1953 CE
Founding of National Commercial Bank
National Commercial Bank (NCB) is established as the first Saudi bank, founded by the Bin Mahfouz family in Jeddah. It becomes the cornerstone of Saudi banking. #banking #history
Chronological Storyline (40 Milestones)
1954 CE
NCB Opens First Branch
NCB opens its first branch in Jeddah, offering basic banking services to local businesses and individuals, marking the beginning of formal banking in Saudi Arabia. #banking #Saudi
1980 CE
Founding of Saudi American Bank (SAMBA)
Saudi American Bank (SAMBA) is established as a joint venture between the Saudi government and Citibank, aimed at introducing modern banking practices and international expertise to the kingdom. #banking #jointventure
1986 CE
SAMBA Becomes Fully Saudi-Owned
Citibank sells its stake in SAMBA, making the bank fully Saudi-owned. The government retains majority control, aligning with nationalization policies. #banking #Saudi
1997 CE
NCB Converts to Joint Stock Company
NCB transitions from a partnership to a joint stock company, paving the way for future share offerings and increased transparency. #banking #corporate
1999 CE
NCB Acquires United Saudi Bank
NCB acquires United Saudi Bank, merging it to expand its branch network and customer base, strengthening its position as Saudi's largest bank. #merger #banking
2000 CE
SAMBA Rebrands as Samba Financial Group
Saudi American Bank rebrands to Samba Financial Group, shedding its American identity and signaling a broader regional focus. #rebranding #banking
2001 CE
NCB Introduces Credit Cards
NCB launches its first credit card product, AlAhli Credit Card, targeting affluent customers and modernizing consumer banking. #creditcards #banking
2003 CE
Samba Opens Branch in Dubai
Samba expands internationally by opening a branch in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), serving corporate clients and trade finance. #expansion #banking
2004 CE
NCB Launches Islamic Banking Window
NCB introduces AlAhli Islamic Banking, offering Sharia-compliant products, tapping into the growing demand for ethical finance. #IslamicBanking #finance
2005 CE
Samba Wins Best Bank in Saudi Arabia
Samba is awarded 'Best Bank in Saudi Arabia' by Euromoney, reflecting its strong performance and innovation in retail and corporate banking. #award #banking
2006 CE
Samba Opens London Branch
Samba establishes a branch in London to serve Saudi and regional clients with investment banking and wealth management services. #international #banking
2007 CE
NCB Launches AlAhli Online
NCB introduces AlAhli Online, a comprehensive internet banking platform, enhancing customer convenience and digital reach. #digitalbanking #innovation
2008 CE
NCB Announces IPO Plans
NCB announces its intention to list on the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul) through an initial public offering, though the IPO is delayed due to global financial crisis. #IPO #banking
2009 CE
NCB Receives Islamic Banking License
NCB obtains a dedicated Islamic banking license from Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA), formalizing its Sharia-compliant operations. #IslamicBanking #regulation
2010 CE
Samba Expands to Qatar
Samba opens a branch in Doha, Qatar, extending its regional footprint in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). #expansion #banking
2011 CE
Samba Opens Shanghai Branch
Samba establishes a presence in China by opening a branch in Shanghai, focusing on trade finance between Saudi Arabia and Asia. #Asia #banking
2012 CE
NCB Opens London Branch
NCB opens a branch in London to support its corporate and investment banking clients in Europe, enhancing its international reach. #international #banking
2013 CE
NCB Wins Best Bank in Saudi Arabia
NCB is named 'Best Bank in Saudi Arabia' by The Banker magazine, recognizing its financial strength and digital innovation. #award #banking
2014 CE
NCB Completes IPO on Tadawul
NCB successfully completes its initial public offering, listing on the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul) and offering 30% of its shares to the public, raising $6 billion. #IPO #stockmarket
