Bahrain Islamic Bank

What Bahrain Islamic Bank does

Bahrain Islamic Bank (BisB) is a privately held Islamic retail bank licensed by the Central Bank of Bahrain, founded in 1979 as the Kingdom's first Islamic bank and the GCC's fourth. Operating exclusively under Sharia-compliant principles, the bank serves retail, corporate, youth, and premium (Al Thuraya) customer segments across Bahrain, with digital onboarding extended to non-resident GCC citizens. Its revenue model combines transaction-based fees (account servicing, card interchange, trade finance, merchant services), recurring profit-and-loss-sharing income from Sharia-compliant financing products (Murabaha, Ijara, Musharaka) and investment deposits (Tejoori Al Islami, Tejoori Premium, Save Plus, Investment Deposits), and government-distributed housing finance flows via Tas'heel Plus and Ministry of Housing partnerships.

The core technology stack is a digital Islamic banking platform comprising the BisB Online web channel, BisB Mobile (iOS, Android, Huawei AppGallery), self-service kiosks, and a 24/7 contact centre, supplemented by an Open Banking Developer Portal via the Tarabut Gateway and a public API with sandbox. The proprietary Murshid AI chatbot provides Sharia-compliance guidance drawn from over 2,000 fatwas and Islamic references. The bank also participates in the Google Cloud Universal Ledger instant-payments pilot alongside National Bank of Bahrain and Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait.

Go-to-market is a hybrid digital-first self-serve model with physical branch backup, targeting both Bahrain residents and GCC citizens with 100% online account opening. Card, housing, and youth products are distributed through partnerships with hospitality merchants, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning, and education partners such as the University of Technology Bahrain. Banking infrastructure and certification posture includes FATCA, PCI-DSS, CRS, and an Internal Audit Charter aligned with Sarbanes-Oxley expectations. The bank has no publicly disclosed revenue; fiscal year profit of BD 18.5 million is the only reported financial figure.

Name

Bahrain Islamic Bank

Legal name

Bahrain Islamic Bank

Website

https://bisb.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Bahrain Islamic Bank is a privately held, Sharia-compliant retail and corporate bank founded in 1979 as Bahrain's first Islamic bank, serving retail, corporate, youth, and premium (Al Thuraya) segments across Bahrain and non-resident GCC citizens through digital channels, branches, and government housing partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Islamic Retail Banking

NAICS

Commercial Banking (522110), Commercial Banking (52211), Depository Credit Intermediation (5221)

SIC

State Commercial Banks (6022), National Commercial Banks (6021)

akta.pro primary industry

Islamic Retail Banking (FSABAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Islamic SME & Commercial Banking (FSABAGAB), Shariah-compliant Financing Products (Murabaha, Ijara, Tawarruq, Istisna, Salam) (FSABAGAH), Islamic Deposit & Account Products (Current/Savings/Investment Accounts) (FSABAGAI), Islamic Transaction Banking (Cash Management & Treasury Services) (FSABAGAF), Islamic Private Banking & Wealth (FSABAGAD)

Keywords

• Islamic retail banking
• Sharia-compliant financing
• Islamic savings accounts
• Corporate Islamic banking
• Digital Islamic banking

Headquarters

HQ city

Manama

HQ country

Bahrain

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Islamic Banking Fees and Charges: The bank generates revenue through a comprehensive suite of Islamic banking services including account management fees, transaction charges, and service commissions across retail and corporate banking segments.
2. Financing (Murabaha and Ijara): Sharia-compliant financing products including personal finance, property finance, auto finance, and ministry housing programs generate profit/interest income through structured Islamic finance contracts.
3. Investment Deposits: Savings and investment deposit accounts (Tejoori Al Islami, Tejoori Premium, Special Investment Deposit) generate returns for customers and fee/profit income for the bank based on mudharaba and musharaka structures.
4. Credit Card Services: Visa and Mastercard Islamic credit cards with rewards programs, seasonal promotions, and merchant partnerships. Revenue from interchange fees, annual fees, and Easy Monthly Installments (EMI) arrangements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Bahrain Islamic Bank operates as a full-service Sharia-compliant retail and commercial bank offering deposit accounts (Tejoori Al Islami, Tejoori Premium, Save Plus, Investment Deposits), Sharia-compliant financing (personal, property, auto, and Ministry of Housing programmes), Visa and Mastercard credit cards, business banking services (cash management, trade finance, treasury, merchant services), and youth and premium (Al Thuraya) banking segments. All products are delivered through BisB Digital (mobile and online), branches, kiosks, and a contact centre, with Murshid AI providing Sharia guidance to customers.

