Operational Review | Wholesale Banking
Creating the foundations for
sound asset growth

Strong focus and progress on franchise development in recent years was marked in 2011 by new client acquisition, particularly in the government banking, mid-corporate and SME segments, following proactive market engagement for new opportunities. A significant pipeline of new business has been built recently across our client base.

Targeted investment significantly enhanced product capability and channels through the launch of ProTrade and ProCash (Release 1), ADCB’s state-of-the-art transaction banking platforms. As a result, the flow of transactional activity through ADCB for its wholesale client base continued to grow significantly, while service standard scores remain strongly and consistently positive.

Completion of the ProTrade platform now provides comprehensive functionality equal to the best international competitors. The first release of ProCash, the Bank’s new cash management platform, was successfully launched on plan. In parallel we have developed an effective host-to-host functionality for major cash management clients. As a result, major government and private sector entities have moved their business flows to ADCB, and the growth of CASA balances reflected this.

The number of clients benefiting from Wholesale Banking’s dedicated service team for intensive users of transaction banking increased sharply, rising by 30 percent during the year.

A project to reduce the cost of fixed deposits was coordinated with Treasury, and through careful management held book balances at planned levels while substantially reducing average yield. The financial institutions business enhanced its offering to banks (for example, Vostro – where other financial institutions hold an account with the Bank) and non-Bank financial institutions, particularly in trade finance.

The SME team built a number of new financing programmes, further differentiating ADCB in this critical segment and creating the foundations for sound asset growth by meeting the needs of many SMEs who are ready to recommence growth and need the financing to do so.

A team of 25 relationship managers was recruited to increase the service levels and support we provide in the SME market, more than doubling this resource pool.

Strong focus and emphasis was placed on midsized corporate clients, substantially increasing the size of our team catering to a segment that is arguably under-served and where we see significant opportunity to grow.

Further major achievements included the retention of core talent with minimal regretted attrition, delivery of systems capabilities, beginning business build in ADCB India after significant work to stabilise the franchise, upgraded portfolio risk management, and reduction in liabilities while maintaining balances. Finally, ADCB’s investment banking team delivered on a number of major transactions including a pivotal role in the disposal of our stake in RHB Capital Berhad.

Signing agreement with Bank of America Merrill Lynch






ADCB and the National Corporation for Tourism & Hotels sign a loan agreement