increase was achieved against the backdrop of the international economic crisis and is a further indicator of the strength of the local economy and the robust business performance of the bank.

Customer deposits were equally buoyant with a rise of 14 % on the previous year, finishing at QAR 13.1 billion compared to QAR 11.5 billion in 2008. Net Interest income grew by 29% to reach QAR 484 million and income from Islamic financing and Investment activities reached QAR 38.4 million, and increase of 90% over the same period last year.

“This has been another good year for the bank in light of the world wide financial crisis. The results are testament to our prudent policies as well as the underlying strength of the Qatari economy,” IBQ Managing Director George Nasra said of the results.

“IBQ has continued the development of its infrastructure, a fact which has led us to emerge as the 4th largest commercial bank in the country at the end of 2009.

2009 also saw IBQ named the Fastest Moving Bank in the Middle East by The Banker UK Magazine. This was by virtue of the bank’s solid Tier 1 Capital bases and significant growth in profit.

Nasra concluded, “In addition to our improved financial performance, we have increased our range of services across all the bank’s activities while continuing to focus on the quality of customer service. We have also seen the inauguration of the retail services of our ‘Al Yusr Islamic Banking’ in May 2009; Al Yusr now operates a full platform of Sharia compliant products and services.

Doha, 3 February 2010: IBQ has announced its sponsorship of the All India Poetic Symposium 2010 (Mushaira) to be held in celebration of the 61st Republic Day of India, and organised by the Anjuman Muhibban-e-Urdu Hind (The Indian Urdu Lovers Association – Qatar) at the Ramada Hotel on 5 February, 2010.

The symposium will see the participation of up to ten globally recognized poetic figures from India who will share pieces of poetry and literature with Urdu enthusiasts in Qatar.

Anjuman Muhibban-e-Urdu Hind (The Indian Urdu Lovers Association), affiliated to the Embassy of India’s cultural centre, strives to serve the Indian and sub-continent Urdu speaking community by promoting the importance of this popular and beautiful language. ‘Mushaira’ is an essential element of Urdu literary culture and these poetic performances are rich in tradition, singing and dramatic rendition.

Presenting the sponsorship cheque to representatives of Anjuman Muhibbane Urdu Hind, Chandramohan Pillai, Head of Administration and Facilities at IBQ said: “At IBQ, We recognize the significance of playing a productive role as devoted corporate citizens and ensure that our sponsorships help maintain solid ties with the various walks of our community. The Indian society is one of the fastest growing and oldest in the country. India and Qatar have enjoyed solid bilateral relations over the years and celebrating one of India’s most prominent cultural events is in line with IBQ’s core CSR values.”

The All India Poetic Symposium is a unique literary forum amongst the Indian socio-cultural organizations. Anjuman has continuously organised many grand All India Mushairas in the past few years. Anjuman’s Mushairas witnessed an increasing number of attendees reaching over one thousand Urdu poetry fans

• Offers cardholders up to 15 %  discount on dining at top hotels in addition to 5% Cash Back
• New promotion in response to strong customer take up of all new cards

Dining Promotion - Main Visual

Doha, January 25, 2009: Further highlighting its commitment to optimise value proposition for its cardholders, IBQ announced the launch of its second promotion under the merchant partner programme, offering up to 15 per cent discount on dining at a range of top hotels within the country. The discount promotion, titled “Perfect Recipe,” is available to all Platinum and Infinite credit cardholders of IBQ and is in effect from January 15 until February 28, 2010.

This exclusive promotion is in addition to the 5% Cash Back on all purchases currently offered by IBQ to its card members. The “Perfect Recipe” offer is valid on dining transactions at a wide range of premium restaurants located in Qatar’s leading luxury hotels. The hotels currently offering this unique promotional discount include Four Seasons Hotel, The Ritz Carlton, W Doha, Sheraton, The Intercontinental, and The Sharq Village Resort and Spa, all based in Doha.

“At IBQ, we believe that the key to our continued success lies in constantly exploring new ways to enhance our cardholder experience,” said Philip King, AGM of Retail Banking, IBQ. “We look to do this by forging new partnerships and offering more valuable discounts to our customers, on an ongoing basis. ‘Perfect Recipe,’ our second card-linked promotion in less than two months, has been developed in line with our pledge to make high-quality products and services more accessible to our customers.”

Driven by its continuing focus on serving diverse customer needs, IBQ’s credit card range, including IBQ Gold MasterCard, IBQ Platinum Visa and IBQ Infinite Visa, has continued to meet with a strong response.

“As a retail bank of choice within Qatar, it is our goal to be able to make a positive difference to the lifestyle aspirations of our customers. We are highly encouraged by the robust growth in our customer base and the continuing strong customer response to our full range of credit cards. In this regard, I am also delighted to note that the next 12 months will see a host of exciting rewards and promotions being offered by IBQ,” said King.

From the left: Ibrahim Al Nasr, General Secretary of National Campaign. Muhannad Kamal, Deputy GM of IBQ

To promote road safety awareness among the youth of Qatar, a major campaign, “Schools without Accidents,” was inaugurated lately in Doha. This announcement was made by senior officials of the government’s Traffic Department, Read the full story