Product overview

Bahrain Islamic Bank (BisB) operates as a unified Islamic retail bank platform offering a comprehensive portfolio of Sharia-compliant banking products and services. The core banking platform comprises multiple interconnected product lines: (1) Deposit accounts including Tejoori Al Islami (GCC savings), Tejoori Premium, Save Plus (long-term savings), and Investment Deposits; (2) Financing solutions spanning Personal Finance, Property Finance, Auto Finance, Ministry of Housing Programs, and Tas'heel Plus for housing; (3) Card products including Visa and Mastercard credit cards with BisB Rewards loyalty program and seasonal promotions; (4) Digital banking platform through BisB Online (web), BisB Mobile (iOS/Android/Huawei apps), and digital tools like IBAN Generator and Zakat Calculator; (5) AI-powered services including Murshid AI chatbot providing Sharia guidance; (6) Youth banking through BisB Arcade and vevo Youth Account; (7) Premium banking under Al Thuraya brand; (8) Business banking including accounts, financing solutions, cash management, merchant services, trade finance, and treasury solutions. All products adhere to Islamic finance principles with Sharia compliance verified through the bank's internal Murshid system.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BisB Digital: Digital banking platform offering online and mobile banking services
• Murshid AI
• Tejoori Al Islami
• Tejoori Premium
• Al Thuraya
• BisB Arcade
• Vevo Youth Account
• Tas'heel Plus

Products and services

• Tejoori Al Islami Sharia-compliant Islamic savings account offering competitive returns via a mudharaba mechanism and prize draws; targeted at GCC citizens who can open accounts 100% online.
• Tejoori Premium Premium Sharia-compliant savings account offering enhanced profit rates, priority banking services, and reward-oriented benefits.
• Save Plus Long-term Sharia-compliant savings plan with flexible terms from 3 to 20 years, competitive annual profit rate up to 3%, and free life takaful coverage up to BD 75,000 for Bahraini citizens and residents aged 18+.
• Investment Deposits Sharia-compliant investment deposit accounts including Special Investment Deposit offering profitable returns for customers looking to grow wealth via mudharaba structures.
• Personal Finance Sharia-compliant personal financing solutions for individual needs including emergencies and major purchases, structured via Murabaha/Ijara contracts.
• Property Finance Home financing solutions compliant with Islamic principles for purchasing property in Bahrain, including property swap and instant financing options.
• Ministry of Housing Programs Government-supported housing financing programmes offered in partnership with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning, including off-plan sale of residential units under the Government Land Development Rights Programme with unit prices capped at BD 99,000.
• Tas'heel Plus Sharia-compliant housing finance programme in collaboration with the Ministry of Housing & Urban Planning offering flexible financing structures for homeownership under the Tas'heel program.
• Auto Finance Islamic-compliant vehicle financing for purchasing new or used cars with flexible repayment options via Sharia-compliant contracts.
• Visa Credit Cards Sharia-compliant Visa credit cards including Infinite, Classic, and Gold variants with various benefits, rewards, and seasonal promotions.
• Mastercard Credit Cards Islamic-compliant Mastercard credit cards offering global acceptance and various card tiers (e.g., World, Platinum).
• Click to Pay for BisB Visa Cards Faster online checkout solution enabling secure, seamless payments with BisB Visa cards without entering card details, via the Visa Click to Pay standard.
• BisB Multi-Currency Card Multi-currency card enabling customers to spend globally in various currencies with competitive exchange rates.
• BisB Online Online banking platform providing 24/7 access to accounts, transactions, and banking services via web browser.
• BisB Mobile Mobile banking application available on iOS, Android, and Huawei app stores providing full banking functionality on smartphones.
• Murshid AI AI-powered chatbot providing Sharia-compliant guidance to customers using over 2,000 fatwas and Islamic references, combining artificial intelligence with Islamic finance expertise.
• GCC Onboarding Service Digital account opening service allowing GCC citizens to open Bahrain bank accounts in minutes, fully online without branch visits.
• Business Accounts Corporate and business banking accounts designed for companies, SMEs, and institutional clients with comprehensive transactional banking needs.
• Business Financing Solutions Business financing solutions including working capital, asset financing, and project financing compliant with Islamic principles.
• Trade Finance Islamic-compliant trade finance solutions including letters of credit, guarantees, and supply chain financing for global trade.
• Treasury Solutions Corporate treasury services including foreign exchange, money market, and risk management solutions for businesses.
• Al Thuraya Premium Banking Premium banking service under the Al Thuraya brand offering exclusive benefits, travel perks, VIP card offerings, and priority services for high-net-worth customers.
• vevo Youth Account Digital youth account designed for young customers to manage their finances with modern, age-appropriate banking features.

