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Cape Verde / Djibouti / London, 19 March 2026 – iib has secured two prestigious wins at the Euromoney Private Banking Awards 2026, with iib West Africa named Cape Verde’s Best for Premier Banking and iib East Africa awarded Djibouti’s Best Private Bank. The awards were formally presented at a ceremony hosted at The Peninsula London Hotel on March 19, 2026, celebrating leading institutions in global private banking and wealth management.

The Euromoney Private Banking Awards are widely regarded as a benchmark of excellence in the financial industry, recognizing institutions that demonstrate superior performance in client service, innovation, discretionary portfolio management, and the ability to meet the evolving needs of high-net-worth clients.

These dual recognitions highlight iibGroup’s growing strength across multiple markets, underpinned by a client-centric approach and a commitment to delivering tailored financial solutions. In Cape Verde, iib West Africa has continued to strengthen its premier banking proposition through personalized advisory services and innovative product offerings. In Djibouti, iib East Africa has reinforced its leadership in private banking by delivering bespoke wealth management solutions and enhancing client experience through both relationship-driven service and digital innovation.

Commenting on the achievement, Sohail Sultan, Group Chairman, said:
“We are honored to receive these recognitions from Euromoney across two key markets. These awards reflect the strength of our strategy and our unwavering focus on delivering personalized, high-quality banking experiences. These awards are a testament to the trust our clients place in us and the dedication of our teams across regions to continuously raise the standard of private banking.”

The awards ceremony in London was attended by senior representatives from iibGroup, including Sohail Sultan, Chairman iibGroup) and Joseph Carasso, CEO iib West Africa, marking a significant milestone for the Group’s international presence and continued growth in private banking.

iibGroup remains committed to expanding its footprint and enhancing its private banking and wealth management capabilities, combining global best practices with deep local market expertise to serve clients across its operating regions.

About Euromoney
Euromoney is a globally recognized authority in financial publishing, providing analysis and rankings across the international banking sector. Its Private Banking Awards celebrate institutions that demonstrate excellence in wealth management and set the benchmark for client service and innovation worldwide.

Djibouti, 18 March 2026 – iib East Africa organized a community food distribution initiative in partnership with the Jeune Midnimo Biyokeid association, reinforcing its commitment to supporting vulnerable communities across Djibouti.

The initiative took place in the Biyokeid neighborhood of Balbala, an area where local needs remain significant and where the association plays an active and impactful role in community support. Held during the final days of the holy month of Ramadan, the initiative carried special significance reflecting the values of solidarity, generosity, and compassion that define this period.

As part of the effort, approximately 90 food packages were distributed to families in the community. Each package included essential food items aimed at providing meaningful support to households during Ramadan. In addition, coupons were distributed to all beneficiaries to enable better follow-up and coordination, ensuring that assistance reaches those who need it most in a structured and sustainable manner.

iib East Africa extends its sincere appreciation to the Jeune Midnimo Biyokeid association for their exceptional dedication, efficiency, and strong presence on the ground. Their commitment and local engagement were instrumental in the successful execution of this initiative.

Through this collaboration, iib East Africa reaffirms its broader mission of contributing to social development and supporting communities at the grassroots level. The bank remains committed to driving initiatives that create tangible impact, particularly during moments that call for collective support and shared responsibility.

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia/Manama, Bahrain, March 27, 2026 – iibGroup has officially opened a Regulated Banking Office in Addis Ababa, marking a significant milestone in the Group’s long-term regional strategy in East Africa. The new office will enable iibGroup to deepen its engagement with Ethiopia’s financial ecosystem, support cross-border investment, and position the Group to play a constructive role as the country advances reforms aimed at modernizing and opening its financial landscape.

Ethiopia’s Financial Liberalization Creates New Opportunities
As regulatory reforms continue to unfold, the market is expected to unlock new opportunities in foreign investment, trade facilitation, and financial services innovation. Building on its regional platform through iib East Africa in Djibouti, iib’s presence in Addis Ababa positions the Group among the first international financial institutions establishing a footprint in Ethiopia. Through its regional expertise and transactional banking capabilities, the bank aims to support Ethiopia’s expanding trade and investment landscape while building long-term partnerships with local institutions and businesses. iib is well positioned to leverage its experience and networks across the Horn of Africa to support Ethiopia’s financial sector transformation.

