Bahrain Islamic Bank
Bahrain's first Islamic bank, providing Sharia-compliant banking and financing services under the supervision of the Central Bank of Bahrain.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Bahrain Islamic Bank, commonly known as BisB, is a commercial Islamic bank headquartered in Manama, Bahrain. It was established on 7 March 1979 and began banking operations on 22 November 1979, corresponding to the beginning of the Hijri year 1400. The institution is recognized as the first Islamic bank established in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The bank operates within Bahrain's Islamic-finance framework and is supervised by the Central Bank of Bahrain. Its activities center on Sharia-compliant banking, including customer accounts, financing and investment-related services. As a domestic banking institution, its market focus is Bahrain rather than a broad international branch network. The bank is also listed on the Bahrain Stock Exchange, although no ticker symbol is specified in the available reference material. BisB's development has included efforts to strengthen its balance sheet and concentrate resources on core banking activities. In 2017, it described a five-year growth plan that included the disposal of approximately 82 million Bahraini dinars in non-performing or unproductive assets, including land and shares. During the first six months of that program, assets valued at approximately 14 million Bahraini dinars were sold. The stated purpose was to streamline the bank's operations, prioritize lending and support future growth. The bank's credit profile also received attention from Moody's Investors Service. In January 2016, Moody's confirmed its ratings and raised the bank's standalone baseline credit assessment from caa1 to b3. The available material does not provide the full rating structure or later rating history. In 2019, National Bank of Bahrain, which already held a stake in Bahrain Islamic Bank, proposed acquiring the remaining shares. The offer was conditional on obtaining at least 40.94 percent of the bank through cash or a share exchange. The proposal valued Bahrain Islamic Bank at approximately 124 million Bahraini dinars, or about US$329 million, according to the cited reference. The transaction proposal appeared amid broader consolidation in Middle Eastern banking, where weaker oil prices and reduced government and consumer spending had placed pressure on financial-sector margins. The available material does not establish whether the proposed acquisition was completed. BisB has also pursued partnerships intended to broaden its commercial and digital capabilities. In November of the year described in the reference material, it signed a cooperation agreement with STC Bahrain to develop initiatives for small and medium-sized enterprises. In December, it entered an agreement with Delmon Gate relating to real-estate financing and benefits for the Bushra housing project in Al Sayah. In 2023, the bank announced plans to develop what it described as an AI platform for Islamic-banking Sharia fatwas. The proposed platform would organize and use more than 1,800 fatwas and Sharia decisions issued by the bank's Sharia Supervisory Board. The initiative reflects the institution's attempt to combine Islamic-finance governance with artificial-intelligence tools, although the available sources do not establish the platform's launch date, commercial availability or final technical scope.
History
Bahrain Islamic Bank was established on 7 March 1979 and began operating on 22 November 1979, the date associated with the start of the Hijri year 1400. Its creation made it the first Islamic bank in Bahrain. From its base in Manama, the bank developed as a commercial institution serving the domestic market with financial products structured to comply with Islamic law. It operates under the supervision of the Central Bank of Bahrain and is listed on the Bahrain Stock Exchange. The bank's later history includes credit assessment, balance-sheet restructuring, shareholder consolidation and efforts to expand its service capabilities. In January 2016, Moody's Investors Service confirmed its ratings and upgraded its standalone baseline credit assessment from caa1 to b3. The available reference does not provide sufficient information to reconstruct the bank's complete rating history or explain all factors behind the assessment change. In 2017, Bahrain Islamic Bank presented a five-year growth plan focused on improving performance and concentrating on its core lending business. A central part of the plan was the sale of approximately 82 million Bahraini dinars in unproductive assets, including land and shares. The bank reported selling about 14 million Bahraini dinars of such assets in the first six months. The program was intended to simplify the asset base, release resources and create conditions for further growth. A significant ownership development occurred in 2019, when National Bank of Bahrain, which already held a stake in Bahrain Islamic Bank, proposed an offer for the remaining shares. The proposed transaction required National Bank of Bahrain to obtain at least 40.94 percent through cash or a share exchange. The reference material gave the proposed valuation as 124 million Bahraini dinars, equivalent to approximately US$329 million. It situated the offer within a wider pattern of financial-sector mergers in the Middle East, where lower oil prices and softer government and consumer spending had pressured banking profitability. The available material does not confirm the outcome of the offer, so its completion should not be inferred. The bank also pursued partnerships in domestic commercial and housing finance. It signed a cooperation agreement with STC Bahrain to develop initiatives for small and medium-sized enterprises. It subsequently agreed with Delmon Gate to offer real-estate financing options and benefits connected with the Bushra housing project in Al Sayah. These arrangements illustrate the bank's efforts to use partnerships to reach business customers and participate in real-estate finance without changing its Bahrain-centered operating profile. In 2023, Bahrain Islamic Bank announced a planned artificial-intelligence platform for Islamic-banking Sharia fatwas. The proposed platform was to draw on more than 1,800 fatwas and Sharia decisions issued by the bank's Sharia Supervisory Board. The initiative linked the bank's established religious-governance processes with a technology project intended to improve access to Islamic-finance rulings. The available source does not establish whether the platform was subsequently launched, its users, or its operational results. The source material provides only limited information about the bank's current leadership, branch footprint, financial performance and product-level architecture. Those details require verification from current corporate disclosures or regulatory filings.
