Alawwal Bank

Saudi company

The Alawwal Bank (البنك الأول), previously known as Saudi Hollandi Bank, was a Saudi Arabian bank based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It was the first operating bank in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and was founded in 1926 as a branch of the Netherlands Trading Society. On 14 March 2021, Alawwal was fully merged with SABB.

It began as a branch of the Netherlands Trading Society in 1926 to serve the Hajj pilgrims from the Dutch East Indies, now Indonesia, and operated out of one office in Jeddah. As it was the only bank in the Kingdom at the time, it acted as the central bank, keeping the Kingdom's gold reserves and receiving oil revenues on behalf of the Saudi Arabian government. In 1928 the Saudi Riyal, a new silver coin commissioned by King Abdulaziz, became the Kingdom's first independent currency. The Netherlands Trading Society office in Jeddah assisted the government with the launch of the local currency. In 1954 the Netherlands Trading Society expanded its operations in the Kingdom by opening two additional branches, in Khobar and Dammam, in the Eastern Province.

In 1969, ABN Bank, the successor of the Netherlands Trading Society, was one of the first foreign banks to implement the Saudization initiatives set forth by the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA) and became the model for other foreign banks in the Kingdom. In 1977, the Saudi Hollandi Bank was established as a joint venture company with a paid up capital of SAR 35 million. The branch network was expanded to include Riyadh, Jubail, Makkah, Hofuf, Madinah, Qatif and other regions. In 2009, the bank opened its new operations center Al Waha, which houses the bank's centralised operations functions as well as the SHB Academy. Also in 2009, SHB was the first bank in the Kingdom to deploy the automated Teller Cash Recycling machines (TCR), which was introduced to enhance the Open Branch concept that allows direct contact between the bank's employees and its customers. At the end of June 2010, the bank's paid up capital amounted to SAR 3,307 million. Saudi Hollandi Bank employs 1,417 staff with a Saudization ratio of over 87.44% and operates 43 branches, 15 Ladies Sections, 30 Preferred Banking Centres and 246 ATMs providing banking services throughout the Kingdom. In June 2011, Saudi Hollandi Bank Launched The First MasterCard World Credit Card With A Silver Mark in the Middle East.

In November 2016, Saudi Hollandi Bank changed its name to Alawwal Bank as part of a new corporate identity that will be rolled out over the next three months, according to a statement. Alawwal, meaning “The First” in Arabic, which refers to the bank’s status as the first bank to launch in the country in 1926.

On 4 October 2018 Arab News reported that the Alawwal Bank and the Saudi British Bank (SABB) are about to become one with a merger proposal from both sides in order to create Saudi Arabia's third largest bank. On 16 June 2019, the merger was legally completed. which will result in retention of the brand name "Saudi British Bank" only. On 14 March 2021, Alawwal was fully integrated in to SABB.

SHB is organized into three main business segments: Corporate Banking, Personal Banking and Treasury. In addition, the Bank provides brokerage, asset management and investment banking services through its subsidiary Saudi Hollandi Capital.

Saudi Hollandi Bank has over 265 ATMs, 6 Business Banking Centres, 30 Preferred Banking Centres and 45 branches across the kingdom, in which 16 are women only sections. Amongst Saudi Hollandi’s ATMs are Teller Cash Recycling machines (TCR). Preferred Banking Centers are for Saudi Hollandi’s VIP clients.