“Ethiopia represents one of the most exciting frontier opportunities in global finance today,” said Sohail Sultan, Chairman of iibGroup. “As we deepen our understanding of the local market and build trusted partnerships with Ethiopian businesses and institutions, we will continue to explore opportunities to expand our presence in line with Ethiopia’s evolving regulatory framework. Our Banking office in Addis Ababa reflects our long-term commitment to Ethiopia and to the broader East African region.”

Strengthening the Ethiopia–Djibouti Trade Corridor
With a presence in both Djibouti and Ethiopia, iib East Africa will provide commercial and transactional banking services with a focused mandate on the Ethiopia–Djibouti trade corridor, one of the region’s most strategically important trade routes through which most of Ethiopia’s import and export trade flows.

Operating within the regulatory framework governing banking offices, iib East Africa in Ethiopia will focus on developing relationships with local financial institutions, engaging with key stakeholders, and conducting market research to identify emerging opportunities in Ethiopia’s evolving financial sector. The office will also serve as a liaison through which Ethiopian businesses and potential partners can access iibGroup’s international banking capabilities and connect with the bank’s broader regional network.

“We aim to serve as a bridge between Ethiopian businesses and international markets,” said Mrs. Aynalem Ababu, Chief Representative Officer in Addis Ababa. “At the same time, we look forward to supporting international investment into Ethiopia’s major infrastructure initiatives, including the Bishoftu airport project and its planned aerotropolis development.”

About iibGroup Holdings W.L.L. (Bahrain)
iibGroup is a diversified international investment and banking group with operations across East Africa, the Middle East, West Africa, and the Caribbean. The Group provides banking, investment, and advisory solutions while also deploying capital into high-impact sectors such as trade, digital infrastructure, and financial inclusion. Through its regional platforms, iibGroup supports SMEs, empowers women- and youth-led enterprises, and channels capital to industries that strengthen regional integration and sustainable growth across emerging markets.

About iib East Africa (Djibouti)
iib East Africa is a licensed banking institution based in Djibouti, serving corporate and institutional clients across the Ethiopia–Djibouti corridor. The bank is committed to advancing financial inclusion, innovation, and private sector development in the region.

Media Contact
Farah Sayeed
Director, Brand & Marketing Communications
iibGroup
farah.sayeed@iibanks.com
+973 1711 6634
www.iibanks.com

London, 12 March 2026 – iibGroup is proud to announce that iib East Africa has been awarded Best SME Bank in Djibouti by Global Finance Magazine as part of the Global Finance Best SME Bank Awards 2026. The award was formally presented during the Best FX Banks & Best SME Bank Awards Ceremony held in London, bringing together leading financial institutions from across the world.

The Global Finance SME Bank Awards recognise banks that demonstrate outstanding commitment to supporting small and medium-sized enterprises through innovative financial solutions, strong lending practices, and a clear contribution to economic development. Winners are selected based on a range of criteria including market share, customer service, product innovation, lending growth, and overall support for the SME sector.

Representing iibGroup at the ceremony were Sohail Sultan, Chairman of iibGroup, and S.K. Husain, COO, who accepted the award on behalf of the bank. The recognition highlights iib East Africa’s continued focus on empowering SMEs, strengthening access to finance, and supporting entrepreneurship in Djibouti and the wider region.

SMEs play a central role in the economic development of Djibouti, and iib East Africa has positioned SME banking as a strategic priority. Through tailored financial solutions, trade finance support, working capital facilities, and advisory services, the bank continues to support businesses operating across key sectors including logistics, trade, infrastructure, and services.

This award further reinforces iibGroup’s broader commitment to building a banking platform that supports private sector growth across emerging markets while delivering innovative and responsible financial solutions.

