24/07/2026 09:04 AST
Chairman of Kuwait Finance House (KFH), Hamad Abdulmohsen Al-Marzouq announced that KFH achieved a net profit of KD 363.1 million for the first half of 2026 for the Bank shareholders, with an increase of 6.1 percent compared to the same period last year. Earnings per share for the first half of 2026 reached 18.86fils; an increase of 4.9 percent compared to the same period last year.
Net financing income for the first half of 2026 reached KD 649.4 million; an increase of 6.9 percent compared to the same period last year. Total operating income for the first half of 2026 increased, supported by the increase in all core activities to reach KD 990.5 million; an increase of 9.9 percent compared to the same period last year. As a result of disciplined cost management and expense optimization efforts, total operating expenses decreased by 2.1 percent compared to the same period last year.
Consequently, net operating income increased to KD 687.9 million, reflecting a growth of 16.2 percent compared to the same period last year. Driven by the growth in total operating income and decrease in total operating expenses, the Group's cost-to-income ratio improved to 30.6 percent during the current period, compared to 34.3 percent in the corresponding period of the previous year. Financing receivables at the end of the first half of 2026 reached KD 22.8 billion, an increase of 11.5 percent compared to the end of the first half of the previous year.
Total assets amounted to KD 42.2 billion at the end of the first half of 2026, a growth of 9.7 percent compared to the end of the first half of the previous year. Shareholders' equity for H1-26 amounted to KD 5.8 billion, an increase of 4.2 percent compared to the end of the first half of the previous year. Depositors' accounts for the first half of 2026 amounted to KD 21.6 billion, an increase of 9.4 percent compared to the end of the first half of the previous year. In addition, the capital adequacy ratio reached 17.47 percent, which is above the limit required by regulators. This ratio confirms the solid capital base of KFH. The Board of Directors has recommended to distribute a semi-annual cash dividend of 10fils per share.
Efficiency and sustainability
Al-Marzouq said that KFH has renewed the confidence of its shareholders and customers by continuing to achieve the highest profits in the banking sector and acquiring the largest share of total profits in the Kuwaiti market. This underscores the success of efforts to maximize asset utilization, improve resource allocation efficiency, and strictly execute the approved strategy and plans, ensuring sustainable growth and profitability while enhancing the strength of the Group's financial position. He highlighted that sustaining interim cash dividends provides shareholders with cash flow, boosting both the stock's attractiveness and confidence in the bank.
Operational performance
Al-Marzouq added that despite recent global and regional geopolitical challenges and subsequent economic pressures, KFH's H1 results demonstrated its resilience and capacity to manage risks efficiently. These outcomes also confirmed its strong capital base, comfortable liquidity, and robust operational performance, driving sustainable growth across most key financial indicators and balance sheet items.
Sustainable value
Al-Marzouq emphasized that KFH's strategy extends beyond profit generation to create sustainable, long-term value for customers, shareholders, and society. This commitment is driven by strategic investments in digital transformation, human capital development, and the continuous refinement of products and services to meet evolving market demands.
National economy
Al-Marzouq emphasized that KFH supports the national economy, noting that its corporate banking sector drove growth through local and cross-border operations while leveraging digital platforms to enhance operational efficiency. Concurrently, the retail sector performed strongly across its diverse product and service offerings, showcasing the bank's rapid adaptation to economic shifts and a strategy rooted in trust, flexibility, and a clear vision.
Governance and vision
Al-Marzouq expressed confidence that the bank's robust governance, long-term strategic vision, and commitment to responsible growth place it well to achieve leading market positions while continuing to deliver sustainable value to all stakeholders.
Partnerships and CSR
Al-Marzouq highlighted KFH's major strides in social responsibility, emphasizing its active role alongside official bodies in supporting state development plans and community advancement. Central to these efforts is KFH's strategic partnership with the Ministry of Justice to relieve heavily indebted citizens, contributing approximately KD 61 million since launching in 2019. The Bank also supported (Wajhni), the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research's national external scholarship campaign.
To protect youth from drug abuse, KFH partnered with the Ministries of Interior, Social Affairs, Justice, and Health on the "A Nation Protects You" campaign. Finally, KFH signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Social Affairs to deepen community partnerships and foster sustainable development. In a testament to its community leadership and outstanding social impact, KFH has been named the World's Best Islamic Bank for CSR 2026 by Global Finance magazine.
Exceptional performance
Meanwhile, Group Chief Executive Officer of KFH, Yousef Khaled AlShamlan, said that KFH continued its strong upward trajectory in the first half of 2026, delivering growth in operating income, profits, financing, and deposits, while further strengthening its asset quality. "KFH posted year-on-year growth across all core business sectors, underscoring the bank's high operational efficiency and its continued success in executing its strategic goals," he added.
Solid capitalization
AlShamlan said that the Bank has sustained its growth momentum by leveraging a resilient business model and maintaining robust capitalization. Furthermore, the Bank continues to outperform the Kuwaiti banking sector in net profitability while setting benchmarks in digital transformation and integrating sustainability across operations. This drive for development has successfully expanded the Bank's customer footprint, aligned services with evolving customer aspirations, and earned their trust.
Credit capabilities
AlShamlan underscored KFH's ongoing commitment to backing the national economy and the regional markets where the Group operates by steadily expanding its credit capabilities. By capitalizing on the synergy of its vast international network of more than 600 branches across 10 countries, KFH continues to deliver critical financing for major infrastructure developments as well as the SME sector. He added that this reflects growing customer confidence, which diversifies income streams and enhances financial sustainability. AlShamlan also emphasized ongoing efforts to maintain consistent performance across all business sectors and respond efficiently and flexibly to market fluctuations, strengthening KFH's position as a trusted financial partner.
Leadership
AlShamlan noted KFH ranked first in Kuwait and 12th regionally on Forbes' list of the 100 largest public companies by market value. According to S&P Global Market Intelligence, its market capitalization reached $44.69 billion by the end of the first quarter of 2026, placing it among the top five banks in the Middle East and Africa. It was the only Kuwaiti financial institution to achieve a top five regional ranking.
Human capital
AlShamlan pointed out that KFH builds partnerships with global academic institutions to enhance employee capabilities, especially young national talent, creating leaders to achieve future aspirations. He highlighted this commitment by referencing the recent honoring of 100 employees who earned specialized professional certificates and graduated from Injaz scholarship program.
A comprehensive digital transformation model
AlShamlan explained that KFH continues investing in digital capabilities to enhance customer experience, boost operational efficiency, and mitigate risks. He noted that KFH successfully established its digital services as a primary banking option, processing over 600 million digital transactions annually and offering more than 200 integrated services through KFH online. The bank's comprehensive digital transformation model builds upon its strategic vision, evolving customer needs, and tangible operational results.
Global awards
AlShamlan pointed out that KFH won more than 25 awards and rankings during the first half of the year in recognition of its banking excellence. These include the "World's Best Islamic Financial Institution" from Global Finance, the "Best Digital Bank" from MEED magazine, the "Kuwait's Best Private Bank" from Euromoney, and the "World's Best Islamic Corporate Bank" from Global Finance. Additionally, KFH received numerous other international accolades that reflect the Bank's leading position in the global banking industry.
Kuwait Times
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