NBB Becomes the First Bank in Bahrain to Adopt the Digital Know Your Customer (KYC) Service for New Customers Using the eKey for Business (EKEY-B)

The National Bank of Bahrain (NBB) has partnered with Beyon Connect, part of the Beyon Group, to integrate a cutting-edge digital Know Your Customer (KYC) solution powered by eKey for Business (EKEY-B) and designed to make banking faster, easier and more secure for new customers.

Through this collaboration, NBB becomes the first bank in the Kingdom to offer a fully integrated process powered by EKEY-B, the latest version of Bahrain’s national digital identity authentication. This innovation streamlines individuals’ access to banking services and contributes to an improved user experience. The deployment also allows new customers to instantly open accounts via the NBB Digital App with a seamless experience that is safeguarded by regulatory-grade security.

Commenting on the occasion, Subah Abdullatif Al Zayani, Chief Executive Retail Banking at NBB, said, “By introducing EKEY-B on our Banking app, we are making banking faster, safer, and more accessible—directly addressing the evolving needs of our customers. Our strategic partnership with Beyon Connect enables us to deliver secure, seamless experiences and set new standards for digital banking in Bahrain. This collaboration not only empowers our customers today but also reinforces our commitment to driving the Kingdom’s digital transformation.”

Commenting on the occasion, Christopher Hild, Chief Executive Officer of Beyon Connect, said, “Trust and security are the foundations of financial services. EKEY-B empowers banks and financial institutions to meet regulatory requirements, protect customers, and deliver faster, smarter services. It’s a vital step forward in building a future-ready financial ecosystem in Bahrain.”

From his end, Dr. Khalid Al Mutawa, Deputy Chief of Operations & Governance at the Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA), praised NBB’s adoption of EKEY-B and noted that this step reflects the strong collaboration between the public and private sectors. He emphasised that this milestone demonstrates the success of collective efforts to enhance the efficiency of banking services and deliver them quickly and accurately while ensuring the highest standards of data protection. He added that integrating EKEY-B with digital KYC facilitates secure, digital identity verification for customers, expediting account opening procedures and enabling financial services without the need for traditional processes.

The collaboration with Beyon Connect reinforces NBB’s mission to reimagine banking access in a way that prioritises both user accessibility and institutional trust. New customers can seamlessly authenticate, register, and transact without compromising on safety, a model that meets both their practical needs in line with the Bank’s strategy to meet experience excellence and high compliance standards.

By continuing to invest in digital solutions that remove unnecessary steps and barriers, NBB remains focused on delivering a more responsive and efficient banking experience.