As part of its long-term sustainability program, iib East Africa organized a tree-planting activity on November 29 in collaboration with Comité Action Climat. The event took place at Quartier 6 Bis Primary School and brought together students, teachers, and volunteers in a collective effort to protect the environment.

Before the activity, the school did not have any trees. Thanks to this initiative, 75 trees were planted within the school premises, marking a strong beginning toward building a greener and healthier environment for the students.
The initiative carries a dual objective: contributing to environmental preservation while supporting the well-being and education of children. By engaging students directly in the tree-planting process, the activity offered a hands-on learning experience that helped them understand the importance of trees and their essential role in protecting the environment, preserving air quality, and supporting the natural ecosystem.

To further strengthen the emotional connection between children and nature, students were invited to give names to the trees they planted. This symbolic gesture was designed to help them develop a sense of attachment and responsibility, while reinforcing the idea that plants are living beings that need care, attention, and protection to grow.

Through this initiative, iib East Africa reaffirmed its commitment to promoting sustainable development and environmental responsibility in the community. The bank emphasized that sustainability is not only an institutional duty but also a shared responsibility that must be encouraged from a young age.

iib East Africa extends its heartfelt appreciation to the management of Quartier 6 Bis Primary School for their warm welcome and collaboration, as well as to Comité Action Climat for their unwavering commitment and professionalism throughout the project. Their invaluable support greatly contributed to the success and impact of this initiative.

The activity concluded with a message of empowerment and awareness, encouraging children to become future environmental ambassadors. iib East Africa and @ComiteActionClimat expressed their intention to continue collaborating on impactful community-based sustainability projects.

On Saturday, November 22nd, iib East Africa organized an activity for around 15 families supported by Qatar Charity in order to guide them on how to use iib cards and ATMs. This initiative was initially designed for children, with the aim of helping them better understand essential banking practices and financial tools that can support their future.

iib East Africa is committed to offering these families access to banking services to make their daily lives easier and to promote financial inclusion. By equipping them with the knowledge and resources needed to manage their accounts independently, we aim to support their financial empowerment and long-term stability.

Commitment to sustainability – from financing green and blue bonds, to creating digital access for customers, to maintaining transparent governance for all stakeholders – can enable banks to create a culture that fosters long-term resilience, trust and value creation.

Joseph Giarraputo, Founder and Editorial Director of Global Finance, talks to Sohail Sultan, Chairman, iibGroup, about the bank’s wide-ranging sustainability initiatives and how they have shaped the institution’s identity and culture.

Committed to serving as a sustainability leader in the community, iib’s sustainability initiatives span multiple sectors. In healthcare, for example, the bank has run blood donation campaigns and supported oncology services. iib’s educational programsincludes partnering with the British Foreign Office to sponsor post-graduates for UK education as well as sponsoring technology upgrades and providing digital media solutions for corporate employees.

In a strategic milestone for East Africa, iibGroup (Bahrain) and iib East Africa (Djibouti) have partnered with TLG Capital to structure a US$10 million private credit facility aimed at transforming Djibouti’s digital infrastructure. This transaction channels private capital into one of the region’s most promising sectors — enabling faster, more affordable internet access, boosting SME competitiveness, and fostering inclusive economic growth.

For iib, this initiative reinforces our long-term vision: to connect international investment with local opportunity. By aligning with Djibouti’s national development priorities, we’re accelerating the country’s digital transformation and supporting its role as a regional connectivity hub.

Together with TLG, we’re proving that finance can be both impactful and profitable, bridging global capital and African innovation.

iib East Africa received the award of the “Best Bank 2025 in Djibouti” at the Global Finance Magazine Awards ceremony, held in Washington D.C. on October 18, 2025.

This distinction reflects our unwavering commitment to empowering people, driving innovation and building a stronger financial future for our communities.

The award was presented to Sohail Sultan, President of iib Group, SK Husain, Director of iib Group Operations, Papa Demba Diop, General Manager of iib East Africa, and Ali Daoud, Head of Banking Supervision, Central Bank of Djibouti.

Congratulations to our entire team for this remarkable milestone!