ila Bank partners with Mastercard to launch premium solutions and expand reach

By Gloria Methri

ila Bank, the digital mobile-only bank powered by Bank ABC, has deepened its collaboration with Mastercard to enhance its suite of customer offerings and support expansion into new markets. The renewed partnership will focus on launching innovative, affluent, and travel-focused products, enhanced loyalty benefits, and upgraded security features.

As part of this strategic alliance, ila Bank will work with Mastercard to roll out a lifestyle-centric loyalty programme. The programme will provide customers with value-added benefits across dining, luxury retail, travel, and exclusive experiences. The new product line will also integrate Mastercard’s advanced fraud prevention and privacy technologies to offer enhanced security across all transactions.

Mohamed Almaraj, CEO of ila Bank, said, “ila has always been about the customer. We are proud to have maintained our commitment to offering customer-centric solutions and experiences in a growingly cashless economy, and this strategic agreement furthers the ila promise of ‘banking that reflects you’. Renewing our engagement with Mastercard will strengthen our standing as the frontrunner in the region’s digital payments landscape by offering the most seamless, secure and future-focused product portfolio that provides unparalleled premium benefits.”

The collaboration also supports ila Bank’s ambitions to grow its footprint in the region through Mastercard’s robust suite of digital payment solutions.

Adam Jones, Mastercard’s Division President for West Arabia, added, “In line with our shared commitment to driving innovation across the digital ecosystem, our long-standing relationship with ila Bank focuses on delivering customer-first solutions that help ensure a secure and rewarding banking experience. We will continue to provide our partners with enhanced product offerings, supporting regional expansion.”

Mastercard has supported ila Bank since its launch in 2019, playing a central role in the rollout of several key initiatives. These include the bank’s multi-currency debit programme, the Pay with Rewards scheme, and a co-branded airline card with Gulf Air in Bahrain.

Today, ila Bank offers a growing range of debit, credit, and prepaid cards, alongside digital savings tools such as Hassala, Jamiya, and Al Kanz. This prize-linked savings account awards cash prizes to customers throughout the year. Through its award-winning app, ila Bank continues to push the boundaries of mobile banking, focusing on innovation, security, and lifestyle alignment in its offerings.