- 2023
Planned AI Sharia-fatwa platform
[1]The bank announced plans for an AI platform using more than 1,800 Sharia fatwas and decisions from its Sharia Supervisory Board.
- 2019
National Bank of Bahrain acquisition proposal
[1]National Bank of Bahrain proposed acquiring the remaining shares of Bahrain Islamic Bank, subject to a minimum stake condition.
- 2017
Five-year growth and asset-disposal plan
[1]The bank announced a plan to sell unproductive assets and focus more strongly on core lending and operational growth.
- 2016
Moody's credit assessment upgrade
[1]Moody's confirmed the bank's ratings and raised its standalone baseline credit assessment from caa1 to b3.
- 1979
Bank established
[1]Bahrain Islamic Bank was established on 7 March 1979 as Bahrain's first Islamic bank.
- 1979
Bank begins operations
[1]The bank began operations on 22 November 1979, corresponding to the beginning of the Hijri year 1400.
Products and positioning
A Bahrain-focused Islamic bank combining Sharia-compliant financial services with retail, commercial, real-estate and emerging digital-banking initiatives.
Retail banking
Islamic banking accounts
Customer account services provided within the bank's Sharia-compliant operating model. The available reference identifies Islamic banking accounts as a typical service category but does not specify individual account names, terms or eligibility requirements.
Financing
Sharia-compliant financing
Retail and commercial financing structured according to Islamic-finance principles. Lending is described as a core business priority in the bank's 2017 growth plan, although the available source does not identify the specific contractual structures or detailed product range.
Real-estate finance · 2019
Real-estate financing
Property-financing services, including an arrangement with Delmon Gate connected with the Bushra housing project in Al Sayah. The reference indicates that the arrangement offered financing options and project-related benefits but does not provide detailed terms.
Investment banking and savings
Islamic investment products
Investment-related products forming part of the bank's broad Islamic-finance offering. Specific product names, structures, performance data and distribution arrangements are not identified in the available material.
Financial technology · 2023
AI platform for Islamic-banking Sharia fatwas
A planned artificial-intelligence platform intended to organize and use more than 1,800 fatwas and Sharia decisions issued by Bahrain Islamic Bank's Sharia Supervisory Board. The available source describes the announcement but does not confirm commercial launch or current availability.
Brand decisions
2023
Plan for an AI-powered Sharia-fatwa platformProduct launchBackground
The bank sought to apply artificial intelligence to Islamic-finance governance and access to religious rulings.
Action taken
Bahrain Islamic Bank announced plans to build a platform incorporating more than 1,800 fatwas and Sharia decisions issued by its Sharia Supervisory Board.
Aftermath
The available material does not confirm the platform's launch, technical implementation or adoption.
2019
National Bank of Bahrain offer for remaining sharesM&ABackground
National Bank of Bahrain already held a stake in Bahrain Islamic Bank and proposed a transaction during a period of increased Middle Eastern financial-sector consolidation.
Action taken
National Bank of Bahrain proposed obtaining a minimum 40.94 percent stake through cash or a share exchange. The proposal valued Bahrain Islamic Bank at approximately BHD 124 million, or about US$329 million, according to the reference.
Aftermath
The available source does not establish whether the offer was completed or whether ownership subsequently changed.
Proposed valuation. Approximately BHD 124 million, reported as about US$329 million (2019)
2017
Prioritize core lending through asset disposalsStrategyBackground
The bank's five-year growth plan sought to improve performance while reducing exposure to assets it considered unproductive, including land and shares.
Action taken
Bahrain Islamic Bank planned to sell approximately 82 million Bahraini dinars of assets and direct greater attention to its core lending business. The reference reports that approximately 14 million Bahraini dinars had been sold during the first six months.
Aftermath
The stated objective was to streamline operations and support additional growth. The available material does not provide later results for the full program.
Planned asset disposals. Approximately BHD 14 million sold during the first six months (2017)
Recent events
- Unconfirmed
Bahrain Islamic Bank makes Future Leaders service available[2]
Reported:
Bahrain Islamic Bank customers can open a prepaid account for children that supports contactless in-store payments with an NFC wristband, parental allowance management and transaction monitoring.
BisB joins CBB Digital Lab strategic partnership[3]
Reported:
BisB was among the strategic partners in the CBB Digital Lab, a collaborative initiative inaugurated on October 20, 2020.
Sources3 sources
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