2015 CE
Samba Acquires Citibank's Saudi Retail Business
Samba acquires the retail banking operations of Citibank in Saudi Arabia, expanding its customer base and branch network. #acquisition #banking
2016 CE
NCB Launches Digital Bank 'AlAhli Digital'
NCB launches AlAhli Digital, a fully digital banking platform offering accounts, transfers, and payments via mobile app, targeting tech-savvy customers. #digitalbanking #fintech
2017 CE
Samba Reports Record Net Profit
Samba announces record net profit of SAR 5.2 billion, driven by strong lending and fee income, reflecting its efficient operations. #financialresults #banking
2018 CE
NCB Expands into Turkey with Acquisition
NCB acquires a stake in Turkish lender, entering the Turkish market to diversify geographically. #expansion #international
2019 CE
NCB Named Strongest Bank in MENA
NCB is ranked as the strongest bank in the Middle East and North Africa by Bloomberg, based on capital adequacy and asset quality. #award #banking
Apr 1, 2020 CE
Merger Announcement: NCB and Samba
National Commercial Bank and Samba Financial Group announce a merger agreement to create Saudi National Bank (SNB), the largest bank in Saudi Arabia. #merger #banking
Apr 1, 2021 CE
Merger Effective: Saudi National Bank Launched
The merger of NCB and Samba becomes effective, creating Saudi National Bank (SNB) with total assets exceeding SAR 900 billion. The combined entity begins trading on Tadawul under the ticker '1180'. #merger #banking
2021 CE
SNB Becomes Largest Bank in Saudi Arabia
SNB is officially recognized as the largest bank in Saudi Arabia by assets, market capitalization, and customer base, leading the banking sector. #banking #Saudi
2021 CE
SNB Appoints New CEO and Chairman
Saeed Al-Ghamdi is appointed CEO of SNB and Ammar Al-Khudairy as Chairman, setting strategic direction for the merged entity. #leadership #corporate
2022 CE
SNB Acquires Stake in HSBC Saudi Arabia
SNB acquires a 51% stake in HSBC Saudi Arabia from HSBC Holdings, expanding its investment banking capabilities. #acquisition #banking
2022 CE
SNB Launches New Brand Identity
SNB unveils its new logo and brand identity, unifying the heritage of NCB and Samba under a modern design reflecting innovation and trust. #branding #corporate
2022 CE
SNB Reports First Annual Profit After Merger
SNB reports net profit of SAR 18.5 billion for 2022, demonstrating strong synergies and operational efficiency post-merger. #financialresults #banking
2023 CE
SNB Ranked Among Top 100 Banks Globally
SNB is ranked 98th in The Banker's Top 1000 World Banks list, reflecting its strong capital base and profitability. #ranking #banking
2023 CE
SNB Launches Sustainability Strategy
SNB announces its Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategy, committing to green financing and reducing carbon footprint. #sustainability #ESG
2024 CE
SNB Announces Dividend Increase
SNB boosts its dividend payout to shareholders, reflecting strong earnings and commitment to investor returns. #dividends #shareholders
2024 CE
SNB Expands Digital Offering with AI Tools
SNB introduces AI-powered financial advisory and personalized banking services through its app, enhancing customer experience. #AI #digitalbanking
2024 CE
SNB Wins Best Bank in Saudi Arabia Award
SNB is awarded 'Best Bank in Saudi Arabia' by Euromoney for its digital innovation, customer service, and financial performance. #award #banking
2025 CE
SNB Reaches 10 Million Customer Milestone
SNB celebrates serving over 10 million customers across its retail, corporate, and wealth divisions, a 20% increase since merger. #growth #customers
2025 CE
SNB Acquires Smaller Regional Bank
SNB acquires a regional bank in the Gulf to further expand its footprint, consolidating its market leadership. #acquisition #expansion
2025 CE
SNB Listed in Dow Jones Sustainability Index
SNB is included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for the first time, recognizing its ESG performance. #sustainability #ESG