Quantifiable outcome

• Free life takaful coverage up to BD 75,000 on Save Plus savings plan
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability4 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Eskan BankcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 May 2026Bahrain Islamic Bank serves as a financing partner in the off-plan sale of residential units under the Government Land Development Rights Programme. This is a public-private partnership housing initiative led by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning in collaboration with Eskan Bank, where unit prices are capped at BD 99,000 for affordability.
• Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning (Bahrain)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 May 2026Partnership with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning to provide Sharia-compliant financing solutions for affordable housing under the Government Land Development Rights Programme, supporting Bahraini citizens in achieving homeownership.
• University of Technology Bahrain (UTB)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 December 2025Bahrain Islamic Bank signed a MoU with University of Technology Bahrain to provide training opportunities and internship programs for students. The program helps students meet graduation requirements and gain practical financial skills through hands-on experience at the bank.
• Google CloudcoreTechnology or Integration · 9 October 2025Bahrain Islamic Bank participated in a pilot project validating Google Cloud Universal Ledger for instant payments between banks in Bahrain. The project enables real-time cross-border transactions, reduces costs, and enhances security, with plans for expansion and consumer integrations.
• National Bank of BahraincoreTechnology or Integration · 9 October 2025Collaborating with National Bank of Bahrain and Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait in a Google Cloud Universal Ledger pilot project for instant payments infrastructure across Bahrain's banking sector.
• Bank of Bahrain and KuwaitcoreTechnology or Integration · 9 October 2025Collaborating with National Bank of Bahrain and Bahrain Islamic Bank in a Google Cloud Universal Ledger pilot project for instant payments infrastructure across Bahrain's banking sector.
• Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 October 2025Bahrain Islamic Bank participated in Fintech Forward 2025, hosted by Bahrain EDB, which concluded with 38 MoUs and strategic agreements signed, emphasizing industry collaboration and investor confidence in Bahrain's fintech sector. The event attracted around 2,000 attendees from the UK, US, India, and GCC countries.
• Bahrain Fintech BaycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 October 2025Bahrain Fintech Bay facilitated the Google Cloud payments pilot involving Bahrain-based financial institutions including Bahrain Islamic Bank, enabling real-time cross-border payment infrastructure.
• Al Bilad Media and BDSMES SocietyminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 20 May 2025Bahrain Islamic Bank signed a cooperation agreement with Al Bilad Media and the Bahrain Digital SMEs Society to launch the Sustaining Promising Sector initiative, supporting the digital transformation and sustainability of small and medium enterprises.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• National Bank of Bahrain (NBB): Bahrain's flagship retail and commercial bank and the current bidder to acquire BisB. Directly comparable as a Bahrain-licensed universal bank operating with similar retail, corporate, and treasury product sets and the same domestic regulator.
• Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait (BBK): Bahraini universal bank jointly participating with BisB in the Google Cloud Universal Ledger instant-payments pilot. Closely comparable in domestic market positioning, retail/SME product suite, and digital investment cadence.
• Eskan Bank: Bahraini government housing finance bank and direct counterparty to BisB in the Government Land Development Rights Programme. Comparable as a Bahrain-licensed deposit-taker with a strong Islamic retail and mortgage focus.
• Al Baraka Islamic Bank (Bahrain): Bahrain-based Islamic retail and commercial bank under the Al Baraka Banking Group. Closely comparable product-by-product (Murabaha, Ijara, Mudaraba deposits, cards, digital banking) within the same Bahraini market.

Regional players

• Kuwait International Bank (KIB): Kuwaiti Islamic bank with similar Sharia-compliant retail financing, deposit, and card offerings. Comparable as a GCC-licensed Islamic retail franchise pursuing digital transformation, though operating in Kuwait rather than Bahrain.
• Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB): Qatar's flagship Islamic bank offering retail, SME, and corporate Islamic finance with strong digital channels. Comparable product architecture (Murabaha, Ijara, Mudaraba) and similar digital-first ambitions, though at materially larger scale.

Broad incumbents

• Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB): One of the largest UAE Islamic banks with a full retail, wealth, and corporate Sharia-compliant suite and aggressive digital roadmap. Comparable as a regional Islamic bank expanding via digital onboarding across GCC markets.
• Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB): UAE's first Islamic bank and a regional incumbent with comprehensive Sharia-compliant retail, corporate, and treasury offerings. Comparable business model and product breadth, but at significantly larger balance-sheet scale.
• Al Rajhi Bank: Saudi Arabia's largest Islamic bank with nationwide retail, financing, and digital banking operations. Comparable as the dominant GCC Islamic retail franchise and benchmark for digital Islamic banking scale.
• Kuwait Finance House (KFH): Kuwait-headquartered Islamic bank with regional operations across GCC and beyond. Comparable as a full-service Islamic retail, corporate, and treasury bank investing in digital Sharia-compliant customer experiences.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/BahrainIslamicBank
• Facebookfacebook.com/BahrainIslamicBank
• Instagraminstagram.com/bahrainislamicbank
• Xx.com/_BisB

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bahrain Islamic Bank